2011 College Football Predictions: Pitt Slotted Third In Big East

by CardiacHill on May 10, 2025 1:00 PM EDT in Pitt Football

ESPN.com Big East blogger Brian Bennett has his early 2011 predictions out for the Big East. He puts the Panthers at third for now and has West Virginia as the odds on favorite to win the conference.

This might sound kind of wacky, but I still really like Pitt's chances. Regardless of system, new coach, personnel losses, etc., they're in a weak conference and have talented players. I'll take that combo anytime.

Still, I've got no issue putting the Mountaineers first, because it's a weak conference and they're always a pretty good team. But I will point out that, like Pitt, they lost quite a bit after last year. I've run down this list before, but here it is again: Robert Sands, Noel Devine, Jock Sanders, Brandon Hogan, J.T. Thomas, and Chris Nield are all gone from the previous season.

I also don't see a big issue putting South Florida in second since they've lost next to nothing this year. But the problem is that the Bulls have underperformed almost as much has Pitt has and whenever they're expected to do anything, generally fail to reach expectations. And while B.J. Daniels is an athletic freak, I'm still not sure how sold I am on him. Even though he completed a higher percentage of his passes last season, it's fair to say he regressed as he threw for fewer yards, less touchdowns, and more interceptions.

Here are Bennett's full rankings.

Panthers Fan Confidence Poll

Last tallied on 05/11.

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Read More: Noel Devine (RB - West Virginia), Brandon Hogan (WR - West Virginia), J.T. Thomas (LB - West Virginia), Jock Sanders (RB - West Virginia), B.J. Daniels (QB - South Florida), Robert Sands (DB - West Virginia), Brian Bennett (RB - UNLV), Pittsburgh Panthers

Comments

I have no problem being picked 2nd or 3rd. It takes a lot of the expectations off of the team and when they finish 2nd or 3rd at the end of the season, like always, we can say that they met expectations.

That stretch from the Iowa game to the Utah game will define this season for Pitt. Iowa’s rebuilding, as is Rutgers, Utah is coming across the country, and we get USF and ND at home. At best I see a 4-1 record, but Pitt could easily lose all 5 games. A winning record through this stretch I say gets us into a decent bowl, well decent for the Big East anyways.

by oaklandzoo12 on May 10, 2025 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

Regarding that stretch

That’s true to a degree, but those non-conference games in there are far less significant to Pitt - especially when it comes to winning the Big East. Losing to Rutgers or South Florida is far more damaging than losing any of the non-con games.

I don’t expect Pitt to be 2-5 through the Utah game, but if they were and won both conference games, they’d still have a shot at winning the Big East.

Pitt needs to come out of those first seven games with a winning record, but even more so, needs to come out of there with two Big East wins over Rutgers and South Florida.

The conference is so bad that for me, it’s BCS or bust.

by CardiacHill on May 10, 2025 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions