Pitt vs. Rutgers: Open Gamethread

Pitt faces yet another major-conference team tonight in Rutgers. Most of the power conference teams the Panthers have faced have not been particularly strong. But nine games into the season, Pitt will still have played five of them and that’s a bit more than normal this year into the year.

By contrast, last year, Pitt played only one major conference team (Iowa), through nine games.

Tonight’s game against Rutgers is part of the Big Ten/ACC (or ACC/Big Ten, if you prefer) Challenge. You can catch it at 9:00 p.m. on ESPNU. Both teams come in sporting solid records as Pitt is 6-2 and the Rutgers is 6-1. But while the Panthers have been tested quite a bit, the Scarlet Knights have not. Pitt is their first significant test and Rutgers lost to a St. Bonaventure team that is 3-4 on the year. Rutgers also only narrowly defeated Bryant by two points and Drexel by five.

Major conference opponent, yes. And, frankly, Pitt is not good enough that fans should start declaring games as gimmes. But as a home game, the Panthers are certainly in a good spot to win this one.

Comment here live during the game.

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