Let me give you an example of why Miami fans suck (yep, I am done hedging, done couching and done apologizing: our fans as a whole are terrible).
In the ten days since Miami essentially beat itself against a Top 5 team in the country (interceptions, missed tackles, more interceptions, more missed tackles and dropped turnovers on defense...let's see what the final score is if the 'Canes hold on to one of those turnovers and only throw two interceptions, which is a very plausible scenario for anyone that, gasp, watched the game) the fan base has decided the following:
-Jacory sucks and so does future 'Cane Teddy Bridgewater because he goes to Jacory's High School and is also black.
-Our running backs all suck, except for Lamar Miller.
-Our wide receivers all suck, except for Leonard Hankerson.
-Our offensive line, despite playing pretty evenly against a strong defensive line, sucks and true freshman Seantrel Henderson should be starting.
-Our defensive line sucks except for Allen Bailey, because Bailey can bench press a ton.
- Our linebackers are all too small, too slow and suck.
- Our secondary is terrible, including all american candidate Brandon Harris.
-Matt Bosher is our best player.
-Randy Shannon should, obviously, be fired along with his whole staff.
-Miami will never be back.
-No loss is acceptable.
-College kids should never do anything that distracts from football like go on Facebook. God forbid.
-Jacory Harris is a n-word.
The list could keep going. And this is without having played a game in the ten days.Needless to say, getting back on the field is a good thing for everyone. Now, if I just had the ability to parse the fan base a little bit...
BREAKDOWN (For you, Russo)
QB
Ok, let's get this straight. Do I think Jacory's receivers will essentially give away two interceptions again? No. Do I think Jacory is going to have a big bounce back "F*ck You" game after being told how terrible he is for two straight weeks? Yes. Do I think the Miami defense is going to be a little feisty after last week? Yes. Do I know that Pitt's QB, Tino Snseri, is a freshman that will most likely make some mistakes under pressure? Yes. EDGE: Miami
RB
If you are ranking the individual players, then Pitt's Ray Graham and Dion Lewis might be the best duo not named Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson in the country. If you are ranking overall running game, than it is closer than you think. Pitt runs the ball more than Miami and will keep going back to it. When Miami runs the ball they are usually very effective, even though they spread the ball around to four different backs. Regardless, Lamar Miller is the most talented player at this position group in the game. Still, Pitt runs it well and often enough to outweigh Miami's talented depth here. EDGE: Pitt
WR
Pitt has big play weapon Jonathan Baldwin. I read somewhere that over the last two seasons he has 15 catches of 40+ yards, 9 for touchdowns. He is also 6'6", which makes him even tougher to figure out, especially since Miami's best corner is 6'0" tall and DVD is not physical enough to hand with this freak. Miami, though, has the next 6 best receivers in the game. Miami's passing game is lethal when everyone is doing their job, and I would bet the farm (if I were a betting man and, you know, owned a farm) that they will play with their ass on fire this game. Baldwin is a beast, but Hankerson, Benjamin, and Laron Byrd are going to be tough for Pitt to cover in a pick your poison scenario. Meanwhile, Aldarious Johnson will work the middle of the field on third downs and Kendall Thompkins might get his chance in space this game. Pitt's tight ends are solid, and unless Chase Ford can use stick 'em this time out or has magically gotten over his dropsies, the Panthers get the edge here. EDGE: Miami
OL
Miami's o-line looked very solid last week. Pitt's, as testified by several close to their program, is big but doesn't get a great push. Also, Pitt will be without their best pass rusher and Miami has a fierce defensive line that is pissed off and has been getting disruption all season. EDGE: Miami
DL
Pitt is without All American Greg Romeus, who is injured. They will have All- Conference end Jabaal Sheard (great name), who can list throwing a man through a plate glass window at a bar and not being suspended on his resume. Stay classy, Pitt. Meanwhile, Miami is getting great efforts right now from Bailey, Vernon, Forston, Ojomo, and Regis...and solid efforts from several others. EDGE: Miami
LB
Pitt has a group of four fairly interchangeable players that rotate here. They are all solid, and Dan Mason is being touted as a possible future first round pick. He is, however, apparently benched for the start of this one due to off the field issues. There ya go, Wanny. I wonder what this kid must have done. Murder someone? Send a text that said "Time to die Bitch"? Oh, wait, that was a Florida player? Thaaaaaaaat's right, silly me. Meanwhile, Sean Spence is playing well and I still think McCarthy is a stud. Miami is also going to be working Jordan Futch and Ramon Buchanan into the rotations more heavily. Still, until Miami is getting solid play from 4 or 5 guys and not just 2, they will be behind the 8 ball. EDGE: Pitt
CB
Pitt does not have the horses to run with Miami's receivers, in this blogger's opinion. Miami's secondary would look a l0t better if they held on to a fraction of the passes they disrupted. Snarl. EDGE: Miami
Special Teams
Matt Bosher is a stud. Pitt has solid kicking as well. The winds in this stadium probably play in to Pitt's favor. Travis Benjamin and Lamar Miller are better than any duo of return men in the country. Pitt probably plays better coverage, although I honestly could not tell you...I just assume that they usually do not give up an average starting field position of the 50 yard line. EDGE: Pitt
Coaching
For some reason, people forget that the Wannstache has never really done anything as a head coach but talk a good game. Meanwhile, Randy Shannon is getting better every game. However, Mark Whipple's gameplan was so terrible last week that I am gun shy here. EDGE: Push
I expect Miami to play a very good game under the lights and will have a chip on their shoulder, similar to Georgia Tech or Oklahoma last season. However, if they let Pitt hang around they will get burned by the run game. Miami HAS to limit turnovers on offense and create some on defense or they will be staring down the barrel of a 1-2 start with a trip to unpredictable Clemson coming up next. Essentially, this is as close to a make or break game as you can get out of conference.
Other quick picks:
NC St. over GTech
VTech over BC
FIU over Maryland (Semi-Upset)
Alabama over Arkansas
Stanford over Notre Dame
FSU over Wake
UNC over Rutgers
Boise St. over Oregon St.
Auburn over South Carolina
LSU over WVU
UPSET SPECIAL: SMU over TCU
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