Pittsburgh Panthers 2017 NCAA Football Preview

College Football Predictions – Pittsburgh Panthers 2017 NCAA Football Preview

2016 Recap

2016 Record – 8-5

2016 ATS – 8-5

Points. Points. Points. As Phil Steele notes in his awesome mag – the Panthers were the only Power 5 team to score 28+ in every regular season game. Near the end of the season the numbers got really silly as they finished up scoring 43,56 and 76 (!!) in their final 3 regular season contests. The important thing to note is that the Panthers have posted back-to-back 8-5 seasons and have proven to be really competitive against good programs. Do not forget – Pitt defeated Clemson (!) last year and only lost one game in by more than a TD (of course, Miami). Pitt fans are hopeful that they can cobble together a 3rd straight 8+ win season.

2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating

Coastal Division – #3

Atlantic Coast Conference – To be determined

OFFENSE

Is there any way in the galaxy that the Panthers can come close to last season’s output of 40.9 (!) points per game ? <grabs popcorn> Hopefully new OC Shawn Watson can maintain close to the status quo.

The new sheriff in town at QB is Max Browne (USC transfer) and it appears that he will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. RB Quadree Ollison took a back seat to James Conner last year but did tally over 1,100 yards rushing (11 TD) during the 2015 campaign. The Panthers lose a key weapon in TE Scott Orndoff but WR Jester Weah is back and he averaged an obscene 24.2 yards per catch while grabbling 10 TD receptions last year. The offensive line returns over 80 career starts and three starters from the 2016 unit including 2nd Team ACC LT Brian O’Neill. Things look pretty solid again for the Panthers if Max Browne can play even close to the level of Nathan “Jake” Peterman (27 TD 7 INT in 2016).

JUGGERNAUT ALERT – WR Quadree Henderson was an amazing multi-purpose WEAPON last season averaging over 10 (!) yards per carry while grabbing 26 receptions and picking up FOUR return TDs in his spare time. If he played for Michigan he would have been awarded the next 46 Heisman Trophies. Henderson promises to be a handful once again.

DEFENSE

This just in. A random Pitt opponent just scored 3 more TDs as we were typing this sentence.

HC Pat Narduzzi has been known as a defensive GURU but could not stop the bleeding last season as the Panthers allowed a comical 35.2 points per game. The Panthers should get credit for achieving the seemingly impossible. They recorded 43 (!) sacks (#8 FBS) while still giving up all those points.

The good news. There is NO way they can be worse this season. Right ? The bad news. The Panthers only return four starters and just 2/7 in the front seven. You may argue that may be a good thing but we are usually skeptical of this much inexperience. Two starters return in the secondary, including 2nd Team ACC FS Jordan Whitehead, but we are worried about the losses on the DL and fear that the pass defense may remain putrid. At least the ACC QB roster has been downgraded.

SPECIAL TEAMS

It’s a sad occasion. No more jokes about PK Chris “Blewitt” missing FGs. The reality is that he finished up his career as the team’s all-time leader in field goals so we need to keep that in mind. The return game should continue to be devastating as long as Q Henderson is taking care of the duties (4 return TD in 2016). Overall, we think the unit will be above average, but keep an eye on the new PK.

Potential ATS Trouble Spots

September 16 – OKLAHOMA ST. Yes, you can play the revenge card (lost 45-38 on the road in 2016), but this game is sandwiched between games vs HATED Penn St and the ACC opener vs Georgia Tech.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

The first Backyard Brawl (Pittsburgh vs West Virginia) was played in 1895. MEGALOCKS staff attended a version in which stars such as Darrelle Revis, Pat White and Steve Slaton were the star attractions. (ok, not that MEGAmazing ?)

MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 4.0

MEGALOCKS says:

Overall, we give the PANTHERS a 4.0 ATS Value Rating (Below Average) this season.

As long time SUPER ELITE PLATINUM MEGALOCKS members are well aware – it is teams like these we tend to avoid when it comes to playing against the number. The Panthers have rattled off back-to-back eight win seasons in a deep ACC conference, but yet, have only gone 11-15 vs Vegas (42%). They are fun to watch, but backing teams like this ATS will make you want to YAK or start watching replays of meaningless NBA games (which is pretty much all of them).

The offense should be really good, although to be fair, we are not sure that QB Max Browne will have the MINERALS to do serious damage against really good stop units (Virginia Tech, Miami, Penn St ?). Thankfully they avoid Florida St and Clemson.

We recommend staying clear of the Panthers, as enticing as it may be, unless they show that defense is NOT optional.

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