Congratulations, guys:
A day after being named to the All-Big East Football Team, Pittsburgh senior defensive tackles Vince Crochunis and Dan Stephens were selected to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Football Team. Both players were first-team honorees.
With the selection, Crochunis becomes the first three-time Academic All-American in Panthers football history. Stephens was honored for the second time.
The ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Football Team is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. He must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at the institution and completed at least one full academic year at the school.
Both have moved on, academically, to graduate school.
The Pitt-USF game has Pitt favored by 7 points. The predictions are out there.
Why Pittsburgh might win: Turnovers. The Panthers have forced 21 takeaways so far while only giving it up 12 times. South Florida has forced ten turnovers but has given it up 17 times. Pittsburgh’s biggest weakness is pass defense, but the Bulls can’t throw and need to run to win. The Panther run D has been solid.
Why South Florida might win: All of the pressure is on Pittsburgh and as Boston College showed last week and West Virginia proved the week before, the Big East lead dog has a problem holding on. This is USF’s bowl game and will can make a big national splash. To do that, the running game has to get rolling early and QB Pat Julmiste must come up with one of his better performances. That might happen against the porous Panther secondary.
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What will happen: Don’t be shocked if South Florida plays above its head and gets up early. The problem is that the Bulls aren’t very good and don’t have the defense to handle Palko and the Panther passing game.
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Fearless Prediction: Pittsburgh 31 … South Florida 23
Seems to be the most accurate assessment I’ve read.
This one goes with Pitt, pointing out that any home field advantage USF had shown previously is non-existent this season. Only 2-3 at home. It also wonders if Pitt will be a little too tight, but still expects a Pitt W by the end.
Finally this one, predicts a Pitt 10 point win, but considering the factual errors: “Jim Leavitt’s Bulls are riding a three-game winning streak…” Um, no. They have lost 2 straight, and at 4-6 haven’t won 3 in a row this season. I wouldn’t trust that prediction.
