godspicks
15-11-03, 15:06
WEST VIRGINIA +1 Pittsburgh
There is really no way to stop Pittsburgh’s Larry Fitzgerald, but WVU has a defense that can confound passing games. Of course it doesn’t hurt that they have as their defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel a graduate of California University of PA where so many of the top minds on college football have come.
In describing the Mountaineers’ defense, Pitt coach Walt Harris likened it to a prevent defense. The Mountaineers use only three down lineman and five linebackers, so on any given play there can be as few as three guys rushing or as many as eight, and the Mountaineers can pull it off without changing personnel.
The Mountaineers can also drop eight guys into coverage and often do, and that’s what causes opposing passing games so much trouble. There are very few soft spots in the zone, and having that many guys in coverage enables them to cover short and deep passes without much trouble.
On defense the two things that have driven the Panthers nuts are spread offenses and standout running backs. Not only do the Mountaineers operate out of the spread offense, they feature one of the best running backs in the country in 5-foot-10 senior Quincy Wilson.
Toledo is in a long list of teams that have befuddled Walt Harris coached teams with the wide open offense. Toledo crushed Pitt with it. “WVU coach [Rich Rodriguez] is one of the innovators of [the spread], so he’s been watching Toledo and watching our other games [vs. spread teams],” Harris said. “And last year they pretty much dominated us the whole first half. So, no, we are not walking in there thinking we have all the answers.”
In four of the past five games, Pitt has faced a team that is built around the talents of a top-flight running back, and in three of those game, the running back piled up impressive yardage.The trend began Oct. 11 when Notre Dame defeated the Panthers, 20-14, at Heinz Field as senior Julius Jones rewrote the school’s single-game record with 262 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Two weeks later, Pitt fared somewhat better against Syracuse’s Walter Reyes, limiting him to 97 yards on 22 carries. Pitt, which jumped to an early lead, won, 34-14, but Reyes averaged 4.4 yards per carry.
Boston College’s Derrick KnightKnight rushed 19 times for 119 yards (6.26 per carry) in a game Pitt won, 24-13. He had a 41-yard touchdown run called back because of holding or his numbers would have been even better.
And last week, Pitt faced Heisman hopeful Kevin Jones, who carried 30 times for a school-record 241 yards and four touchdowns for Virginia Tech. He averaged 8 yards per carry even though Pitt won, 31-28.
Ever since Adam “Pac Man” Jones was inserted at cornerback, and Brian King made the switch to free safety, WVU has excelled against the pass.
In the past five games, the Mountaineers have recorded 12 of their 15 interceptions. King and Jones especially have thrived.
King has five interceptions in the past three games, and Jones has all three of his picks during the five-game stretch. Jones returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown last week in a win at Boston College.
The Mountaineers had four interceptions in last week’s game, and they’re eager to do the same against Pitt. It will also be a true home field advantage in the Backyard Brawl. Pitt has not really experienced the crowd as it will be in Saturday’s game. Over the past few years, the game has been played during the Thanksgiving break with the students gone from campus.
This year, the WVU student body will be out in force. Pitt again comes up short just as things start to go their way.
Today we tie our season high with three Wise Guy plays including two at noon EST, so buy early. Today’s ENTIRE card is just $17 at www.godspicks.com or 1-900-263-7326 just $20 per call. That’s 1-900-26-DREAM! Now you can get via voicemail on the Charge-By-Phone. Details: 1-866-804-1303.
There is really no way to stop Pittsburgh’s Larry Fitzgerald, but WVU has a defense that can confound passing games. Of course it doesn’t hurt that they have as their defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel a graduate of California University of PA where so many of the top minds on college football have come.
In describing the Mountaineers’ defense, Pitt coach Walt Harris likened it to a prevent defense. The Mountaineers use only three down lineman and five linebackers, so on any given play there can be as few as three guys rushing or as many as eight, and the Mountaineers can pull it off without changing personnel.
The Mountaineers can also drop eight guys into coverage and often do, and that’s what causes opposing passing games so much trouble. There are very few soft spots in the zone, and having that many guys in coverage enables them to cover short and deep passes without much trouble.
On defense the two things that have driven the Panthers nuts are spread offenses and standout running backs. Not only do the Mountaineers operate out of the spread offense, they feature one of the best running backs in the country in 5-foot-10 senior Quincy Wilson.
Toledo is in a long list of teams that have befuddled Walt Harris coached teams with the wide open offense. Toledo crushed Pitt with it. “WVU coach [Rich Rodriguez] is one of the innovators of [the spread], so he’s been watching Toledo and watching our other games [vs. spread teams],” Harris said. “And last year they pretty much dominated us the whole first half. So, no, we are not walking in there thinking we have all the answers.”
In four of the past five games, Pitt has faced a team that is built around the talents of a top-flight running back, and in three of those game, the running back piled up impressive yardage.The trend began Oct. 11 when Notre Dame defeated the Panthers, 20-14, at Heinz Field as senior Julius Jones rewrote the school’s single-game record with 262 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Two weeks later, Pitt fared somewhat better against Syracuse’s Walter Reyes, limiting him to 97 yards on 22 carries. Pitt, which jumped to an early lead, won, 34-14, but Reyes averaged 4.4 yards per carry.
Boston College’s Derrick KnightKnight rushed 19 times for 119 yards (6.26 per carry) in a game Pitt won, 24-13. He had a 41-yard touchdown run called back because of holding or his numbers would have been even better.
And last week, Pitt faced Heisman hopeful Kevin Jones, who carried 30 times for a school-record 241 yards and four touchdowns for Virginia Tech. He averaged 8 yards per carry even though Pitt won, 31-28.
Ever since Adam “Pac Man” Jones was inserted at cornerback, and Brian King made the switch to free safety, WVU has excelled against the pass.
In the past five games, the Mountaineers have recorded 12 of their 15 interceptions. King and Jones especially have thrived.
King has five interceptions in the past three games, and Jones has all three of his picks during the five-game stretch. Jones returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown last week in a win at Boston College.
The Mountaineers had four interceptions in last week’s game, and they’re eager to do the same against Pitt. It will also be a true home field advantage in the Backyard Brawl. Pitt has not really experienced the crowd as it will be in Saturday’s game. Over the past few years, the game has been played during the Thanksgiving break with the students gone from campus.
This year, the WVU student body will be out in force. Pitt again comes up short just as things start to go their way.
Today we tie our season high with three Wise Guy plays including two at noon EST, so buy early. Today’s ENTIRE card is just $17 at www.godspicks.com or 1-900-263-7326 just $20 per call. That’s 1-900-26-DREAM! Now you can get via voicemail on the Charge-By-Phone. Details: 1-866-804-1303.