John (10-1): Pittsburgh 27, Syracuse 13
This is a bad matchup for Syracuse. Yes, the Orange have played on steroids in the Loud House all season but this Pittsburgh team is different. The Panthers have the second best offense in the nation behind quarterback Kenny Pickett and wide receiver Jordan Addison. SU played Pitt tough last year but its defensive front is just as good and its offense is even better under offensive coordinator Mark Whipple.
‘Cuse will keep it close and stay in it until the end in a very spirited performance on senior day but still comes up short. Syracuse just doesn’t have a second dimension to rely on offensively.
Ian (9-2): Pittsburgh 38, Syracuse 17
The juice has officially left SU. After two pitiful performances on the road, the Orange return to a student-less Dome and fans with no expectations. Pat Narduzzi’s defense is always good, and with only one facet of the SU attack to focus on, the Panthers defense shouldn’t have a problem getting stops. On the other end, Kenny Pickett should pick Syracuse apart, just like Malik Cunningham and Devin Leary have done in back-to-back weeks. Syracuse has taken advantage of a weak underbelly of the ACC, but the teams at the top end are now coming around to bring the Orange back to earth.
Jaron (7-4): Pittsburgh 41, Syracuse 27
Welp, put a bow on the season and wipe away any chance at a bowl game. Syracuse had a promising stretch in the middle of the season, but it has been down hill for the past couple weeks and it won’t get any better against Pittsburgh. This game comes down to one matchup, Kenny Pickett versus the Syracuse secondary.
The Pitt quarterback is having a career season, one that has shot him up NFL Draft boards. The SU secondary has fallen apart recently, giving up over 500 passing yards and 6 touchdowns in just the last two games. Pickett is going to have his way with the Orange defense. I don’t really care about anything else in this game; that is all that matters. Give me the Panthers in a blowout to end the Orange’s season.
Brad (6-5): Pittsburgh 35, Syracuse 13
Pittsburgh is the best run stopping team in the ACC. Typically, when an offense sees the Panthers on the other side of the line of scrimmage, the inclination is to throw. That might not be the best idea for Syracuse. The Orange were held to fewer than 100 yards in the air over the past three games for the first time in the Dino Babers era. This is a must-win to clinch bowl eligibility, but it’s a can’t-win against the vaunted Panther defense, not to mention their all-American caliber duo in QB Kenny Pickett and WR Jordan Addison.
Cam (6-5): Pitt 37, Syracuse 23
Here we go again. It’s the culmination of yet another disappointing finish to an SU football season. The build up of the bye week and the game following has created a storyline that Orange fans are far too familiar with, and unfortunately, the worst result will occur. Over the last couple weeks, SU has been outscored 82-20 and can’t find a groove on either side of the ball. The defense looks as abysmal as it will ever look, and to add insult to injury, Curtis Harper, one of SU’s best pass rushers is gone.
This team ended its season when the week 9 bye rolled around and are just pons on a chessboard right now without any sense of urgency. The SU fans can only do so much against Kenny Pickett and one of the best defenses in the conferences. It’s time for Syracuse and its fans to regret the early season nail biting losses because the Orange will fall just short of bowl eligibility.
