CAM (6-1) (EXEMPT FROM PREDICTION):
This is a game full of mismatches for Syracuse, especially in the trenches. Pitt sports the only running back in the ACC with over 800 yards, and Izzy Abanikanda has 1086 over just eight games. That doesn’t bode well for an SU defense that’s allowed 539 over the last two games. On the other side, the Panthers only allow 120 rush yards per game and Sean Tucker has just 114 on the ground over the last couple games. Add the questions that surround Shrader’s availability and how experienced Pitt’s secondary is, and this game lines up for a necessary Syracuse defense domination for the Cuse to snap its two-game skid.
ETHAN (7-1): Pitt 31, Syracuse 21
It is a shame I will not go undefeated in football picks. I just fell into the trap of picking SU at home in a game they were favored, but the writing was on the wall. Notre Dame was the more talented team, had more momentum, and was better coached. I won’t be making that same mistake this week. Now I know what you’re thinking, Ethan, Pitt is also on a losing streak and Pat Narduzzi hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire late in games this season. Yes, that is true, but have you seen Dino Babers’ record in November at Syracuse? He’s won five total games in the month since he took over in 2016, and hasn’t won a single game in the penultimate month of the year since 2019! Israel Abanikanda is going to run wild against this atrocious SU run defense, and the uncertainty at the quarterback position will make things harder on the Orange, especially on the road. Pitt covers at home to send Syracuse to its third straight loss.
FRANCESCO (2-1): Pitt 24, Syracuse 17
The Panthers have had a rough go of it this year. The reigning ACC champion began the season ranked and had a chance to beat now-No. 1 Tennessee at home early in the year. However, Pitt sits at 4-4 coming off lopsided losses to North Carolina and Louisville. That being said, Syracuse is in shambles. There are injuries at seemingly every position. We don’t know if a compromised Garrett Shrader will start at quarterback or Carlos Del-Rio Wilson, who would be making his first career start. Plus, the Panthers and running back Israel Abanikanda have a top-5 rushing attack in the conference, and Pitt has a top-5 rushing defense in the ACC. SU gave up over 250 yards on the ground in each of its last two games against Clemson and Notre Dame and didn’t get Sean Tucker going in either of them against two other good rush defenses. It’ll be ugly, but Pitt squeaks one out at home.
JOHN (5-2) (EXEMPT FROM PREDICTION):
I like Pittsburgh’s chances to win this game. Syracuse hasn’t been able to stop a run game over the past two weeks. The ground and pound is all the panthers do. Kedon Slovis won’t beat you with his arm but when Izzy Abanikanda is getting 6-8 yards a pop, he won’t need to. Syracuse hasn’t been on the road much this year and this team is just depleted at this point from an energetic and personnel standpoint. Pitt’s run game figures to be too much for SU to handle defensively. The offense remains stagnant against a very sturdy front and experienced secondary.
CARTER (4-2): Pitt 28, Syracuse 20
A lot has changed in a year for 4-4 Pitt. Pittsburgh misses current Steeler Kenny Pickett under center, and has suffered as “overcoached” and injured USC transfer Kedon Slovis has struggled. Leading wideouts Jared Wayne and Konata Mumpfield put together aren’t the player that former Panther and current Trojan Jordan Addison is. Even the decent Pitt defense that ranked 42nd last year has gotten even worse and dropped to 79th in points allowed.
Despite all that, I still think Pitt is set to hand SU another tough blow.
SU is just 2-17 in its last 19 matchups with Pittsburgh dating back to 2002, and Dino Babers’ teams are just 1-5 against the Panthers without a win since a fluke upset in 2017. The Orange also haven’t won in Pittsburgh since 2001, and I’m not confident Babers can outcoach Pat Narduzzi. Acrisure Stadium is bound to be an unfriendly place to play this weekend, especially with the nation’s third-leading rusher Izzy Abanikanda to deal with (1,086 yards, 16 TD). SU got gashed last week by a mediocre Notre Dame team that ran the football at will. Abanikanda is a better back than either of ND’s, and he gets to face SU’s decimated defense sans Garrett Williams. Take Pitt to hand Syracuse a disheartening loss.
IAN (3-2): Pitt 21, Syracuse 17
Word on the street is that Garrett Shrader is playing, but if he’s not 100% and can’t run the ball effectively, the SU offense will struggle. Opposing defenses have really limited Sean Tucker this season, and this matchup feels like more of the same. Pitt’s -dline is fourth-best in the ACC in rushing defense. The ‘Cuse O-line hasn’t been great, by any stretch, over the past couple weeks against talented fronts. Other thing to note – the Panthers have a lot of experience at safety, the group that’s going to see a lot of time on Oronde Gadsden.
RB Israel Abanikanda is Pitt’s main weapon, and Panthers QB Kedon Slovis isn’t exactly healthy himself. Expect this to be a slow, ground-and-pound game. Whichever team can hit a big play or two will win, and it seems like Pitt has a better chance.
LIAM (5-3): Pitt 20, Syracuse 17
The vibes surrounding the Orange are not good right now. Notre Dame handed SU a potentially season-altering 41-24 loss last weekend. Since then, Garrett Williams has been ruled out for the season and Garrett Shrader’s health is very much up in the air. To make matters worse, the matchup this week is not a friendly one. Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda has racked up 100+ yards on the ground in six of the Panthers’ eight games (including a 320-yard performance against Virginia Tech) and has 17 total touchdowns on the season. That does not bode well for an SU defense that allowed 246 rushing yards to ND last week.
Syracuse has not emerged victorious in the Steel City since 2001. Pat Narduzzi is 6-1 coaching against the Orange. Those two factors along with things just not going SU’s way lately have me thinking Syracuse loses its third in a row.
