Coming off a win against Old Dominion, the Pitt Panthers football team has one more tune-up Saturday against Navy, before entering the rest of their ACC schedule.
The Midshipmen are a team Paul Chryst and company should not take lightly as the have beaten Pitt before. However this is a big game for the Panthers as a win gets them one more step closer to becoming bowl eligible once again.
Who has the advantage?
Here’s a look at everything you need to know.
When: Saturday, October 26
Where: Navy Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Watch: CBS Sports Network
Spread: Pitt (-5.5)
Series History:
Series Began: 1912
Series Overall: Pitt leads 22-13-3
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 12-4-2
At Navy: Pitt leads 10-6-1
At Neutral Sites: Navy leads 3-0
OT Games: Navy leads 1-0
Last Meeting at Pitt: Sept. 19, 2009 (Pitt 27, Navy 14)
Last Meeting at Navy: Oct. 18, 2008 (Pitt 42, Navy 21)
Current Series Streak: Pitt has won 2 (2008-09)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 6 games (1914-16; 1933-34; 1954)
Longest Navy Series Win Streak: 4 games (1965-68)
Largest Pitt Victory Margin: 46 points (52-6, 1988)
Largest Navy Victory Margin: 23 points (32-9, 1962)
Keys for Pitt:
1. Stop the Run: The Midshipmen rank among the country’s most prolific rushing teams. Navy averages 304.2 rush yards per game to rank sixth nationally. In their double-overtime loss at Toledo last week, the Midshipmen piled up 419 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Aaron Donald will be big if he can be a fixture in the Navy backfield. The nation’s active leader in sacks (26.5), leads the country in sacks per game (1.33 avg.) and tackles for loss per game (2.08 avg.). He and the Pitt front seven needs to set the tone from the beginning
2. Get out early: It’s as simple for Pitt as using their weapons and getting an early lead. They need to make the Midshipmen throw the football. If the Panthers get a big lead and force Navy into situations where they have to throw the football a lot in the second half it will go a long way towards a Pitt victory.
3. Run the football: With James Connor returning and after Isaac Bennett’s monster game a week ago, it will be nice to see the Panthers continue to produce on the ground. Not only will it help them have a balanced attack, but it will take some pressure of Savage in the process.
Keys for Navy
1. Get Pressure on Tom Savage: The Pitt offensive line has broken down at times, forcing Savage to run for his life and as a result, turn the football over. For Navy to win the football game they are going to have to force a few Panthers’ mistakes, something Pitt has been more than gracious to oblige with at times this season.
2. Control the Clock: For Navy it’s as simple as taking the air out of the football. It not only plays to the Midshipmen’s strength, but also can keep Pitt’s weapons in Devin Street and Tyler Boyd off the field. The longer the Navy offense and Pitt defense is on the field, the greater the chances of a Midshipmen upset.
3. Catch the Pitt secondary sleeping: Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds isn’t only the Midshipmen’s leading rusher, but he also can make some plays in the passing game as well. Even though he doesn’t throw it a lot (56 attempts), Reynolds has completed a high percentage of his passes on the season (55.4 percent). Navy will run the football so much that they could lull the Pitt secondary to sleep. When they do they have to hit a big lay or two in the passing game.
Prediction: This is the type of trap game that the Panthers usually lose. They won’t dominate the Midshipmen, but will come away with a win as they have one more week to tune things up before jumping back into ACC play. Pitt 27 Navy 17
Photo Credit: Newsday
