Big East Coast Bias

Over the next ten days, Big East Coast Bias will take a look at the ten games that we think will be the most vital in crowing the Big East football champion in 2011. It's difficult to narrow the list down to ten, so take the list with a grain of salt, but in looking over the conference's contenders and the schedule for 2011, these are the games we think we will look back upon and see were the most critical in determining the Big East's champion.  Up next, our number seven game, Syracuse at Pittsburgh.

Here was the official Pitt take on last year's 45-14 dismantling of Syracuse at the Carrier Dome:

Syracuse (4-2, 1-1) tried to blitz Sunseri to get him uncomfortable just as the Orange did a week ago againstB.J. Daniels, sacking him four times and intercepting him twice in a 13-9 victory. Not much worked.

Tino Sunserihad a huge game for the Panthers, throwing for four touchdowns and zero interceptions. The game would be over by halftime. Pitt held a 28-7 lead going into the intermission. It got uglier in the second half when Ricky Gary's 80 yard pick six ofRyan Nassibended any thoughts of an improbable Orange comeback.

The loss ended a three-game win streak for Syracuse. Pittsburgh was having a forgettable season up to the Syracuse game with a 2-3 record. The win against the Orange began the start of a three-game win streak for Pitt. Sunseri would throw 43.8% of his season touchdown total in the first two games of the streak. He faded after that game and so did the Panthers. They finished the rest of the regular season 2-2 and only won a share of the Big East (and not the one that sends you to the BCS). Syracuse went 3-3 over the rest of the regular season but made and won a bowl game.

This season, the Syracuse-Pitt tilt is the final game of the regular season for both teams on December 3 at Heinz Field. Syracuse overachieved last season but has a favorable schedule this season and should still be a bowl team. Pitt is rolling out Todd Graham's "high octane" offense in 2011. If the Panthers rolled over the Orange with Wannstedt's offense last year at Syracuse, what will a high scoring offense be able to achieve at home? Well, I don't think we'll see the same result as last year. Syracuse will be improved even though it might not appear in the final score of each game. The defense will certainly be stronger with each season that Syracuse moves away from the disastrous Greg Robinson era. How well Nassib can play will be the key to the Orange trying to repeat an eight win season.

The week following the Backyard Brawl is probably a good time to catch Pitt as they will be a little worn on defense from having to try to stop Dana Holgorsen's West Virginia offense. The loser of the Pitt-West Virginia game will have likely also lost their shot at the Big East title. Syracuse could come into the game against Pitt trying to make a bowl or trying to improve their bowl bid and would have more to play for. I still think that Pitt will win the game. However, I don't think that it will be a blowout like last season.

Source: http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com