Opportunity is knocking for Pitt and the Steelers. Will they answer the door?
Begin with Pitt. Now that coach Pat Narduzzi no longer is making ridiculous statements about being OK with losing games by 100 points, his Panther team is halfway toward his goal of losing to Notre Dame, but winning two remaining ACC games.
That might be enough to get Pitt to the ACC title game, or not.
Last week, Georgia Tech succumbed to Pitt in ridiculous, error-prone fashion. Even as I write this Friday evening, Tech is playing better, but still losing to Georgia in a massive rivalry game.
That leaves Pitt contemplating a noon kickoff Saturday at the stadium formerly known as Heinz Field. Visiting Miami is a 7-point favorite and the bettor in me thinks that’s high, for many reasons.
Begin with the game location. It’s going to be cold in Pittsburgh Saturday, perhaps a problem for a team from the sunny south. I’ve seen such teams struggle mightily with low temperatures, the polar opposite of the way asthmatic former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis used to dread games played in steamy, humid locales.
Also, Miami is a fragile, uneven team, prone to errors. Their high-buck quarterback isn’t exactly Mr. Clutch.
Pitt can’t expect Miami to put up minimal resistance, as Georgia Tech did, but this is a game the Panthers could win outright.
Just keep Narduzzi away from microphones and the opportunity to re-state how he’s just fine with losing by 100 points.
And now, consider the Steelers, your leaders of the AFC North by virtue of being the only division team with a winning record.
Talk about dumpster fires, that’s the AFC North.
The Steelers are, in theory, staring at a tough game Sunday vs. Buffalo even though the Bills are a disappointing 7-4, and find themselves in the unimaginable position of trailing New England in the AFC East.
Of course, the Bills are favored, by 3.5 points at last check. But the Bills have been anything but consistent this year.
For this game, at the playing site formerly known as Heinz Field, the spotty Bills offense will be missing both tackles.
And the soft, cheesy Buffalo defense could be just what the doctor ordered for a Steelers offense anticipating the return of ancient quarterback Aaron Rodgers, he of the injured wrist.
Weather won’t bother the Bills, being from snowy Buffalo and all that. But the banged up nature of the team’s offense, and the fact the defense, particularly against the run, reminds of the French vs. the Nazis in World War II, mean this Buffalo team is a pale imitation of what many considered a Super Bowl group.
I know, I know, the Steelers are inconsistent, with outings such as the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals while that team was playing without quarterback Joe Burrow. I also know the Steelers played the Bears tough in recent weeks, the very same Bears who knocked off Philadelphia’s Eagles Friday.
The Steelers should be able to keep it close and maybe win Sunday.
Same for Pitt Saturday.
Let’s see how it all turns out.
Sam Ross Jr's site 