– Last Updated on July 25, 2018 10:36 am
2018 Football Preview – ACC – Panthers
Looking for 2018 Pittsburgh Panthers predictions? The Panthers will look to get back to a bowl game after missing out last year. It snapped a streak of nine games in a row of going to a bowl game.
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2018-19 College Football Preview – Pittsburgh Panthers
Head Coach: Pat Narduzzi
2017 Record: 5-7
Boston College Eagles Odds to win the 2018 FBS Championship: 500/1
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This is the fourth year under Pat Narduzzi and if things don’t improve or if they miss out on a bowl game again, he could be shown the door.
2018 Pittsburgh Panthers Predictions: Team Strengths
Going Up?: It may come as a surprise given Pat Narduzzi’s background, but the Pittsburgh Panthers have boasted a bad defense the last couple of years.
Last year, the Panthers ranked 106th in passing defense and they ranked 71st in total defense and 65th in points allowed.
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Why is this in the strength section? Well, the Panthers do have talent on that side of the ball and they are shaking things up with the coaching staff.
Randy Bates was one of the hot commodities this offseason and he will look to turn around the defense.
Again, this is a team that has talent; Oluwaseun Idowu led the team in tackles and sacks last year; Dewayne Hendrix, Saleem Brightwell, and Elijah Zeise are all back and will play pivotal roles this year.
The Savior?: Quarterback was a dumpster fire for the Pittsburgh Panthers last year. Senior Max Browne started, but he was a colossal bust. You may look at his stat sheet and say, “Hey, he did a pretty good job,” Nah.
Ben DiNucci stepped in and he was worse. Kenny Pickett started the season finale and led the Pittsburgh Panthers to an upset win over the Miami Hurricanes.
Pickett will be the starter for the Panthers, however, if for whatever reason he needs to be replaced Ricky Town will be waiting in the wings.
Yeah, Town is with Pittsburgh now. He’s moved to more places without actually playing more than say Matt Flynn has at the pro level. So, keep that in mind that Town is the backup and could play a part this season.
All in all, though, the Pittsburgh Panthers success basically hinges on how Pickett performs.
2018 Pittsburgh Panthers Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Front Five: Pittsburgh may have found their quarterback, but they will need to keep him upright. Three-fifths of their starting offensive line will need to be replaced, including left tackle.
Brian O’Neil declared for the draft and the Panthers will have to scramble to put together a decent offensive line.
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Back Four: The secondary will have to be rearranged a bit as the Panthers lost a couple of key members in Avonte Maddox and Jordan Whitehead.
This was an awful secondary to begin with and players will have to step up big time.
Pittsburgh Panthers Prediction: 6-6
The bad news is this doesn’t look like a good team. The good news is Pittsburgh gets a somewhat favorable schedule to deal with and because of that should have the potential to go bowling this year.
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This year, they avoid having to play Clemson, Louisville, and Florida State. Which is huge as instead of playing Clemson they play Syracuse, which may end up being the difference of whether or not they play in a bowl game this year.
2018 Pittsburgh Panthers Football Schedule
- 9/1/18 ALBY
- 9/8/18 PSU
- 9/15/18 GT
- 9/22/18 @UNC
- 9/29/18 @UCF
- 10/6/18 SYR
- 10/13/18 @ND
- 10/27/18 DUKE
- 11/2/18 UVA
- 11/10/18 VT
- 11/17/18 @WF
- 11/24/18 @MIA
What do you think about our 2018 Pittsburgh Panthers predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2018!
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