Connecticut Huskies @ Pittsburgh Panthers Football Preview

In 2010, Pittsburgh and Connecticut tied for the Big East championship. A head to head win sent Connecticut to the Fiesta Bowl and sent the Panthers in search of a new head coach. In 2011, there will be no Big East title for either team. Instead, both will look to simply crawl back to .500 under first year head coaches. For Paul Pasqualoni, it was expected that he would struggle for find offensive weapons. For Pittsburgh, Todd Graham was expected to bring the same high powered offense he’d always produced at Tulsa. Up to this point, the offense simply hasn’t materialized. Now the teams meet with a chance to reclaim a little respectability. The loser, however, will be staring down a bowl-less season and a lot of offseason questions.

Prior to Pasqualoni’s arrival, the Huskies developed a reputation for a physical, downhill running game and solid defense. While many figured Pasqualoni would rely on the ground game and defense, the Huskies are actually throwing the ball better than they did in last season’s Big East title campaign. After juggling quarterbacks for nearly half the season, Johnny McEntee now appears entrenched as the starter and gives the Huskies the best chance to win. It’s a good thing McEntee has settled in, because the Huskies’ running game has virtually disappeared. The Huskies rank 98th nationally in rushing offense at just 119 yards per game. At least they can rely on a stout defense that allows less than 100 yards per game on the ground.

Todd Graham promised high octane offense but to this point, has seen virtually no octane. The problems with the Panthers’ offense are numerous, but almost all of them start at the quarterback position. Tino Sunseri routinely underthrows receivers, makes bad reads, and holds the ball too long. It’s little wonder then that the Panthers are dead last nationally in sacks allowed and passed for just 50 yards in a loss to Utah. Sunseri has been replaced in three games this season by Trey Anderson, but remains the starter. The Panthers only real offensive threat is star tailback Ray Graham. Graham currently ranks second nationally in rushing yards per game and is the key to keeping the offense on the field. Without his production, there simply wouldn’t be any points for Pitt.

Saturday’s game will be a matter of which team can overcome the other’s strength. Pittsburgh can run the ball and Connecticut can stop the run. Connecticut isn’t particularly effective on offense, but the Pittsburgh defense can’t stop anyone. Look for the Huskies dominating defensive line to hurry and harass Sunseri into another close, low-scoring game that will ratchet up the heat on Graham even further if his Pitt pupils can’t come through.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer