Pitt and Northwestern cap their 2016 seasons on Wednesday at the Pinstripe Bowl in New York. Notably, it’s the last collegiate game for Pitt’s inspiring, cancer-beating running back James Conner, who’s headed to the NFL afterward. It’s also the last game at Pitt for newly hired LSU offensive coordinator Matt Canada and senior quarterback Nathan Peterman, so the Panthers are losing quite a bit of firepower after the final whistle. They’ll want to seize the moment with the players and coordinator they have.
Pitt vs. Northwestern, 2016 Pinstripe Bowl: Time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
James Conner’s last game with Pitt is happening at Yankee Stadium.
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
The Wildcats are trying to finish in style a season that once looked pretty doomed. Northwestern started the year 0-2 after last year’s 10-win campaign, with losses at home to Western Michigan (which turned out to be better than we thought) and Illinois State. The Wildcats could’ve tanked 2016 easily, but they figured enough things out to finish the year 6-6 and get to the Pinstripe. That’s not so bad at all.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 2 p.m. ET, Wednesday, ESPN. The announcers are Ryan Ruocco, Mike Golic, Mike Golic Jr., and Paul Carcaterra.
Radio: Pitt and Northwestern
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: Pitt opened as a 3-point favorite. The line has crept wider since then.
Make friends: SB Nation’s Cardiac Hill covers Pitt, while Inside NU covers Northwestern.
Three big things to know
1. Pitt’s passing game should thrive. For starters, Peterman will have plenty of time to throw. Pitt’s offensive line has been strong in pass protection all year, while Northwestern has a hard time getting to quarterbacks. The Panthers are No. 6 nationally in Adjusted Sack Rate on offense, while Northwestern is No. 91 on defense. The Wildcats’ 2.2 sacks per game are tied for eighth in the Big Ten, while Pitt allowed the fewest sacks in the ACC — nine in 12 games.
2. Northwestern needs to keep Pitt off schedule, then get off the field. The Wildcats should be able to get some run stuffs, at least, because Pitt’s running game doesn’t get past the line on more than 20 percent of its plays. But Pitt tends to be pretty good on passing downs, so even forcing some third-and-medium situations doesn’t make anything guaranteed for Northwestern. The Wildcat secondary will have to be good because Peterman probably won’t get sacked more than once or twice.
3. Who wins the battle of big plays: Pitt’s offense, or Northwestern’s defense? The Panthers have one of the most explosive offenses in the country, ranking 22nd in big-play measurement IsoPPP. But Northwestern’s defense limits the big play well, especially against the run. Against a team with Conner and Quadree Henderson, that’s a helpful trait to have. The Wildcats have to prevent the Panthers from racking up lots of chunk plays, or else it’ll be hard to pull off a slight upset.
See More:
