Let's get back in the black tonight in college hoops. I have two games I really like and one with a good read to follow.
(11) FLORIDA STATE [13-3] @ PITTSBURGH [11-5]
Can the 11th ranked Florida State Seminoles rebound against rejuvenated Pitt?
Which is tougher, losing at home to the top ranked team in the nation on a last second 3 pointer or trying to rebound 48 hours later on the road?
The Florida State Seminoles are about to find out.
Two days after losing 80-78 to Duke on Cam Reddish's 3 point basket with less than a second remaining, Florida State (13-3, 1-2 ACC) travels to Pittsburgh to play the unranked Panthers (11-5, 1-2)
But with new head coach Jeff Capel, these aren't the same Panthers of the previous two seasons. After winning only four conference games two seasons ago and going winless in ACC play last season, the Panthers knocked off Louisville 89-86 in overtime on Wednesday. They also played West Virginia close on the road and beat 11 win Duquesne by 21 to end November.
The 11 wins this season are three more than Pitt had all of last season. What's more, the Seminoles are only 1-5 all time at Pitt's Peterson Events Center and have lost two straight in the building. And the Panthers are 9-2 at home this season.
Can the Seminoles bring the same intensity to Pitt's home court and knock them off?
To do so, the Seminoles will need to figure out one of the more surprising defenses in the nation this season. A season after ranking 289th in the NCAA in KenPom raw defensive efficiency, Pitt currently sits 12th in that category. The Panthers are also in the top 20 in the nation in field goal percentage defense at 38.7 percent.
Pitt lossed on the road by 6 to NCST Saturday night after only trailing by 1(41-40) at half. Pitt also led by 6(46-40) at halftime on the road to the 14th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes. Only to lose by 1(69-68).
I feel like Pitt will be focused and ready to go and I think they play the Seminoles very hard the entire game with a chance to win in the end.
PITT +5
PITT 1H +3