Syracuse Orange (3-3) vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (5-1) First-Half GameThread

The Syracuse Orange have lost three straight games since that exciting, 3-0 start to the season. And now, the team's bowl hopes pretty much hang in the balance at the Carrier Dome today, against the No. 25 Pittsburgh Panthers.

Can Syracuse beat the not-at-all-rival Panthers for just the third time in the last 14 years, and right the ship before the schedule's difficulty ramps up a ton? We find out at the noon ET on ESPNU.

All the game particulars can be found here.

What do our Pitt pals over at Cardiac Hill think is going to happen in this one?

Syracuse will be suiting up in the traditional orange-blue-orange uniform set today.

Dan and I try our best to paint a positive picture for this game on the weekly podcast. We talk about the Mets too. #sorrynotsorry

Neither side has ever cared about this annual matchup. Would we if we had a rivalry trophy?

The Panthers pass defense is pretty good. That could present some challenges for Syracuse QB Eric Dungey.

This week's injury report says no Ben Lewis, and it appears unlikely we'll see Kendall Moore again either.

Not much changes on the depth chart this week, beyond Chauncey Scissum being elevated to starting free safety if Rodney Williams can't go.

***

Leave your first-half thoughts here, and we'll have a second half thread up when the time comes. G'ORANGE!