Pitt will beat Youngstown State Saturday — Fact

By DAVE THOMAS and MATT SORTINO

1. After two weeks and two wins, the Indianapolis Colts are the best team in football. … 1. After two weeks and two wins, the Indianapolis Colts are the best team in football. 

Matt Sortino: Fact. Since I am a big Steelers fan, I always love it when they don’t get respect and are the underdog, so for now let’s just say the Colts are the best team in football because you can’t win the Lombardi trophy in September.

Dave Thomas: Fact: As much as I would like to say the Steelers, I just think that because of the way their defense has played and what we know their offense can do, they are the best team. If they can win enough games to get home-field advantage and play indoors throughout the playoffs (Super Bowl XL will be hosted in a dome as well), Peyton could lock up his place as one of the all-time greats. Better defensive production, with one allowed touchdown in two games, is only a bonus for one of the league’s best offenses.

2. The Pitt football team’s 0-3 start is more embarrassing than if the Chicago White Sox end up blowing their once 16-game lead and lose the American League Central.

MS: Fiction. Although the Panthers have to be embarrassed with the way they are playing, the White Sox weren’t winning the division on expectations; they had actually played well enough to build that lead. Now they are playing badly enough to hand it away and could add to Chicago baseball lore.

DT: Fiction. These losses that have the whole campus worked up really aren’t that big of a deal. These games were all non-conference. Pitt showed us last year that it only matters what you do in conference play, and lucky for Pitt, the Big East isn’t the power it used to be. They can still win this conference once Big East play starts next week, provided they get off to a strong start. As far as the Sox go, I think the Billy Goat moved across town from Wrigley to Shea.

3. The Panthers will get their first win on Saturday against Youngstown State.

MS: Fact. It is throwback day, so the Panthers are wearing their throwback uniforms back to the days when Dan Marino and Tony Dorsett played and Pitt could beat teams like Ohio. Pitt wins but not as easily as it should.

DT: Fact. In the “Pitt News Picks ‘Em,” I have picked the Panthers every week so far. Needless to say, I’ve been wrong. However, I’m going to go out on a limb and stick with them for at least one more week. If Pitt finally gets their offense together, I like them by at least two touchdowns over the Penguins, an I-AA team that could pose a challenge, but one that Pitt is ready for.

4. A Barry Bonds’ at-bat is the most exciting single play in sports today.

MS: Fiction. It may be exciting, but I don’t like Barry Bonds so I have no anticipation when he is at the dish, and I would rather watch a hockey shootout to decide a game like they will in 2005-2006.

DT: Fact. I feel like I have to say this just so we don’t agree on everything this week. Steroids or not, love him or hate him, Barry can change the game with one swing. That’s some exciting stuff come this time of year. He just hit his 706th career homer the other night. While if Michael Jordan was still around I would say nothing’s more exciting than His Airness with the ball when the game’s on the line, he isn’t – it’s Bonds and his bat.

Fact or Fiction appears in The Pitt News every Thursday. Send feedback to [email protected].