SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) When the Pitt Panthers went into halftime against Syracuse with an 18-point lead, quarterback Kenny Pickett didn't like what he saw and let his teammates know it.

"Too many smiles," Pickett said, recounting his impassioned halftime speech. "I play this game real seriously. The game was far from over, so when I came in I saw guys smiling and I didn't like it. I just wanted to make sure we came back down to earth and got the job done."

The Panthers scored just three points in the second half, but that proved just enough behind a defense that registered nine sacks in a 27-20 victory over the Orange on Friday night, Pitt's fourth straight close triumph.