SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Fresh from a bye week, Syracuse is ready to begin making amends for a season that so far has gone very wrong.

The first chance comes Friday night at home against Pittsburgh in a Big East game featuring two teams that will leave for the Atlantic Coast Conference next season.

The conference opener for the Orange (1-3) is a crucial game for coach Doug Marrone. Another loss like the 17-10 debacle at Minnesota two weeks ago and the Orange might just bid sayonara to those hopes and dreams of playing in the postseason for the second time in three years.

The Orange will have to overcome a team that's won the last seven games in the long series, and the Panthers (2-2, 0-1 Big East) have been purring of late After starting the season in dismal fashion - Pitt lost its opener, 31-17, to Youngstown State, which plays at the second level of Division I, and followed with a 34-10 setback at Big East foe Cincinnati - the Panthers have been impressive.