The Pittsburgh Panthers will be a part of the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Alabama for the second consecutive year. This time around, the game should have a decidedly different feel following the departure of former head coach Todd Graham, who abruptly left for Arizona State, leaving some of his players feeling bitter and resentful. Now, it will be the job of former defensive coordinator Keith Patterson to bring his troops together in time to play a tough Southern Methodist Mustangs’ team that has overcome its own share of adversities according to the pay head bookies this NCAA season.
[FONT="]BBVA Compass Bowl[/FONT]
[FONT="]Southern Methodist Mustangs @ Pittsburgh Panthers[/FONT]
[FONT="]Saturday January 7, 2011 – 1:00 PM ET[/FONT]
[FONT="]Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama[/FONT]
[FONT="]Pay Head Sportsbook Line: Pittsburgh Panthers – 3.5[/FONT]
In fact, it was almost SMU head coach June Jones who left to take the job with Arizona State before the deal fell through, and now he must act as if Alabama is where he wants to be as he guns for his 100th collegiate victory. The Mustangs opened the year with five wins through their first six games, but barely qualified for the BBVA Compass Bowl after losing four of their final six.
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]College Football Betting Preview: SMU[/FONT]
The fact that SMU barely clinched a postseason berth should serve as motivation for the program, even though they are being led by a head coach that would clearly rather be elsewhere at this point. Jones is saying all of the right things ahead of this bowl, but it might not matter if the offense struggles to move the ball without leading rusher Zach Line. Line rushed for 1,224 yards and 17 touchdowns before undergoing season-ending toe surgery in November, which was a big part of the reason for the Mustangs’ struggles down the final stretch as major losers according to the price per head services.
[FONT="]College Football Betting Preview: Pittsburgh[/FONT]
The Panthers lost a leading rusher of their own in junior Ray Graham, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in late October after compiling 958 yards in eight games. Senior Zach Brown and freshman Isaac Bennett shared the load the rest of the way with mixed results, and both will need to be at the top of their games if Pittsburgh is going to clinch a third consecutive bowl win. Wide receiver Devin Street was among those on the Panthers that was most vocal with his disappointment over Graham’s departure, but with new head coach Paul Chryst watching on as Patterson leads this team, he will be one of the players most looking forward to making a strong impression.
[FONT="]College Football Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick[/FONT]
The loss of Graham should serve as motivation for those upset about his departure, and if the Panthers play to their potential they should be able to cover the pay per head bookie spread against a Mustangs’ team that limped to the finish line. Pittsburgh has won consecutive bowl games despite playing with different coaches in each of them, so there shouldn’t be much concern about that trend continuing in this game.
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]College Football Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Panthers – 3.5[/FONT]
[FONT="]BBVA Compass Bowl[/FONT]
[FONT="]Southern Methodist Mustangs @ Pittsburgh Panthers[/FONT]
[FONT="]Saturday January 7, 2011 – 1:00 PM ET[/FONT]
[FONT="]Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama[/FONT]
[FONT="]Pay Head Sportsbook Line: Pittsburgh Panthers – 3.5[/FONT]
In fact, it was almost SMU head coach June Jones who left to take the job with Arizona State before the deal fell through, and now he must act as if Alabama is where he wants to be as he guns for his 100th collegiate victory. The Mustangs opened the year with five wins through their first six games, but barely qualified for the BBVA Compass Bowl after losing four of their final six.
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]College Football Betting Preview: SMU[/FONT]
The fact that SMU barely clinched a postseason berth should serve as motivation for the program, even though they are being led by a head coach that would clearly rather be elsewhere at this point. Jones is saying all of the right things ahead of this bowl, but it might not matter if the offense struggles to move the ball without leading rusher Zach Line. Line rushed for 1,224 yards and 17 touchdowns before undergoing season-ending toe surgery in November, which was a big part of the reason for the Mustangs’ struggles down the final stretch as major losers according to the price per head services.
[FONT="]College Football Betting Preview: Pittsburgh[/FONT]
The Panthers lost a leading rusher of their own in junior Ray Graham, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in late October after compiling 958 yards in eight games. Senior Zach Brown and freshman Isaac Bennett shared the load the rest of the way with mixed results, and both will need to be at the top of their games if Pittsburgh is going to clinch a third consecutive bowl win. Wide receiver Devin Street was among those on the Panthers that was most vocal with his disappointment over Graham’s departure, but with new head coach Paul Chryst watching on as Patterson leads this team, he will be one of the players most looking forward to making a strong impression.
[FONT="]College Football Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick[/FONT]
The loss of Graham should serve as motivation for those upset about his departure, and if the Panthers play to their potential they should be able to cover the pay per head bookie spread against a Mustangs’ team that limped to the finish line. Pittsburgh has won consecutive bowl games despite playing with different coaches in each of them, so there shouldn’t be much concern about that trend continuing in this game.
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]College Football Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Panthers – 3.5[/FONT]
