Rutgers at Pittsburgh

Written by Steve Janus

This Saturday the Pittsburgh Panthers will look for their first two game winning streak of the season when they host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Big East action. The Panthers were very impressive in their 45-14 blowout win at Syracuse last week, while the Scarlet Knights needed extra time to take care of business against Army, winning 23-20 in overtime. The Panthers snapped a four game losing streak to the Scarlet Knights with a 24-17 win last year, but Rutgers has upset the Panthers at Pittsburgh in their last two trips. If you are thinking about betting on the game this weekend, the current college football odds have the Panthers favored by 13-points over the Scarlet Knights at home.

Rutgers (4-2, 1-0 Big East): The Scarlet Knights have really made things interesting this season, as they haven’t had a game decided by more than five points since their opening week win over Norfolk State. Last week against Army, Rutgers trailed 17-3 going into the fourth quarter, but quarterback Chas Dodd threw two fourth quarter touchdowns to force overtime, where running back Joe Martinek plunged in from one yard out for the game winning score, as Army was forced to kick a field goal on their first possession.

Dodd finished with 251 yards and two touchdowns in the win, and it was the second week in a row he led the Scarlet Knights to a come-from-behind win in the fourth quarter. Defensively the Scarlet Knights didn’t really play all that well, as Army finished with 404 yards of total offense, including 289 yards on the ground, but the Black Knights really hurt themselves with costly penalties and two turnovers. The Scarlet Knights can’t keep counting on these late comebacks. If they fall behind by too much against Pittsburgh, I don’t think they will be able to come back against the Panthers defense.

Pittsburgh (3-3, 1-0 Big East): The Panthers just can’t figure out whether they want to be a good football team or a bad one, as they continue to trade wins with losses on the season. Last week the Panthers looked like a team that has finally got things figured out, as they won with both defense and offense.

Quarterback Tino Sunseri completed 17 of 24 attempts for 266 yards and a career high four touchdowns in the win. Running back Dion Lewis led the way with 80 yards and a score on the ground, while backup Ray Graham added 53 rushing and 22 yards and a touchdown receiving. The defense also did its job in this game, as they forced Syracuse into four turnovers and only allowed a single touchdown in the first three quarters of play, as the Panthers jumped out to a 28-7 halftime lead. If the defense can put up a similar performance this week, they should have no trouble coming away with a win.

Looking at the Odds: As good as the Panthers looked last week against Syracuse, I think the oddsmakers are way off on this one, as I think Rutgers has no trouble covering a 13.5 point spread. The Scarlet Knights have really played Pitt well over the last five years, and the Panthers have been about as inconsistent as you can get this season. My final score prediction is Pittsburgh 24, Rutgers 20.

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