Syracuse at Pittsburgh Spread
Written by Jack Jones - Google +
The Pittsburgh Panthers host the Syracuse Orange Saturday in a game that will decide which one of these two teams will be playing in the postseason. The winner would become bowl eligible, while the loser will be staying at home. The Panthers have dominated this series, winning six straight over the Orange. That includes a 45-14 road victory last season as a 2.5-point favorite. Quarterback Tino Sunseri threw for 281 yards and four touchdowns to lead the way for Pitt.
Odds makers in Las Vegas have set a line of Pittsburgh -10.5 over Syracuse with a total set of 47 points.
Pittsburgh
It has been a very tough season for the Panthers, who were expected to compete for a Big East title coming into the year. Pittsburgh (5-6, 3-3 Big East) has been plagued by injuries, including one to leading rusher Ray Graham (964 yards, nine TD). He was lost for the season due to a knee injury suffered against Connecticut near the end of October. This team has continued to fight since his loss, but they have come out on the short end of the stick. They have lost two of their last three by a combined four points, including a 20-21 defeat at West Virginia last Friday.
Pittsburgh led WVU 20-7 early in the third quarter after a 27-yard field goal from Kevin Harper. That would be the last time they would find the scoreboard. The Mountaineers answered with an 8-yard touchdown run by Shawne Alson in the third quarter, followed by another Alston 1-yard touchdown run with 6:10 to play. That proved to be the game-winner for WVU, who overcame three turnovers to keep their Big East title hopes alive. Sunseri had an off day for the Panthers, completing 12 of 23 passes for 137 yards with an interception.
The Panthers rank just 81st in the country in total offense (364.8 yards/game), but they are a solid 38th in total defense (355.7 yards/game). Sunseri is completing 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,174 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. Zach Brown (336 yards, five TD) is their leading rusher after Graham went down. Devin Street is their big-play guy at receiver, catching 43 balls for 622 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Shanahan (32, 413, four TD) is also a solid target for Sunseri.
Syracuse
Few people expected much from the Orange this season after an improbable 2010 campaign, which saw them win a bowl game. Syracuse (5-6, 1-5 Big East) still has a chance to become bowl eligible with a win Saturday. They started the season 5-2, but four straight conference losses have put an end to what could have been another successful season for this team. They are coming off a 30-13 loss to Cincinnati. The win kept the Bearcats alive for a chance of at least a share of the Big East title.
Syracuse actually outgained Cincinnati 373-368 in the loss. But the Orange weren’t able to come up with any turnovers, and they didn’t sack opposing quarterback Munchie Legaux once. Ryan Nassib finished 19 of 38 passing for 203 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Syracuse. Antwon Bailey rushed for 135 yards on 27 carries, topping the 2,000-yard mark for his career. Legaux threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati. Isaiah Pead rushed for 80 yards and a score, while also catching nine balls for 112 yards and a touchdown to lead the way for the Bearcats.
The Orange rank 88th in the FBS in total offense (348.5 yards/game) and 68th in total defense (391.3 yards/game). Nassib is having a solid season, completing 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,460 yards with 21 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Bailey has rushed for 998 yards and six scores, and no other back on this team has ran for more than 91 yards on the season. Alec Lemon leads all receivers with 60 receptions for 735 yards and six touchdowns.
Betting Trends
Syracuse is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 December games, but 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.
Pittsburgh is 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games following a loss, but 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
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