Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
The Pittsburgh Panthers will travel in a non conference game with Mountain West power Utah Utes for a college football game on Thursday night.
Kick off time from Utah is scheduled for 8:30PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by Versus TV.
The LVSC college football odds makers have set the betting line in this game and it was the home club Utah Utes coming in as 3 point favorites with an over under of 50.
The early money from the bettors in this contest has come on the road underdog as the Utah Utes are now 2 ½ point betting favorites. The total saw slight movement downward to 49.
Money line bettors playing the side of the home favored Utah Utes will lay -135 odds with the road underdog Pittsburgh Panthers bringing back +115 to pull off the week 1 upset with the point spread no factor in the bet.
The Pittsburgh Panthers will line up in 2010 to start a new season with just 5 returning starters on offense and 6 from the defensive end of the ball.
The club finished 10-3 in 2009 and won their bowl game beating a good defensive club in North Carolina 19-17 as a 1 point favorite.
Pittsburgh faces a tough test opening the season on the road to a physically tough football team and breaking in a new starting quarterback as Bill Stull has graduated. Sophomore Tino Sunset is the teams starter. In limited action in 2009 Sunset completed 10 of 17 passes for 114 yards two touchdowns and 0 picks.
Sophomore running back Dion Lewis is back after a solid freshman year that saw the ball carrier gain 1862 yards on 325 carries for a solid 5.5 yards per carry average with 17 touchdowns.
The number two back is also back as sophomore Ray Graham produced 361 yards and 4 touchdowns on 61 carries.
The teams leading receiver is back as junior Jon Baldwin led the club with 57 catches and 8 touchdowns with an outstanding 19.5 yards per reception average.
In 2009 Pittsburgh averaged 391 offensive yards and 32 points per game. They had a very good 4.9 yards per rush average which was more than a 1 yard better than the past 3 years.
Defensively the Panthers allowed 20 points per game in 2009 and 319 total yards. They were pretty good in pass defense allowing opponents only 213 yards through the air per game.
Utah returns experience to their offense with 8 starters back but only 4 on the defensive line. The Utes will benefit from 4 returning offensive lineman.
The team finished 10-3 in 2009 and ended their season with the 37-27 victory against California as a 3 point underdog.
Sophomore quarterback Jordan Wynn returns under center. He completed 58.1% of his passes for 8 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Wynn replaced a shaky Terrance Cain last year who is #2 on the teams depth chart in 2010.
The Utes top running backs are back as senior Eddie Wide had 203 carries for 1101 yards 12 touchdowns and a hefty 5.3 yards per carry average. Matt Asiata returns from a broken leg that saw him rush for 342 yards on 74 carries with 4 touchdowns.
The Utes are inexperienced in their receiver position as only 1 of their top 4 pass catchers return in 2010. Senior Jereme Brooks had 56 catches for 7 touchdowns and a 12.4 yards per catch average last year.
Utah averaged 30 points per game and 389 offensive yards in 2009. They were a ground and pound team with 160 yards rushing per game.
The defense in 2009 allowed 20 points per game and 316 yards. Opposing running backs averaged 3.7 yards per rush a season ago.
For the Latest CFB Odds Please Visit our CFB Odds Page
CFB Trend: Pittsburgh Panthers are 10-5 ATS in their past 15 road games.
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