Connecticut vs Pittsburgh 2011 College Football Picks Week 9: The Connecticut Huskies and Pittsburgh Panthers currently have identical records of 3-4, but are still in the BIG EAST football championship race at 1-1. Only Cincinnati(2-0) and Rutgers (2-1) are better. Of the eight schools who compete in the Big East in football, seven of them have a legitimate shot of winning the conference championship. On Wednesday (8 P.M ET), the Huskies travel to Pittsburgh to play the Panthers in a pivotal contest at Heinz Field where the winning team will continue to be a factor in the league standings and the losing team in danger of falling to the wayside. Pitt is the College Football Odds favorite for the game listed favorite by -10 points ATS and -380 moneyline with a combined score total (over/under) holding at 42.
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n its last game, Connecticut covered as a +7 1/2 point home underdog while picking up a SU 16-10 win over South Florida in Week 7 (Oct. 15) at Rentschler Field in Storrs. The Panthers weren't as fortunate losing SU 14-26 at home as 6-chalk favorites to visiting Utah Utes of the Pac-12. Neither the Panthers or Huskies have been good bets this season with both schools going 2-5 ATS on the year. The UNDER has cashed for totals bettors in 9-of-13 games combined played by the Huskies and Panthers with one push. Two times this season the Huskies have been lined double-digit underdogs, splitting 1-1 in those games. The Panthers are 0-1 as double-digit favorites this year against Div-1A FBS competition.
The Panthers look to avenge last year's 30-28 defeat at the hands of Connecticut, a loss that ultimately cost Pitt a BCS berth and outright Big East title. Pitt's Ray Graham is the country's second-leading rusher, and tops in the Big East, with an average of 134.14 yards per game. He will face the nation's No. 9 rush defense in UConn, which is yielding just 89 yards per game. Pitt is fifth in the Big East in total offense averaging 342.1 yards per game, a slight statistical advantage to Connecticut ranked eigth with a 320.3 yards per game average.
In the ten days since either school's played a game, one can assume that UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni has had his Huskies defense working on stopping the run, an area where the team is pretty good anyway. Meanwhile Panthers coach Todd Graham found numerous errors to correct since losing to Utah. The Huskies, having the better defensive unit, will keep the score close but I expect before it's all said and done; the Panthers will find a way to win. However; I like the Panthers chances ATS getting +10. My Pick- Huskies +10.
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