Pittsburgh vs Cincinnati Odds & Prediction
The Cincinnati Bearcats will kick off their 2012 season this week, while the Pittsburgh Panthers look to bounce back from an embarrassing defeat in week one.
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati Ohio
Thursday September 6, 8:00 PM EST on ESPN
College Football Betting Odds from Bovada
Moneyline: Cincinnati (-180) Pittsburgh (+160)
College Football Spread: Cincinnati -3.5 (-110) vs. Pittsburgh +3.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 49
This one will be the nationally televised Thursday night game on ESPN, so there will be lots of attention on this Big East matchup.
Pittsburgh
The Paul Chryst era at Pittsburgh definitely didn’t get started the way many had hoped. The Panthers lost 31-17 at home against Youngstown State. Pittsburgh was an 18.5 point favorite, so clearly that was a major upset. Chryst did suspend six players for disciplinary reasons prior to the season opener. Those players are expected to be back for this game.
Running back Ray Graham is the star of this Panthers offense, but he is just now getting healthy after missing a lot of time with a serious knee injury last season. Tino Sunseri is a much-maligned quarterback for the Panthers, but he actually performed pretty well in week one. The Panthers lost the turnover battle 2-0 against Youngstown State, and that was a real killer. The biggest disappointment was the Pittsburgh defense, which allowed 204 rushing yards against Youngstown State. That is a real concern for a team that will be going up against lots of solid running teams in the Big East. Look for Cincinnati to test this run defense early and often this week. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Cincinnati
The Bearcats will start their 125th season of football this Thursday night. Cincinnati has had a lot of success over the last few years, and the team is looking for another big season in 2012. The loss of dual-threat quarterback Zach Collaros definitely hurt the team, but the Bearcats are hopeful that Munchie Legeaux can step in and be an effective signal caller. Still, this team must replace many of its top players on both sides of the ball. There are plenty of question marks surrounding this Bearcats team.
Not only does the team need to replace their top quarterback, but running back Isaiah Pead is gone as well. Jameel Poteat is inexperienced, but many believe he has the talent to be a star for this team in the future at the tailback spot. The offensive front must replace three key starters from a year ago. Cincinnati’s top two wide receivers are back from last season. The Bearcats defense was much better in 2011, and that is the main reason the team got to ten wins on the year. The secondary looks strong heading into 2012, but the front seven lost some very talented players.
Neither of these teams are going to be all that good in 2012. This might be more of an ugly game than most people expect. Look for it to stay close all the way.
Free College Football Pick: Under 49
Score Prediction: Cincinnati 24 Pittsburgh 21
