Pittsburgh Panthers Vs. USF Bulls: Big East Battle Could Decide the Conference

The Big East conference championship race could be on the line when the Pitt Panthers travel south to take on the South Florida Bulls. Online sportsbook BetMania, has the latest college football betting odds posted for this game and they have the Panthers listed as 2.5 point favorites.

Coach Skip Holtz leads the USF Bulls and he has changed the atmosphere surrounding this team. In the last few seasons the Bulls have collapsed down the stretch and have not played a role in deciding the conference title outside of playing spoiler. This year it is a different story.

A win Saturday against Pittsburgh would put the Bulls into a tie for first place in the Big East and give them a realistic shot at the title, while also securing their first winning record in league play in three years. The Bulls are riding a three game winning streak and arguably playing their best football of the season. They will have their work cut out for them this Saturday when the play an angry Pitt team.

Pitt limps into this game after losing to UConn in a mistake filled contest. The biggest mistake of the game may have been on special teams, where the Panthers over-pursued on kickoff coverage and allowed Nick Williams to sprint for 95 yards and a touchdown. The coaching staff and players have scoured the game tape to try and fix any errors in time for the game in South Florida. Aside from eliminating errors the Panthers will have to find a way to deal with Bulls sophomore quarterback B.J. Daniels.

Daniels is 6'1", 212 pounds and has the uncanny ability to make big plays with his arm and his legs. He has matured as a pocket passer and has completed 104 of 177 passes for 1,325 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions and is fifth in the Big East in passing efficiency. Daniels is a star but gets little help from other players. Because of this South Florida is ranked near the bottom of the Big East Conference in yards per game.

Pitt counters with one of the most physical and intimidating front lines in college football. Defensive ends Jabaal Sheard and Brandon Lindsey, who are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the Big East, have combined for 18 sacks on the season and are a nightmare for opposing offensive lines. The Pitt defense ranks second in the conference against the rush only giving up 111 rushing yards per game. The front seven will control the line allowing the rest of the defense to focus on pass coverage and containing Daniels.

The Panthers are 7-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last eight games following a loss and 4-1 ATS in their last five games as a favorite. The Bulls are 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games against a team with a winning road record and 2-6 ATS in their last eight games following a win.

The loss to UConn served as a wake up call for Pitt and they will respond with a big road win over South Florida.

Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at [e-mail].