Pittsburgh vs. Syracuse Betting Line at Panthers -2.5
Carrie Stroup here with your Pittsburgh vs. Syracuse betting line, available here at Sportsbook.com. Claim up to $250 in FREE CASH when joining and be sure to mention promo code CARRIE. Mobile and live wagering is available.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Syracuse -1.5 & 58.5
Opening Line & Total: Pittsburgh -2.5 & 57
A pair of Big East schools bound for the ACC lock horns on Friday night when Pittsburgh visits Syracuse.
The Panthers have won seven straight meetings (5-2 ATS) with the Orange, and were able to force six Syracuse turnovers in last year’s 33-20 win. Pittsburgh was outscored 65-27 in its first two games of 2012, but beat Virginia Tech and Gardner-Webb by a combined 90-27 score in its two most recent games. Tino Sunseri, who threw four touchdowns in his last trip to the Carrier Dome, has tossed 6 TD passes during the two-game win streak. The Orange have lost eight straight games (1-7 ATS) to FBS opponents, but QB Ryan Nassib ranks eighth in the nation with 360 total YPG. Pittsburgh is 0-9 ATS when it allows 28 or more points over the last three seasons, and it should give up at least that many to a Syracuse offense that opened 2012 by gaining nearly 700 yards of offense against Northwestern, followed by more than 500 yards against USC. I expect the Orange to take care of the ball much better than they did when they turned it over four times to Minnesota prior to their off-week.
Sunseri leads the Big East in passing efficiency (166.80), completing 67.2% of his passes for 1,144 yards, 8 TD and 2 INT. He has also been very accurate in two career starts against the Orange, connecting on 42-of-58 passes (72.4%) for 540 yards, 5 TD and 1 INT. RB Ray Graham was unable to play in last year’s meeting with Syracuse, but had a solid performance in his previous visit to the Carrier Dome, gaining 75 yards and a touchdown on just 14 touches (11 carries, 3 catches). In his past three games in 2012, Graham has racked up 382 yards and four touchdowns. Pittsburgh’s defense has also been a big part of the current win streak, holding Virginia Tech to 59 rushing yards on 26 carries, then limiting Gardner-Webb to 127 total yards and forcing seven turnovers.
2012 Week 6 College Football Betting Lines:
Washington +24 Oregon Bet Now
LSU -2.5 Florida Bet Now
Georgia +2 South Carolina Bet Now
West Virginia +6.5 Texas Bet Now
Miami (FL) +13 Notre Dame Bet Now
Nebraska +3 Ohio State Bet Now
Georgia Tech +10 Clemson Bet Now
Oklahoma -4.5 Texas Tech Bet Now
Arizona +8.5 Stanford Bet Now
Northwestern +3 Penn State Bet Now
Syracuse has been very careless with the football this season, committing nine turnovers in its three defeats, including four miscues in last week’s loss at Minnesota. The Orange running game has also been underwhelming in 2012, gaining just 381 yards on 104 carries (3.7 YPC). Nassib has already thrown for 10 TD this season, but is coming off a subpar game against the Gophers, completing 21-of-31 passes for 228 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. WR Marcus Sales also had his worst game of the 2012 season against the Gophers, catching just two passes for 32 yards, but extending his scoring streak to four games. Sales started his season with three straight 100-yard efforts. Syracuse’s defense failed to force a turnover last week for the first time in 2012, but held the Gophers to 17 points, 337 total yards and 2.6 yards per carry. Last year, the Panthers (minus Ray Graham) rushed for a paltry 74 yards on 35 carries (2.1 YPC) in the win over the Orange.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
