Basketball Odds – Panthers Need Win Over Bulls To Hold Pace In Big East

After a loss to the Louisville Cardinals, the No. 5 Pittsburgh Panthers will need to be perfect over their final two games if they are going to hold on to the top spot in the Big East. The Panthers are just one half-game ahead of the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the race for the Big East conference crown, and will need consecutive wins to guarantee they take the title outright. That journey continues on Wednesday night as they are favored on the basketball betting odds against the South Florida Bulls.

Pittsburgh Panthers @ South Florida Bulls

Wednesday March 2, 2011 – 9:00 PM ET

USF Sun Dome, Tampa Bay, Florida

Broadcast: ESPNU

Basketball Odds: Panthers -10

The Bulls finally found the win column with an 86-76 win over the DePaul Blue Demons over the weekend, a victory that snapped their losing streak at six. The win was crucial given that South Florida’s final two games are against conference opponents ranked in the top-15.

Basketball Odds Handicapping: What Pittsburgh Will Have To Do To Win

Pittsburgh will win this game if they show up and execute the way that they have all season. Even with some of their worst performances this year, the Panthers have still looked better than South Florida has this year, and it is very unlikely that with the conference on the line Pittsburgh will fall to an unranked team for the first time this season. The Panthers’ overtime loss to the Cardinals pushed their celebration date back at least one more game, but there is no way this team will lose two in a row with the Big East crown up for grabs.

Basketball Odds Handicapping: What South Florida Will Have To Do To Win

The Bulls will win this game if they put forth their best performance of the season, and Pittsburgh has their biggest meltdown. The disparity between the talent levels of these teams is reflected in the standings, and even if South Florida shoots the lights out the way they did against DePaul it would be difficult for them to do enough to slow the Panthers down. Augustus Gilchrist has been one of the few bright spots for the Bulls this season, leading the team in scoring and is second in rebounding. The junior forward scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the win over the Blue Demons, but will be in much tougher against Pittsburgh’s big men.

Basketball Odds Handicapping: Outlook & Pick

The Panthers have designs on winning the Big East title outright, and it’s difficult to imagine a situation where South Florida gets in their way. Pittsburgh will be even more motivated after losing to the Cardinals, and with Notre Dame pushing hard, and that should awaken a sleeping giant just in time for an absolute blowout game. It’s unfortunate for the Bulls that they will have to be the victim.

Basketball Odds Pick: Pittsburgh -10