Football Sports Betting – Pittsburgh Aims To Take Command In Big East

ThePittsburgh Panthers flourished in their first Big East game of 2010. They’ll try to keep the good football sports betting vibes flowing as they host Rutgers this weekend in the Steel City.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ Pittsburgh Panthers

Saturday, October 23rd – 12:00 PM ET

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh

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Broadcast: Big East Network

Football Sports Betting Odds: Rutgers +12.5, Pittsburgh -12.5

Total: 44

Last week, it was really rather amazing to think that Syracuse, the longtime bottom-feeder in the Big East, was a one-point favorite over Pittsburgh, the consensus preseason pick to win the league. Sure enough, Pittsburgh proceeded to crush the Orange, 45-14, and restore order in what is admittedly a wide-open conference.

The Big East’s member football schools play only seven conference games, so with the season running through Saturday, Dec. 4, the Big East schedule is just getting started. Pittsburgh and Rutgers bring 1-0 conference records to this clash in Western Pennsylvania.

Because of the frailty of the league, it’s important for every team in the Big East to start strong and not depend on a bold late-season finish.

Football Sports Betting: What Rutgers Has To Do To Win

The Scarlet Knights can’t expect to live on the edge all the time and survive. Coach Greg Schiano’s club needs to get on top of opponents and display a lot more precision in the first halves of games. Rutgers trailed Connecticut, 24-17, with just under five minutes left in regulation on Friday, Oct. 8 before scoring 10 points in a span of 3:53 to dig out a 27-24 win.

Last week, Rutgers fell behind Army, 17-3, and needed a touchdown to tie the game in the final minutes of regulation. Rutgers escaped with a 23-20 overtime win, but the pattern of living on the high wire remained an undeniable reality for a team that fell off the high wire against a bad Tulane team earlier this season.

Rutgers is tempting the fates, and this team – led by a crafty, young playmaking quarterback named Chas Dodd – needs to perform a lot better before halftime. If Rutgers trails a team with Pittsburgh’s talent by two touchdowns at the half, the Scarlet Knights are not very likely to make a comeback.

Greg Romeus and the rest of Pittsburgh’s defensive front will not allow Dodd to feel comfortable in the pocket.

Football Sports Betting: What Pittsburgh Has To Do To Win

If the non-conference portion of Pitt’s season was an embarrassment – and it was – the Big East opener at Syracuse was a profound source of satisfaction and relief for oft-criticized coach Dave Wannstedt. Pittsburgh has constantly knocked on the door during the Wannstedt years but has never broken through and won the Big East.

Last year, Pitt led Cincinnati at home, 31-10, in what amounted to the league’s championship game. Somehow, the game slipped away from the Panthers in a 45-44 loss. This year, the diminished quality of the Big East gives Pitt a great chance to finally reach a BCS bowl under Wannstedt.

Against Rutgers, the real key is not the Xs and Os; it’s the Jimmies and Joes for Pitt. The Panthers simply need to get out of their own way and play up to the extent of their capabilities. If they do, they’re more talented than Rutgers and should produce an easy win.

Football Sports Betting: Outlook & Pick

The 31-point win over Syracuse should definitely have a liberating effect for Pittsburgh. Expect the Panthers to throttle a Rutgers team that’s fortunate to have as many wins as it does.

Football Sports Betting Pick: Pittsburgh -12.5