Pittsburgh Should Win the Big East as NCAAF Odds Favorites

With Cincinnati losing their head coach to Notre Dame, there’s little standing in the way of the NCAAF odds favored Pittsburgh Panthers and the Big East title.

Pitt is a +250 co-favorite to win the usually super competitive Big East. Actually, the correct word is multi-favorite since besides Pittsburgh, both West Virginia and Connecticut are at +250 to win the Big East.

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I’ve been trying to find a reason to bet against the Panthers, but I can’t. To me, the Panthers should be going off at +125 to win the Big East, not +250.

Big East Conference – Best and Worst Bets

Odds to win the conference

Best Bet: Pittsburgh Panthers +250

Coach Dave Wannstedt is playing down expectations but some sports gamblers know better. Wannstedt’s team returns RB Dion Lewis, who is a Heisman Trophy candidate, and Big East co-defensive player of the year Greg Romeus. WR Jonathan Baldwin isn’t bad either and offensive tackle Jason Pinkston is an Outland Trophy candidate.

Can anybody think of a better set-up for new QB Tino Sunseri? The defense led the nation in sacks with 47 last season and should approach that number again this season. The Panthers are heads and tails above any other team in the Big East in my opinion.

I believe that they’re actually a dark horse for a BCS National Championship bid because they could go undefeated during the regular season if they can upset Miami at home and beat Notre Dame and Utah on the road.

Second Best Bet: Rutgers +500

Although Rutgers is an extremely young team, they have talent where it counts the most, in the QB position. QB Tom Savage has 11 starts under his belt, more than any other QB in the Big East, and began to really click with WR Mohamad Sanu, who’s a sophomore this season, in the passing game.

Savage to Sanu might be the best QB to WR combination not only in the Big East but in the entire nation this season. The defense is going to have to gel in a hurry, but might under the steady hand of head coach Greg Schiano and emerging CB Logan Ryan.

There’s talent everywhere on this team, the problem is one of experience, but given the fact that the Big East isn’t that deep this season, Rutgers has to be taken seriously at the NCAAF odds in the sportsbook to win the conference.

Worst Bet: West Virginia +250

The defense is experienced but I don’t have a lot of faith in QB Geno Stewart or RB Noel Devine. I know, how can I say that when Devine ran for over 1400 yards last season? I believe that when push comes to shove, Devine just isn’t tough enough to carry the load against a solid defensive team.

Add to that the fact that West Virginia plays at Marshall and at LSU before taking on South Florida at home, means that the Mountaineers could be facing all sorts of issues before they even start conference play.

Perhaps the biggest issue, however, if the fact that coach Bill Stewart has never had tocoach his own team after taking over for Rich Rodriguez a few years ago. The pressure might get to the career coordinator.

Others To Consider

Connecticut +250 – - They’re a better wager at the odds than West Virginia because 8 starters return on both offense and defense.

South Florida +500 – - One of the most talented teams in the Big East last season now gets a terrific coach in Lou’s kid, Skip Holtz. Holtz will make this team better, eventually. Maybe, he makes them better sooner than eventually.

Cincinnati +500 – - The Bearcats won’t miss a beat on offense because Butch Jones, their new coach, is a Brian Kelly disciple. I’m not sure they go 12 and 1 this season like they did last season but I do believe they’re worth a look to win the Big East at +500 NCAAF odds.

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