Pittsburgh vs Notre Dame – NCAA Football Sportsbook

The Pittsburgh Panthers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are both looking for back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

One of these teams are going to get their wish this Saturday as they meet in South Bend in non-conference action.

Early NCAA football sportsbook betting has favored the Irish at a rate of 84%/16% in this game.

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The college football odds makers have set the line favoring Notre Dame by -6-points. A straight up bet on the underdog Pittsburgh will pay bettors +220 on the moneyline. The game total is set at 49½ points.

NCAA Football Sportsbook Lines

October 9, 2010

Pittsburgh Panthers +6 -110 +220

Notre Dame Fighting Irish -6 -110 -260

Game Total 49½

Location: Notre Dame Stadium – South Bend IN

Game Time: 3:30pm

TV: NBC

NCAA Football Trends – The Irish are just 1-10 ATS in their past 11 games as a favorite.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have sandwiched two wins around three losses to nationally ranked opponents this season.

Quarterback Dayne Crist has been the Irish’s best weapon on the field. Crist is completing 58.2% of his passes for 1358 yards, 10 touchdowns and 4 interceptions this season. His best game came in a 34-31 losing effort against Michigan State. In that game, Crist threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns.

The Irish defense has been the weak link in the chain this season. They are giving up 24.8 points a game, 152.8 rushing yards, 248.2 passing yards and 401 total yards of offense a game.

The Pittsburgh Panthers have alternated winning and losing in four games this season. Both losses came to nationally ranked opponents, first a 27-24 loss to #10 Utah and the other an embarrassing 31-3 loss to Miami.

Last week the Panthers put together and impressive 44-17 showing over Florida International, easily coving the -17 point spread.

NCAA Football Sportsbook Trends – The Panthers are 5-1-1 ATS in their past seven games after passing for less than 170 yards in the previous game.

The Panthers are looking for their third consecutive win over the Irish but it will be more difficult this year as star running Dion Lewis has been dealing shoulder pains and star WR Jon Baldwin is dealing with quarterback issues.

Last season Dion Lewis ran for 1799 yards but he missed last game with a sore shoulder and his backup Ray Graham has put up three consecutive 100+ yard rushing games. Graham has been good but he’s still not putting up the numbers needed to win games in Pittsburgh.

Jon Baldwin caught 57 passes for 1111 yards last season but that was with senior Bill Stull under center. This season sophomore starter Tino Sunseri and Baldwin don’t have the same chemistry. It’s hurting the Panthers and it could hurt Baldwin’s draft stock for the NFL.

NCAA Football Sportsbook Trends – In the past five meetings between the Irish and the Panthers, the underdog is 5-0.

I like the trends in this game, Lewis is back for Saturday’s game and Baldwin is too good of a receiver to stall out for too long. Take the Panthers to win this game straight up.

NCAAF Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Panthers +220

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