Kentucky Wildcats versus Pittsburgh Panthers 2011 BBVA Compass Bowl Odds, Preview, and Predictions: Head football coach Joker Phillips will lead the Kentucky Wildcats to Legion Field to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers at 12:00 Noon ET in the BBVA COMPASS BOWL on ESPN. The Wildcats enter the game at 6-6 5th in the SEC East with this their 5th consecutive postseason appearance while the Panthers come into the game at 7-5 tied for 1st in the Big East. The Panthers season wasn’t enough to salvage the job of Head football coach Dave Wannstedt who will be coaching his last game for Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Panthers hired Miami (Ohio) coach Michael Haywood and subsequently let him go due to legal troubles he got into regarding a domestic dispute over the holidays.
“This was a hard season, a tough year all the way around, on and off the field,” athletic director Steve Pederson said. “That wears on everyone. … As you go through tough years, you begin to evaluate.” The Panthers aren’t alone with legal issues as Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline has been suspended for the game by Coach Phillips for and arrest on public intoxication and disorderly conduct charge. Vegas odds makers have the Pittsburgh Panthers a -3 1/2 point favorite at Legion Field against the Kentucky Wildcats.
The Panthers are coming off a 28-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats on the road to finish the season at 6-3-2 ATS. Quarterback Tino Sunseri completed 14 of 23 passes for 158 yards and a pick. Running back Dion Lewis had his best outing of the season carrying the ball 42 times for 261 yards and 4 touchdowns a one man wrecking crew! Pittsburgh is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games.
The Wildcats are coming off a road loss 24-14 to the Tennessee Volunteers finishing the season 6-5 ATS. Quarterback Mike Hartline completed 31 of 44 passes for 272 yards a touchdown and a pick but will be replaced by Sophomore Morgan Newton for Saturday’s game. “Mike has had a good record here conduct-wise and I regret that this has happened but it did,” Phillips said. “… We have clear expectations of how we want our players to act, how we want them to behave. It is tough on me because of how I feel about Mike and what he has done for this program, but that is something that you have to do as a head coach. You have to make a decision and our expectations are clear-cut. We have to stick with them.” Odds makers at SBG Global have the over/under for the total score at 52 1/2 points combined of the Kentucky Wildcats and Pittsburgh Panthers.
Note: Rich Fritz is a Blog Writer on NSAwins.com and not a pro handicapper. For expert NFL Football Predictions against the Vegas spreads please visit the NSAwins.com homepage for top predictions today from the National Sports Advisors.