Jim Kruger Available Picks

January, 07 2012 1:00pm EST
ATS: Pittsburgh Panthers -3.5 (-110)
LOSS for -5 unit(s)

SMU Mustangs at Pittsburgh Panthers

Take #266 Pitt over SMU-
So which team is ready and motivated more for the "legendary" Compass Bowl Saturday?  Would it be the team (SMU) whose coach said he was leaving the school but had his "new school" withdraw their offer?  Or, would it be the team (Pitt) whose coach left them for the school the other coach said he was going to move to?  Oh, I should add that the former Pitt coach had an underling text message the Panther players that he was moving on.  No need for a team meeting in today's social media world. 

This post-season is déjà vu for the Pitt players as last year they played in this same bowl after their coach, Dave Wannstedt, was fired.  The Panther team stuck together and won their bowl game, 27-10, over Kentucky. 

Both teams lost their stud running backs late in the season with Pitt seeming to be in better shape with the replacements.  SMU started the season looking like a C-USA front-runner going 5-1 with back to back impressive wins over TCU and Central Florida.  The Mustangs then dropped four of their next five closing the season with a 27-24 win over Rice.  A bad stat to have, SMU led the nation in negative turnover margin and did not have one game where they won the TO margin. 

The Pitt offense is not very good scoring 14 or fewer points in three games and not gaining 300 yards in four games.  They have the 92nd rated passing attack in offensive efficiency but will be aided by going against a SMU pass defense that only picked off five passes for the year, one of the bottom five INT % in the FBS, and who allowed a 64% completion rate.  Pitt gave up more sacks with the worst sacks allowed percentage in the country, 14.47%, due to multiple OL injuries.  However, the SMU pass rush is nothing too exciting ranking in the middle of the FBS in sacks. 

Pitt finished the season better than SMU winning 3 of their last 5 with the 2 losses by a total of 4 points.  It appears the Panthers have more motivation than the June Jones led Mustangs who have to be wondering how long will it be before Jones leaves for greener pastures. 

Jim Kruger College Football Past Picks

College Football

SMU Mustangs @ Pittsburgh Panthers Saturday January 7, 2012 1:00 pm
Take #266 Pitt over SMU- So which team is ready and motivated more for the "legendary" Compass Bowl Saturday?  Would it be the team (SMU) whose coach said he was leaving the school but had his "new school" withdraw their offer?  Or, would it be the ... read more

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College Football

Wisconsin Badgers @ Oregon Ducks Monday January 2, 2012 5:00 pm
Take #255 Wisconsin over Oregon- Rose Bowl The Pac-12 is not doing so well in bowl games this season going 1-4 SU/ATS.  Now we have one of the brutes of the Big Ten, Wisconsin, coming in.  While the initial reaction is the Badgers won't be able to match the Ducks' speed, ... read more

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College Football

Florida Gators @ Ohio State Buckeyes Monday January 2, 2012 1:00 pm
Take Ohio State over Florida- Gator Bowl The media is trying to make some sort of "revenge or get even" game for Florida to beat Ohio State for "stealing" former coach Urban Meyer.  That appears to have fallen on deaf ears in both camps.  However, ... read more

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College Football

Texas A&M Aggies @ Northwestern Wildcats Saturday December 31, 2011 12:00 pm
Take the OVER in #237 Texas A&M- Northwestern The Wildcats can also put points on the board as the only teams to score more than 18 points against Penn State were Wisconsin, Alabama, and Northwestern, who had 24. The Northwestern defense is weak as evidenced with Illinois' ... read more

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College Football

Washington Huskies @ Baylor Bears Thursday December 29, 2011 9:00 pm
Take #227 Washington over Baylor Most people have heard of the Heisman Trophy jinx in bowl games, something to the effect of 24-8 to bet against the winner.  Everybody knows Robert Griffin III of Baylor picked up the bling.  He has since been on the banquet circuit coupled ... read more

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College Football

Louisville Cardinals @ NC State Wolfpack Tuesday December 27, 2011 8:00 pm
Take #220 NC State over Louisville Louisville became one of the surprise teams as the season transpired.  After a 2-4 start, they finished the season winning five of their last six including three on the road as they tied for the Big East title but missed out on a BCS Bowl ... read more

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College Football

Arizona State Sun Devils @ Boise State Broncos Thursday December 22, 2011 8:00 pm
Take #212 Boise State over Arizona State The football program has become shaky at Arizona State.  Head coach Dennis Erickson has been fired but will be coaching the Sun Devils in the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl.  First, it was reported June Jones from SMU would be the new ASU ... read more

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College Football

Utah State Aggies @ Ohio Bobcats Saturday December 17, 2011 5:30 pm
Take #203 Utah State over Ohio Ohio choked away the MAC Championship game to Northern Illinois blowing a 20-0 halftime lead to lose 23-20.  The team doesn't appear to be too excited about playing in the Idaho Potato Bowl as evidenced by a tweet by the Ohio punter saying "who ... read more

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College Football

BYU Cougars @ Hawaii Warriors Saturday December 3, 2011 7:30 pm
Take #327 BYU over Hawaii Hawaii has lost three of their last four games, two of those at home.  They were outgained in their three losses by 429 yards.  Their last game was a non-covering 12-point win as an 18.5 point favorite over WAC weakling Tulane.  BYU ... read more

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College Football

West Virginia Mountaineers @ South Florida Bulls Thursday December 1, 2011 8:00 pm
Take #303 West Virginia over South Florida South Florida has not done well for its backers this year losing outright five times this season as a favorite in a Big East game.  The Bulls still can become bowl eligible with a win over West Virginia.  However, West Virginia ... read more

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