SPORTS BETTING

• Notre Dame at Pittsburgh

  Posted on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT by GetChalk

  
  

  The Pittsburgh Panthers are having one of their best football seasons in recent years and have climbed all the way to second in the Big East and as high as ninth in the national rankings.
   
  However, when Pitt plays host to one of college football’s most historic and dramatic programs Saturday night, don't be surprised if all the attention is on the visitor.
   
  Oddsmakers have set the Panthers as 7-point home favorites when they welcome the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to Heinz Field. Despite all of Pitt's accolades this year, the current situation in South Bend is stealing all the headlines heading into this non-conference clash.
   
  The Fighting Irish dropped their third game of the season to the Navy Midshipmen last Saturday, losing 23-21 and officially falling out of the BCS bowl picture. Like past seasons, Notre Dame's shortcomings have fingers pointing at head coach Charlie Weis.
   
  Weis told reporters this week he's putting the loss behind him and focusing on the task at hand – beating Pitt. Under Weis, Notre Dame is a pathetic 1-10 against teams that finished the year in the Top 25. The team already has losses to the Michigan Wolverines and USC Trojans, and since Weis was named head coach in 2005 the Fighting Irish have never beaten a team that has finished with fewer than four losses.
   
  Those historic numbers can't have fans of the Golden Domers feeling confident heading into this matchup. Especially since Notre Dame was bowled over by Navy's run-heavy offense for 348 yards last weekend. The Midshipmen averaged more than six yards per carry and scored all but one of their touchdowns on the ground.
   
  The Panthers have become a prolific ground team under the legs of freshman running back Deon Lewis. The speedy 5-foot-8 lightning bug leads the Big East in rushing and is ranked seventh overall in the country in yards per game (126.56).
   
  He's found the end zone 13 times this season and is coming off a stellar performance against the Syracuse Orange in which he finished with 110 yards rushing and one touchdown. He also caught two balls for 42 yards receiving, giving him a season total of 134 yards through the air and one touchdown reception.
   
  Pittsburgh has also flexed its muscles on the other side on the ball in recent weeks. After starting the schedule with lackluster performances, the Panther defense has been drum tight since their lone loss to North Carolina State back in Week 4.
   
  Over the last five games, Pitt has allowed an average of just over two touchdowns on 278 yards against per game, which is almost 33 yards fewer than its season average. The Panthers are the top defensive unit in the Big East and are among the Top 20 programs in red-zone defense, holding opponents to a 73.91 scoring percentage -  putting them in front of defensive juggernaut Alabama (75 percent).
   
  The Panthers' pass defense will get a workout against the Fighting Irish. Pittsburgh has limited opponents to just over 204 yards through the air. It has held opposing passers to a 56 percent completion rating and has picked off 10 passes for interceptions while allowing 11 passing touchdowns.
   
  Notre Dame has one of the most potent air attacks in the country, averaging almost 326 yards per game. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen is fifth in the land in passing and holds a QB rating of 162.89 while hitting his receivers for 20 touchdowns and throwing only three interceptions.
   
  Last weekend, Clausen got one of his best targets back on the field in receiver Michael Floyd. The sophomore, who has 499 yards receiving and six touchdowns, caught 10 balls for 141 yards and a score in the loss to Navy, which was his first action since the win over Michigan State in mid-September.
   
  The Irish also have a viable weapon on the wing in wideout Golden Tate, who has totaled almost 1,060 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns this year. The junior reeled in nine balls for 132 yards and a score versus the Midshipmen.
   
  Oddsmakers opened the total for Saturday's contest at 56, which has since moved to 57 as of mid-week. These teams played over the 48-point total set for last season's game which finished 36-33 for the Panthers, who were 4-point underdogs in South Bend.
   
  Going back to 1997, Notre Dame and Pitt have produced an over/under mark of 5-3. The Irish come into the weekend boasting a 4-5 over/under record while the Panthers are 3-5 over/under on the year.