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2008 Pittsburgh College Football Picks & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on August 8, 2008

This should be the season in which Dave Wannstedt’s recruits finally get the job done. It is difficult to imagine a scenario in which Pitt doesn’t win at least eight games to head to a nice bowl. And with as strong as the defense is, with our college football predictions we think that the Panthers could be a nice sleeper pick to win the Big East. Jimmy Boyd’s 2008 Pittsburgh Panthers season preview deliver the ins and outs of the team.

Offense

With QB Bill Stull going down with a thumb injury in the first game of the 2007 season, the Panthers were dealt a blow right off the bat they couldn’t recover from. QB play can easily be sited as the reason for at least three early season losses last year. With Stull coming off a strong spring and with last year’s replacement, Pat Bostick, having a year of experience under his belt, the QB spot is in much better hands than it was a year ago. Athletic and speedy junior college transfer, Greg Cross, will come in to execute some packages top display his running talents. A lack of experience on the line could throw a huge wrinkle into the offense, but if it performs well, the Panthers will be explosive. Left guard C.J. Davis is the only returner on the line. The receiving corps goes at least six deep with the sure-handed Derek Kinder and the speedy T.J. Porter leading the group. LeSean McCoy emerged as a big time tailback last season with 1,328 yards and 14 touchdowns. The offense will center around his exceptional talents once again.

Defense

The defensive front should be among the nation’s biggest and baddest. It is an athletic and deep group led by sophomore defensive end Greg Romeus. Few ends across the country are more versatile and athletic. The tackle corps is stacked with four capable performers. All three starting linebackers return including senior All-American candidate Scott McKillop, who led the nation in tackles last season. Senior free safety Eric Thatcher and junior cornerback Aaron Berry are among the best at their respective spots in the conference. This unit finished fifth in the nation in total defense in 2007, allowing 297.7 yards per game, and it should be even better in 2008.

Special Teams

Senior place kicker Connor Lee is one of the Big East’s best kickers ever. He is the career leader in field goal percentage (83.3 percent) and connected on 18 of 22 attempts last season. Punter Dave Brytus has a big leg, but most show more consistency. Corner Aaron Berry is a solid punt return man and tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling will likely handle the kicks.

Prediction – 3rd Big East

With perhaps the league’s best defense, the Panthers could challenge for a Big East title, but they aren’t quite up there with West Virginia and South Florida. A share of it would be the most likely scenario if they are able to pull it off, but an inexperienced offensive line appears to be an Achilles heel which won’t easily be overcome, leaving them right there with Rutgers and Connecticut.

Do you college football betting with Jimmy Boyd all season long and break the bank. No other handicapper cares about winning as much as Jimmy and the success rate of his NCAA football picks and the analysis which supports them will prove that week after week.

Beat the college football odds this season with the help of our football picks!

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