2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl Picks: Pittsburgh v. North Carolina Football Odds & Predictions

The 9-3 Pittsburgh Panthers take on the 8-4 North Carolina Tar Heels on December 26th at 4:30 PM EST on ESPN in the 2009 edition of the Meineke Car Care Bowl at Bank of American Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. College football odds makers have listed the Pitt Panthers as a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 44.5.

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The question heading into this game is if Pitt can emotionally get itself ready to play after letting a BCS bowl berth slip right through its fingers with a loss to Cincinnati. If you ask head coach Dave Wannstedt, the team still has plenty to play for. In fact, a win would give the Panthers their first 10-win season in 28 years. We’re talking back when Dan Marino was under center. Pulling off the feat figures to be no easy task against a team playing in its home state with a defense ranked in the top 10.

Last season, the Panthers were defeated 3-0 by Oregon State in the Sun Bowl in the lowest scoring bowl game in 50 years. This year’s Panthers figure to be able to put a few more points on the board. Pitt finished the season ranked 16th in scoring offense with 33.2 points per game. QB Bill Stull had a tremendous season throwing the football, earning first-team all-conference honors despite struggling in the team’s last two games, but Big East Offensive Player of the Year Dion Lewis was the real story. Lewis finished third in the country with 136.7 rushing yards per game and 17 touchdowns. He also came up just 46 yards shy of the great Tony Dorsett’s Pitt freshman record of 1,686 rushing yards. Lewis was brilliant against Cincinnati, toting the pigskin 47 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns. It is worth noting that the Panthers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a loss. If you like the Panthers to bounce back strong in their bowl game with a win and cover, bet Pittsburgh at -2.5 at Bookmaker.

Like Pitt, UNC lost a heartbreaker in its season finale to cost itself a better bowl game. The Tar Heels blew a 10-point halftime lead and lost to in-state rival N.C. State by 1-point. N.C. State also defeated Pitt 38-31 earlier in the season.

The Heels played in this bowl game last season and took a lead into the fourth quarter before losing to the Big East’s West Virginia Mountaineers 31-30. I can’t see UNC avenging last year’s loss if it gives up 30 or more points. The Tar Heels rank sixth in the nation in total defense, allowing only 267.8 yards per game, and they are particularly tough against the run, ranking ninth nationally.

Pitt’s defense is no slouch either. The Panthers rank 26th nationally in total defense, allowing 323.9 yards per game, and they are the best pass rushing team in the country. Greg Romeus leads a unit which came up with 45 sacks this season. It hasn’t been a strong season for UNC QB T.J. Yates, who ranked near the bottom of the ACC in terms of passer rating, but he will have to play well to give his team a chance this weekend. It is worth noting that the Panthers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 bowl games. If you expect this trend to continue, bet North Carolina at +2.5 at Bookmaker.

Jimmy Boyd has dominated the bowl season each of the last two years, finishing the 2007-08 bowl season on a 14-5 run and the 2008-09 season on a 10-4 home stretch run. Crush your book again this year through the BCS Championship Game with Jimmy’s expert football picks!

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