BBVA Compass Bowl News and Notes

BBVA Compass Bowl Preview
By: Matt Zemek

In the second week of December, the Big East Conference and the Southeastern Conference stage a college basketball event in which both leagues clash on the hardwood. Now, the Big East and the SEC will be able to lock horns on the gridiron in yet another renamed bowl game.

The BBVA Compass Bowl has a very puzzling label (the sponsor is a bank). This game also has two distinctly under-the-radar teams who did not do much to set themselves apart from the crowd in 2010. The Pittsburgh Panthers and the Kentucky Wildcats both could have done a lot better than they actually fared this past season. They’ll try to salvage their respective campaigns in Birmingham, Alabama, in the game formerly known as the PapaJohns.com Bowl. The setting for this game – Legion Field – is one of college football’s most historic and memory-rich shrines. The matchup that will take place inside the former home of the Iron Bowl (and Bear Bryant’s best Alabama teams) doesn’t inspire quite as many goosebumps or chills.

The Panthers were the preseason pick to win the Big East Conference. Through October, it looked as though their plans were right on schedule. Pitt owned a two-game lead on the field and was in the process of casting aside its non-conference losses to Utah, Miami (FL) and Notre Dame. Then, however, November happened. The Panthers slipped on the ol’ banana peel and thoroughly embarrassed themselves in face-plants against Connecticut and West Virginia. Yes, in a pair of utterly ragged performances – holistic train-wrecks in all phases of football – the Panthers simply became unhinged. Inconsistent defense and a careless, mistake-prone offense caused Pittsburgh to fritter away the Big East and miss yet another opportunity to gain a BCS bowl. The late-season tumble was so pronounced in its crash-and-burn completeness that Pittsburgh Athletic Director Steve Pederson fired coach Dave Wannstedt and sought a new direction. Frank Cignetti, the offensive coordinator, will be the coach for this bowl game.

The Wildcats didn’t have a great team, but their 6-6 record will certainly be viewed as a disappointment when one realizes that the SEC East Division was very mediocre in 2010. Florida won only seven games and both Georgia and Tennessee won only six. This was a real opportunity for Kentucky to gain at least second place in the division and move upward in the Southeastern Conference. Coach Joker Phillips couldn’t coax as much out of his defense as he needed to. The Wildcats got shredded by most of their in-division opponents and were able to thrive only against bottom-feeding Vanderbilt and eventual champion South Carolina. Kentucky showed flashes of brilliance but was not able to be consistent in any way. The supreme regret for the Wildcats and their fans was that they weren’t able to snap a losing streak against Tennessee that dates back to 1985. Indeed, 1984 was the last year Big Blue bested the Vols, so in 2010, the Cats’ inability to take down Tennessee casts a long and negative shadow over the Kentucky program. It’s entirely fair to say that “Kentucky is still Kentucky in football,” so the Joker and his players must use this game to build for the 2011 season.

Pittsburgh will be distracted due to its coaching change, while a Kentucky team that made a bowl game will probably be more enthusiastic and motivated. This is a game that will be decided between the ears, not on the chalkboard or in the film room. Kentucky probably needs this game more in the short term, while Pittsburgh is eager to find out how different life will be with a new coach on the prowl in the Steel City.

STAT PACK

Pittsburgh

Passing Yards Per Game: 210.0 (National ranking out of 120 FBS teams: 70)

Rushing Yards Per Game: 157.8 (Ranking: 54)

Points Per Game: 26.3 (Ranking: 69)

Points Allowed Per Game: 19.8 (Ranking: 22)

Kentucky

Passing: 274.2 ypg (Ranking: 21)

Rushing: 163.1 ypg (Ranking: 47)

Scoring: 33.0 ppg (Ranking: 26)

Scoring Defense: 28.5 ppg (Ranking: 74)

Questions for Kentucky, Pitt in Compass Bowl betting
By: Michael Robinson

The Big East Pittsburgh Panthers are swirling in controversy as they get ready for Saturday’s Compass Bowl matchup against the SEC Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky has its own problems with quarterback Mike Hartline out.

ESPN will broadcast at 9 a.m. (PT) from Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. This is the first meeting ever between the schools and weather is expected to be sunny and in the 40s.

Bookmaker.com has Pittsburgh as 3 ½-point favorites with a total of 52-points. Neither team is ranked in the BCS top-25.

Pittsburgh (7-5 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) has had a tumultuous month to say the least. It began on December 7 with the forced resignation of coach Dave Wannstedt, who had accumulated a 42-31 mark in six seasons.

Mike HartlineAthletic director Steve Pederson’s quick search landed Miami of Ohio’s Michael Haywood on Dec. 16, a disappointing choice among fans who wanted a bigger name. Haywood was fired on New Year’s Day after a domestic violence charge.

Defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, a former head coach at SMU, will lead Pittsburgh on Saturday. Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti has taken a job at Rutgers, with tight ends coach Brian Angelichio calling the plays.

Bennett’s defense was the strength of the team at 304.3 YPG (ninth nationally) and 19.8 PPG (ranked 21st). However, there were late-season breakdowns with a 30-28 loss at Connecticut and a 35-10 home loss to West Virginia. That cost Pitt the Big East title and a BCS berth.

Big East Defensive Player on the Year Jabaal Sheard (nine sacks) will miss this game after elbow surgery. Brandon Lindsey will need a big game pressuring the quarterback as Greg Romeus (knee) was already lost for the year in November.

Pittsburgh’s offense scored just 26.3 PPG, 69th in the country. Sophomore quarterback Tino Sunseri is averaging only 185.4 YPG the last five games even with a big play receiver in Jon Baldwin (810 yards, 15.6 yards per catch).

Running back Dion Lewis went from 1,799 rushing yards as a freshman last year to 956 this year. However, he ended with 261 at Cincinnati and will get plenty of carries against Kentucky’s 79th ranked run defense (170.1 YPG).

Pittsburgh made bowl games the last two years (going 1-1 SU and ATS). It lost 3-0 in the Sun Bowl to Oregon State before beating North Carolina (19-17) in the Meineke Car Care Bowl last season. The ‘under’ is 4-0 in its last four bowl games overall.

Kentucky (6-6 SU, 6-6 ATS) received a big blow when Hartline was suspended for this game following an arrest for public intoxication. He threw for 3,178 yards and had 23 touchdowns versus nine interceptions.

The Wildcats’ 33 PPG scored ranked 25th nationally, with the ‘over’ 9-2 in their last 11 games.

Sophomore Morgan Newton will get the start. He started eight games as a freshman last year after Hartline got hurt, but has thrown just seven passes this season. A good performance will give him a leg up on the starting job next year.

Newton only averaged 16.9 throws in his starts last year and the playbook will be cut down on Saturday, Randall Cobb will also see more time out of the wildcat formation. He rushed for 170 yards and two TDs in a 38-20 home win over Vanderbilt two games ago.

Running back Derrick Locke rushed for 816 yards despite missing four games (arm injury). He’s averaging 5.3 yards per carry, but expect Pittsburgh to stack the line of scrimmage and force Newton to pass.

Kentucky played much better at home this year at 5-2 SU and ATS, compared to 1-4 SU and ATS away. The only road win came ironically at a Big East school, 23-16 as three-point favorites at Louisville during opening week.

Joker Phillips is in his first year as Wildcats’ head coach. They made bowl games the last four years under Rich Brooks, going 3-1 SU and 2-1-1 ATS. The only loss was to Clemson last year in the Music City Bowl, 21-13 as 6 ½-point ‘dogs.

BBVA Compass Bowl: What Bettors Need to Know

BBVA Compass Bowl: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (-3.5, 52.5)

The Skinny: Pitt has plenty of distractions to put aside when it faces 6-6 Kentucky (6-6 ATS) in Saturday's Compass Bowl. The Panthers (7-5, 6-4-2 ATS) will be led by interim head coach Phil Bennett, their third coach in the last month. Dave Wannstedt resigned under pressure following a 7-5 season. Pitt hired Miami-Ohio coach Mike Haywood, but the deal lasted less than a week. Haywood was arrested on a domestic battery charge and was terminated.

Kentucky also has its fair of distractions, after starting quarterback Mike Hartline was suspended after alcohol-related arrest. The Wildcats are led by first-year coach Joker Phillips, a native of the state who was promoted when Rich Brooks resigned last January.

The game promises to be a battle between the Pitt defense, annually one of the best in the Big East, against an explosive Kentucky offense that averages 33 points per game. It remains to be seen how the Wildcats will do against another strong defense; they struggled against Florida, Mississippi State and an improving Tennessee.

Point Spread: Pitt -3.5. Over/under – 52.5.

This spread has remained fairly steady for the amount of drama surrounding the game. Pitt was as low as -2.5 but has since been bet up to over a field-goal favorite. The total opened at 52.5 and spent some time at 53 before coming back to the original number.

Pitt's edge: The Panthers are a strong defensive team. Senior defensive end Jabaal Sheard was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year, the third straight year a Panther has earned the award. Sheard had 52 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Pitt ranks 11th in the nation in total defense (304.25 yards) and 22nd in scoring defense, allowing just 19.75 points per game. Beware of Brandon Lindsey, who has 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.

Kentucky's edge: Befitting coach Phillips' former role as offensive coordinator, the Wildcats do some inventive things with the ball. Sophomore quarterback Morgan Newton will step in for Hartline, but expect Kentucky to use the athletic Randall Cobb in a Wildcat formation to take advantage of his elusiveness and various skills; Cobb has rushed for 401 yards and five touchdowns, and three of his five completions have gone for a touchdown.

The Quarterbacks: Pitt's Tino Sunseri has been reliable since earning the job. He's thrown for 2,476 yards and 15 touchdowns, including a 307-yard effort against Rutgers. Newton saw limited action this season, but made a handful of starts during his freshman season. He's a big, athletic quarterback but, like most young signal-callers, has struggled with consistency.

NFL Prospects: Pitt – DE Greg Romeus, SS Dom DeCicco. Kentucky – RB Derrick Locke, WR Chris Matthews, QB Mike Hartline, DE DeQuin Evans.

Bowl history: Pitt has an 11-15 record in bowl games and is coming off a 19-17 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Kentucky, which is making a school-record fifth consecutive bowl appearance, has an 8-6 record. The Wildcats dropped a 21-13 decision to Clemson last year, which broke a three-game bowl winning streak. Neither team has appeared in the Compass Bowl.

Etc.: Pitt defensive end Greg Romeus tore the ACL in his right knee in November and is out, one of the team's four season-ending knee injuries. Running back Ray Graham (back) should be back. Kentucky suspended defensive tackle Mark Crawford for violating team rules; it was his second suspension of the year. Defensive end Nermin Delic (shoulder) and linebacker Qua Huzzie (shoulder) remain questionable.

Weather: The forecast for Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama is calling for sun and medium winds, blowing northwest at 15 mph. Game-time temperatures will be in the mid 40s.

Trends:

- Wildcats are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 non-conference games.
- Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last five bowl games.
- Under is 5-2 in Wildcats last seven games vs. Big East.
- Under is 4-0 in Panthers last four Bowl games.

BBVA Compass Bowl
By Brian Edwards

Before the NFL Playoffs get started Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. Eastern, bettors have a warm-up game from the college ranks. Pittsburgh and Kentucky are set to square off in the BBVA Compass Bowl at Legion Field in Birmingham at noon on ESPN.

Most betting shops have installed Pittsburgh (7-5 straight up, 6-3-2 against the spread) as a 3 ½-point favorite with a total of 52. Gamblers can take the Wildcats to win outright for a plus-140 return (risk $100 to win $140).

Kentucky (6-6 SU, 6-6 ATS) will be playing without starting senior quarterback Mike Hartline for the first time this year. Hartline enjoyed a stellar campaign, but he’s suspended after getting arrested last month. He completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 3,178 yards with a 23/9 touchdown-to-interception ratio during the regular season.

Morgan Newton, a true sophomore who started eight games in 2009, will get the nod in Hartline’s absence. Newton, a southpaw with the build of a fullback, is a leaner version of UK’s all-time leading passer Jared Lorenzen.

As a freshman, Newton connected on 55.6 percent of his throws for 706 yards with a 6/3 TD-INT ratio. He has the ability to scramble, rushing for a pair of TDs in 2009, and he’s hard for defensive linemen to take down when they get to him in the pocket. Newton barely touched the field this year, attempting only seven passes and rushing for 32 yards on four carries.

Newton has a pair of big-time weapons in wide receiver Randall Cobb and RB Derrick Locke. Cobb is a dynamic playmaker who can beat opponents throwing, running or catching the ball. The All-SEC performer had 79 receptions for 955 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Cobb also rushed for 401 yards and five TDs, averaging 7.7 yards per carry. He also has three touchdown passes without being intercepted.

Locke had to miss four regular-season games with a knee injury, but he still rushed for 816 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s also a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield, hauling in 28 catches for 257 yards.

UK got bowl eligible by spanking Vandy 38-20 as a 17-point home favorite on Nov. 13. However, the ‘Cats were unable to end their painful losing streak against Tennessee, losing 24-14 to the Vols as 2 ½-point road underdogs in the regular-season finale.

Pitt won a 28-10 decision at Cincinnati as a one-point ‘chalk’ in its regular-season finale, but sixth-year head coach Dave Wannstedt got fired anyway. The Panthers, who were considered by many as the Big East favorites back in August, had taken woodshed treatment at home against arch-rival West Va. the previous week.

Wannstedt was initially expected to stay on and coach the team in this game, but he abruptly decided otherwise last week. Also, the newly-hired Mike Haywood from Miami (OH.) was canned after getting arrested on domestic-violence charges.

So Pitt still doesn’t have a head coach looking into the future. Phil Bennett, the former head coach at SMU, is the interim head coach for this game.

It’s not all gloom and doom for the Panthers, though. After all, they still have one of the nation’s premier RBs in sophomore Dion Lewis, who has rushed for 956 yards and 12 TDs, averaging 4.9 YPC.

Pitt QB Tino Sunseri completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 2,476 yards with a 15/8 TD-INT ratio. His favorite target is junior WR Jon Baldwin, who had 52 receptions for 810 yards and five TDs during the regular season.

Pitt’s defense is led by senior DE Jabaal Sheard, who was named the Big East’s Defensive Player of the Year. Sheard has 14 ½ tackles for losses, nine sacks, four forced fumbles and 52 tackles.

Pitt owns a 4-2 spread record in six games as a single-digit favorite, while Kentucky has limped to an abysmal 2-5 ATS mark in seven games as an underdog. The ‘Cats have one outright win as ‘dogs, rallying from a 28-10 deficit to beat South Carolina by a 31-28 count.

The ‘over’ has been a lucrative money maker in UK games, cashing at a 9-3 overall clip. The ‘over’ went 6-5 overall for the Panthers.

This is UK’s fifth consecutive trip to a bowl game. The ‘Cats had won three in a row in the postseason before dropping a 21-13 decision to Clemson at last year’s Music City Bowl.

Pitt is in its third straight bowl game, beating North Carolina 19-17 as a one-point ‘chalk’ at last season’s Meineke Car Care Bowl.

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Compass Bowl Preview

Kentucky won three of last four bowl games under underrated veteran coach Brooks- they were underdog in two of those three bowl wins; this is first bowl game for Phillips, who had to suspend QB Hartline for this game after kid got arrested- soph QB Newton had 8 starts LY (56%, 706 PY, six TDs, 3 INT) and gets nod here. Would also expect to see former QB/current WR Cobb in Wildcat formation. Birmingham is SEC country; Wildcats figure to have crowd edge.

Pitt fired Wannstedt, replaced him with Miami OH coach Heywood and fired him three weeks later after arrest for felony domestic violence, but Wannstedt won't coach team, DC Bennett will. Panthers have first-year QB; they won six of last eight games, but are 1-3 when held to less than 20 points (6-2 if they score 20+). Panthers lost three of last four bowls, scoring total of 42 points, with only win by two points.

Big East teams are 4-0 in Compass Bowl, which used to be Papa John's Bowl, even though game is in heart of SEC country. Underdogs are 2-0-1 vs spread in this game the last three years. Average total in bowl: 40.5.