Utah Utes

Pittsburgh Panthers at Utah Utes 2010 NCAAF Week 1 Odds, Preview, and Predictions:  The preseason ranked 15 Pitt Panthers travel to Salt Lake City Thursday evening to take on the preseason ranked 20 Utah Utes. Head football coach Dave Wannstedt is coming off his best year with the Panthers and has them as a favorite to win the Big East Conference. Utah has had a string of successful season resulting in this being their last season in the Mountain West Conference. The Utes accepted an invitation to join the PAC 10 next year where a conference victory would give them an automatic BCS bowl berth and possibly a shot at a national title. Something that eluded them during undefeated seasons in 2004 and 2008 when they needed an at large bid. “Opening out at Utah, there’s no margin for error,” Wannstedt said. Vegas odds makers have the Utah Utes a -3 point favorite at home against the Pittsburgh Panthers.

The Panthers will rely on third year sophomore quarterback Tino Sunseri to lead the offense even though he has thrown only 17 collegiate passes. Making his job much easier will be the play of running back Dion Lewis who broke Tony Dorsett’s freshman running record in 2009 with 1,799 rushing yards. Lewis was the offensive player of the year in the Big East Conference, a second team All-American, and is being hyped as a Heisman Trophy Candidate. Lewis helped Pitt to its first bowl win in 7 years with 159 yards and a touchdown in a 19-17 win in the Meineke Bowl over North Carolina. Vegas odds makers have Dion Lewis at 15/1 odds to win the Heisman Trophy.

Utah is also coming off a Poinsettia Bowl win 37-27 over California its 9th straight bowl victory. Head football coach Kyle Whittingham will look to sophomore quarterback Jordan Wynn to continue to lead the offense like he did as Offensive MVP in the Bowl going 26-36 for an impressive 338 yards and three touchdown passes. Wynn will hand the ball off to senior Eddie Wide who is coming off a season with 1,069 and 12 touchdown runs to lead the team. Odds makers at SBG Global have the over/under for the total score at 49 points combined of the Utah Utes and Pittsburgh Panthers.

This is the only opening day meeting of two ranked teams and promises to be a good one. I predict a Utah victory in a close game so take the points. The game can be seen on Versus at 8:30 PM ET. Note: Rich Fritz is a Blog Writer on NSAwins.com and not a pro handicapper. For expert College Football Predictions against the vegas spreads please visit the NSAwins.com homepage for top predictions today from the National Sports Advisors.