NCAA Football Betting: Bettors like Bulls over Panthers

Sept. 30, 2008 / By Nick Bailey

The Pittsburgh Panthers take on the No. 10-ranked South Florida Bulls in a clash of surging NCAA Football teams on Thursday at Raymond James Stadium (4:45 pm ET, ESPN).

The undefeated Bulls are a 13½-point favorite in NCAA Football Betting Odds at Sportingbet.com.

According to Public Betting information, South Florida is getting 63 per cent of the early action on the game, with 453 bets placed on the Bulls compared to 262 for the Panthers.

South Florida has a slight edge head-to-head, going 3-2 SU and ATS over the past five meetings. The teams last squared off on Nov. 24 last season, when the Bulls beat the Panthers 48-37 as 10 point road favorites. The score soared over the total of 45½.

Last week, LaRod Stephens-Howling scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pace Pittsburgh (3-1 SU, 0-4 ATS) to a 34-24 win over Syracuse. The Panthers failed to cover the 14-point spread, and the score went over the total of 48.

South Florida (5-0 SU, 1-3 ATS) racked up 31 first-half points en route to a 41-10 victory over North Carolina State in Week 5. South Florida covered the 10-point spread, and the 51 points made it over the total of 45.

Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its past five, but 2-6 SU in its past eight on the road. South Florida is 11-2 SU in its past 13 at home.

On the injury front, Panthers’ linebacker Shane Murray (knee) is day-to-day and defensive lineman Doug Fulmer Jr. (knee) is out for the season. For the Bulls, LB Lucas Darr (ankle) is day-to-day.