Pittsburgh at Syracuse

How things have changed at Syracuse over the last several years. Once a fixture in the Top 25, the Orange have fallen from competitiveness. All you hear about is how the Cuse is blown out at home game after game, but the reality is their home schedule was murder last year. They were blown out by Cincinnati, South Florida, Illinois, West Virginia and Rutgers. Those were all teams nationally ranked at some point during the season. They just got spanked by Penn State and the rumbles continue. But Penn State is a good team! Pittsburgh is not even close to any of those teams, but those teams help create the value here. The Panthers have their own problems, losing by 10 to Bowling Green at home. And, they have not been to a Bowl in three years themselves. They have not come close to blowing Syracuse out lately, as these teams are a lot closer than this line represents. Pitt barely got by Syracuse last year at home, winning by 3. They won at the Dome two years ago by 10, and lost in the Dome four years ago by 7. The Orange are 17-4 ATS in their last 21 home games coming off a home win and I look for them to carry the momentum from last week's win into this one. This is too much respect for a team that hasn't earned it yet, and I'll back the Cuse in this one to stay in this game, and within the number.