Pittsburgh was among the best teams in the Big East Conference last season. Will it be able to challenge for a conference title this year. Jeff Alexander's 2007 Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Preview tells all. Sportbetting.com has the Pittsburgh Panthers at 200 to 1 to 3 win the NCAA Championship.
Pitt is in some elite company. The Panthers are one of only 12 NCAA teams who have made the Big Dance each of the past six seasons. Pitt is one of only five teams to have made the Sweet 16 in four of the past six years. But history will not atone for the loss of All-Big East center Aaron Gray. With Pitt losing this bulk down low, head coach Jamie Dixon will look to run and gun more. Experienced guards Levance Fields and Ronald Ramon will be the catalysts who force this revamped style on opponents.
Pitt used Aaron Gray like Shaq in recent years, running their offense through him. This year it will be center by committee and the position will be asked to be more athletic-running the floor, rebounding, and bringing energy. Tyrell Biggs will likely get the staring roll at center. Pittsburgh made consecutive Sweet 16’s with small interior players before Gray arrived on campus, so this is something that can be done. We’re expecting another solid season from East Carolina transfer Mike Cook. In his first campaign in Big East play, he averaged 10.5ppg and is the team’s leading returning scorer. He will likely share minutes with Gilbert Brown who is a 6’6’’ do-it-all guy.
The Brooklyn backcourt duo of Fields and Ramon is one of the toughest in the league. Fields is known as “The General.” He is one of the surest handlers in all of college basketball with a rare ability to pass the rock. Ramon brings three years of experience to the table. Both of these guys do what it takes to win. If Pitt needs them to score, they will.
While Pitt’s postseason credentials are good, they haven’t been able to get past the Sweet 16. We don’t think they’ll even make it that far this season. The loss of Gray will be too much to overcome come tourney time. Two games and out is our prediction.
Jeff's college basketball predictions will help you beat the odds this season. It’s time you boosted your bankroll with a proven winner. Trust in world champion handicapper Jeff Alexander for all your sports betting needs.
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SportsBetting.com has posted the odds on the NCAA Championship:
Air Force 300 – 1
Akron 300 – 1
Alabama 300 – 1
Arizona 50 – 1
Arizona St 300 – 1
Arkansas 75 – 1
Auburn 300 – 1
BYU 200 – 1
Boston College 200 – 1
Bradley 300 – 1
Butler 100 – 1
California 100 – 1
Clemson 75 – 1
Colorado St 300 – 1
Creighton 300 – 1
DePaul 200 – 1
Drexel 300 – 1
Duke 35 – 1
Florida 50 – 1
Florida St 300 – 1
Fresno St 300 – 1
George Washington 300 – 1
Georgetown 15 – 1
Georgia 100 – 1
Georgia Tech 100 – 1
Geroge Mason 100 – 1
Gonzaga 50 – 1
Hofstra 300 – 1
Houston 200 – 1
Illinois 300 – 1
Illinois St 300 – 1
Indiana 20 – 1
Iowa 300 – 1
Kansas 10 – 1
Kansas St 60 – 1
Kent St 300 – 1
Kentucky 40 – 1
LSU 300 – 1
Louisville 15 – 1
Marquette 40 – 1
Maryland 50 – 1
Memphis 7 – 1
Miami FL 300 – 1
Miami OH 300 – 1
Michigan 300 – 1
Michigan St 20 – 1
Minnesota 300 – 1
Mississippi 300 – 1
Mississippi St 100 – 1
Missouri 200 – 1
Missouri St 300 – 1
Nevada 200 – 1
New Mexico 300 – 1
New Mexico St 200 – 1
North Carolina 6 – 1
North Carolina St 60 – 1
Notre Dame 200 – 1
Ohio St 50 – 1
Oklahoma 100 – 1
Oklahoma St 300 – 1
Old Dominion 300 – 1
Oregon 40 – 1
Oregon St 300 – 1
Pittsburgh 200 – 1
Providence 300 – 1
Purdue 100 – 1
San Diego St 300 – 1
South Carolina 300 – 1
Southern Illinois 75 – 1
St Johns 300 – 1
St Josephs 200 – 1
Stanford 100 – 1
Syracuse 40 – 1
Temple 300 – 1
Tennessee 12 – 1
Texas 75 – 1
Texas A&M 50 – 1
Texas Tech 100 – 1
Toledo 300 – 1
U CONN 50 – 1
U MASS 300 – 1
UCLA 6 – 1
UCSB 300 – 1
UNLV 300 – 1
USC 75 – 1
Utah 300 – 1
Utah St 300 – 1
VA Commonwealth 100 – 1
Vanderbilt 200 – 1
Villanova 60 – 1
Virginia 100 – 1
Virginia Tech 300 – 1
Wake Forest 300 – 1
Washington 100 – 1
Washington St 40 – 1
West Virginia 100 – 1
Wichita St 300 – 1
Wisconsin 100 – 1
Xavier 100 – 1
zx Field (Any Other Team) 50 – 1
