2011 Compass Bowl

Location: Birmingham, AL

Pittsburgh Panthers (7-5) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (6-6)

Date: Saturday January 8th, 2011

Time: 12:00 pm EST

Point Spread: Pittsburgh Panthers -3

Over/Under Line: 52.5

Preview: In the Compass Bowl, taking place in Birmingham, Alabama – the Pittsburgh Panthers will take on the Kentucky Wildcats.

The Panthers are playing without head coach Dave Wannstedt, who resigned at the end of the regular season. The Panthers underachieved again under Wannstedt, which caused the University to force him out. The Panthers started the Big East schedule with three straight wins, but then took losses to Connecticut and West Virginia sent them out of the conference title. The Panthers hired former Miami Ohio head coach Michael Haywood to be the man starting next season.

The Wildcats are making their fifth straight bowl appearance, to wrap up Joker Phillips first season at the helm. Kentucky went 2-6 in SEC play, but played competitive games with the Auburn Tigers and Mississippi State Bulldogs, while upsetting Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Wildcats quarterback Mike Hartline will not play in the bowl game, after he was suspended following a December 10th arrest. Sophomore Morgan Newton will take over for Hartline. Newton has only 7 passes on the season. This will be the first time these two teams have ever met on the football field.

My Betting Picks: Kentucky, despite missing their quarterback will come up with a win. Wildcats win this game 28-21.