2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl Odds - Pittsburgh vs North Carolina

Motivation will be the key on Saturday at 4:30pm EST as #17 Pittsburgh faces North Carolina in 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl odds for a game that can be seen on ESPN. The Panthers were a win away from going to a BCS bowl game but lost in the finale 45-44 to Cincinnati. Now Pittsburgh has to find a way to put that game behind them and find motivation to play in a lower-tiered bowl game as 2-point favorites in 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl odds. Even though Pittsburgh has the better record and is ranked, they face some obstacles to winning this game.

In addition to motivation problems the Panthers also have to face a North Carolina defense that is ranked in the Top 10 in the country and they have to play what is almost a road game since the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl is in Charlotte, North Carolina. North Carolina should also be in a better bowl game but they lost their regular season finale to North Carolina State. The Tar Heels though don’t have the sting of missing out on a BCS bowl game to get over though, plus they are playing in Charlotte. Last season North Carolina played in the Car Care Bowl and led West Virginia in the fourth quarter before losing 31-30.

Pittsburgh will be led in 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl odds by running back Dion Lewis who was third in the country with 136.7 rushing yards per game. He could find the going tough against a North Carolina defense that was 9th in the country against the run. "Our defense is always under the microscope," said North Carolina coach Butch Davis, "Clearly, Pitt's defense is really good. ... They limit your ability to make big plays because you do not have the ball very long." The last time these two teams met was in 2000 when North Carolina won 20-17.

The Tar Heels lead the all-time series 4-2. 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl odds and trends indicate that the Tar Heels are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog and they are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games. The Panthers may have some trouble in Meineke Car Care Bowl odds. The Panthers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite but they are just 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. the ACC and they are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 bowl games. Looking at the total in Meineke Car Care Bowl odds we see that five of the last seven North Carolina games have gone over the total. Six of the last eight Pittsburgh games have gone under.

Franklin's College Football Picks: I haven't liked Dave Weinstadt since he walked into Miami and proved that he doesn't belong in the NFL but with a 9-3 season and playing in a bowl game, I guess he belongs in college. One problem though... the Panthers are 6-5 against the spread as a favorite. Since Pittsburgh is 6-2 straight up for their last eight, I guess I will have to out my differences with Weinstadt on hold. My college football pick will be to take the Panthers laying the points in 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl odds to the UNDER in a close call parlay. Vegas odds at the Hilton sportsbook have the Pittsburgh Panthers -2 favorites against the North Carolina Tar Heels with a total of 44.5.