Georgetown Hoyas at Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Preview

Opening Line: Georgetown +1.5 / Pitt -1.5 O/U 127

Time: 7 PM EST Wednesday January 20, 2010 on ESPNU

Tonight in a Big East match up the 11th ranked Pitt Panthers host the 14th ranked Georgetown Hoyas. Pitt has really exceeded expectations, as they are undefeated in conference play even though they lost their 3 leading scorers from last season. The Hoyas are coming off a loss and are 3-2 in conference play. This game is more important to Georgetown, as if they lose they will trail Pitt by 3 games in the Big East. The Panthers are hot, as they are on an 8-game winning streak.

This season Pitt is 10-0 at home and 9-5-1 ATS and Georgetown is 3-2 on the road and 6-6 ATS.

In their last games Georgetown lost to Villanova 82-77 and Pitt beat Louisville 82-77 in OT.

Both teams are solid on the defensive end of the court, as the Panthers are only allowing an average of 59.1 ppg and the Hoyas are allowing 61 ppg.

The Hoyas have a legit backcourt with 3 guards averaging in double figures, led by Austin Freeman (15.9 ppg), and C 6'11" Greg Monroe (14.9 ppg 10.1 rpg). The backcourt will have to knock down their open shots tonight so the Panthers do not pack the lane to contain Monroe.

The Panthers have to especially worry about Freeman, who is averaging 20.5 ppg 59.2% shooting in Big East play.

Pitt's strength is their legit backcourt led by guards Ashton Gibbs (17.5 ppg) and Brad Wanamaker (13.1 ppg). These are the only 2 players for the Panthers that are averaging in double figures, but Pitt has a well-balanced offensive team with 6 players that are averaging 6 ppg-9 ppg.

The Pitt frontcourt players of F Nasir Robinson (6.4 rpg) and C Gary McGhee (6.6 rpg) have to keep Monroe off the boards and play solid defense against him inside and not allow him to score easy buckets in the paint.

Monroe and F Julian Vaughn (5.4 rpg) also have to have a good game on the glass tonight, as the Panthers have 4 players that are averaging over 5 boards per game while Monroe and Vaughn are the only guys that are solid at hitting the boards.

Pitt has the 2nd longest home winning streak in the nation at 52 games and overall they have won 3 in a row against Georgetown.

Georgetown is 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss. Pitt is 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games, 4-0-2 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite, and 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite.


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