In a bowl game that typifies the degradation of the bowl season 6-6 Pitt meets 6-6 Mississippi in the BBVA Compass Bowl Saturday, Jan. 5 in Birmingham (1 pm ET, ESPN).

The early Compass Bowl odds showed Ole Miss, which went 3-5 in the SEC this season, as a field-goal favorite over the Panthers, who went 3-4 in the Big East and now find their coach on the short list for another head job elsewhere.

All 6 Compass Bowls have played UNDER total so far, while Big East schools are 5-1 SU in those Compass Bowls. Ole Miss is 7-1 SU in their past 8 bowl games overall.

[ More Compass Bowl betting info and stats ]



View Pittsburgh vs Mississippi Odds and Stats.

Betting Line: The Panthers were listed as 2-point underdogs on the Sportsbook NCAA football line at Sportsbook and most sportsbooks tracked by OddsShark. No total was available early in the week.





Ole Miss Bowl History

Pitt Bowl History

How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Mississippi's No. 50-ranked offense (30.9 PPG) against a Panthers defense that ranks No. 21 at 19.7 PPG. The Rebels passing attack has averaged 257.2 yards per game, more than the Panthers give up through the air (196.8 YPG on average).

In comparing defenses, the Panthers own the league's No. 47-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 153.2 yards per game when on the road. Mississippi, on the other hand, rates No. 42 this week in generating rushing yards at home.

Last time out for Pittsburgh, they were a 27-3 Sportsbook as they battled South Florida on the road. Pittsburgh covered in the match as a 7.5-point favorite, while 30 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. Mike Shanahan hauled in 9 passes for 116 yards against the South Florida defense in the team's last game, leading Pittsburgh over the Bulls 27-3 on Saturday.

Mississippi was a 41-24 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against Mississippi State. They covered the 1-point spread as favorites, while the total score (65) made Sportsbooks of OVER bettors. Jeff Scott tore up the turf for 111 rushing yards in the latest Rebels game, a 41-24 win over the Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.


Pittsburgh Panthers Trends:
When playing in January are 1-2
When playing on turf are 4-6
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When an underdog on the road are 2-8

Mississippi Rebels Trends:
When playing in January are 3-0
When playing on turf are 6-4
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When favored at home are 8-2

A few Panthers at Rebels trends to consider:
Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Mississippi's last 6 games
Mississippi is 6-13 SU in its last 19 games