Former Big East Conference rivals hook up to provide us with some college football betting action when Pittsburgh hosts Boston College Thursday night.

The Eagles are already bowl-eligible. A couple more wins to finish the season might catch them a nice, warm bowl bid. The Panthers, on the other hand, are playing out the string on a lost season.

So why is Pitt favored?

NCAAF Betting Odds

The Week 12 college football betting market opened Pitt as a two-point favorite for Thursday night, with an over/under of right around 47.5. Early betting action bumped the Panthers to -3.

According to Sagarins CFB ratings at Sagarin.com Pittsburgh should only be favored by one point for this match-up.

Boston College-Pitt Betting Preview

The Eagles just had a five-game winning streak snapped by a 48-22 loss to Virginia Tech last Saturday. Boston College led that game early 7-3 but gave up the next 35 points, falling down 38-7 midway through the third quarter, and that was about it.

BC got out-gained by the Hokies 600-262 and gave up 363 yards on the ground.

Boston College opened this season 1-3, then beat Virginia by three points, Army by three points, Georgia Tech, UConn by seven and Syracuse by seven. But the Eagles were living a bit dangerously; they trailed three of those wins in the fourth quarter and another game was tied late. Their luck ran out last week.

At 6-4 overall and 3-3 in ACC play Boston College is playing its last two games for bowl seeding.

Meanwhile, the Panthers lug a four-game losing skid into Thursday night after falling to Syracuse last Saturday at Yankee Stadium 28-13. Pittsburgh, as a three-point favorite, led 13-7 at the half, then came up totally empty in the second half, as the Orange just stuffed the ball down the Panthers throat.

Pitt gave up 382 yards of Syracuse rushing and whats worse is the Panthers knew what was coming. The Orange played without their top two quarterbacks and only threw the ball eight times all day. Pittsburgh also committed four turnovers, leading directly to 21 Syracuse points.

A month ago Pitt upset Louisville 38-21. Since then the Panthers have lost to Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Florida State and Syracuse by an average score of 33-11.

At 2-8 overall and 1-5 in ACC play Pitt will miss a bowl this season, after making a bowl each of the last two.

Common Opponents

These two teams have played four common opponents so far this season; Florida State, Louisville, Syracuse and Virginia Tech. BC played those foes to 1-3 SU, 2-2 ATS and -68 yards per game, Pitt to 1-3 SU, 2-2 ATS and -151 YPG.

Boston College-Pitt Recent History

These former Big East rivals last met three seasons ago, a 31-30 Boston College overtime victory.

College Football Betting Trends

Pittsburgh is 0-4-1 ATS this season as a favorite.

Boston College is 3-2 ATS this season as an underdog.

Totals Report

The Overs are 8-2 in Eagles games this season, which are averaging 55 total points.

The Overs are 7-3 in Panthers games, which are averaging 48 points.