Let’s get the important stuff out of the way right off the bat; BBVA does not make compasses which would be kind of cool, instead they’re just another banking institution which is kind of boring. SMU was once a college football powerhouse and is the same SMU from the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “Pony Express”, due to repeated NCAA violations the NCAA gave the program the death penalty for the 1987 season and crushed them with other penalties as well. Pitt has been around for a long, long time. They began competing in collegiate football in 1890 and are responsible for pushing the sport forward by instituting the use of numbers on jerseys and desegregating the Sugar Bowl. So really this is the battle between a team who laid the ground work and set the example for Miami and Ohio State to follow and the team who courageously battled for equality. Tough, tough choice here.

Things are different these days. SMU has been experiencing a resurgence under coach June Jones. You may remember Jones as the Atlanta Falcons coach in the mid 90’s who was fired after leading the team to a 3-13 record and caught on national tv cussing out QB Jeff George. Jones has lead the Mustangs to their best record since the aforementioned death penalty. SMU’s team had a strong start but have experienced key injuries in the QB and RB positions that they’ll have to overcome in this one. They turn the ball over a lot. SMU’s defense gives up a lot of yards and an average of 24 points a game.

Like almost every other team during bowl season, Pitt will be led by an interim coach as their coach Todd Graham resigned to take a job at Arizona State and they’re in a bit of transition as they’ll be moving to a new conference next year. The good news is that Pitt’s seasoned players have experience in this type of situation as their coach left last year before they played in the same bowl game. Their offensive line allows a lot of sacks. Pitt’s defense gives up a lot of yards and an average of 24 points a game.

Another little piece of drama. SMU’s June Jones and Pitt’s Todd Graham were both finalists for the Arizona State job before Graham was chosen over Jones for the position. Kinda awkward for Jones.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict an SMU victory 70-33.

Pitt is favored to win by 6.5.

SABOWL:
– RJ1 went with SMU and Danny/Stephen went with Pitt. Danny/Stephen clinch their first ever championship with a Pitt victory.
– Rebecca chose Pitt and is still in the lead for the Toilet SABOWL…she will be after this game still; April, Emily, Ellen all chose Pitt.