Pitt Football: Panthers accept invitation to Little Caesars Bowl
By Matt Shetler
For the first time in three seasons the Pitt football team won’t be heading to Birmingham, Ala., for a bowl game.
After three consecutive trips to the BBVA Compass Bowl, the Panthers will instead be spending Christmas in Detroit, which isn’t exactly the location they had in mind when the 2013 season began.
Nov 29, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Paul Chryst reacts after a pass interference call on the Panthers against the Miami Hurricanes during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Panthers will take on Mid-American Conference representative Bowling Green in the Little Caesars Bowl, scheduled to be played Dec. 26 at 6:00 p.m. at Ford Field, the home of the NFL’s Detroit Lions. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
In their first season in the ACC, Pitt became bowl eligible for the sixth consecutive season after finishing a disappointing 6-6 on the season.
The Falcons finished the season 10-3, including a 7-1 mark in the MAC. It will be the fourth meeting between the two schools, with the Panthers holding the 2-1 series advantage, which dates back to 1999.
Bowling Green is coming off their biggest win of the season with a 47-27 win over then-No. 14 Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship game on Friday.
Pitt’s wins against New Mexico, Virginia, Old Dominion and Syracuse weren’t exactly newsworthy, but the Panthers also defeated ACC Coastal champion Duke as well as a ranked Notre Dame team to become bowl eligible.
The Panthers are 12-17 all-time in bowl games, including a 38-17 loss to Ole Miss last year in the Compass Bowl.
Pitt will have their hands full with Bowling Green as the Falcons have a very balanced offensive attack and one of the best defenses in the entire nation.