Pitt has covered in six of its past eight games overall and has also been red-hot in December, going 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games played in the month.
It’s hard to imagine a team with Bryce Love on the roster at risk of getting demolished on the ground – but with Love out of action and Stanford’s offensive line in tatters, the run game will be a critical aspect for both teams as the Cardinal take on the Pittsburgh Panthers in Monday’s Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Stanford comes in on a three-game winning streak despite its O-line struggles, while Pitt scored just 13 total points in season-ending losses to Miami and Clemson.
Sun Bowl Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time | fav | line | total |
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Opening 3 Dec 3:06pm | STAN | -6.5 -110 | O +52 -110 |
Closing 31 Dec 6:17pm | STAN | -3.5 -110 | O +53 -105 |
While the Panthers are getting nearly a touchdown in this one, both teams come in as hot cover options. Stanford has gone 7-2 ATS in its previous nine bowl games and has been a near-lock in late-season contests over the past several years, covering 10 in of its last 11 December outings. Pitt, meanwhile, has covered in six of its past eight games overall and has also been red-hot in December, going 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games played in the month.
The teams diverge, however, when it comes to totals trends, with the Sun Bowl number set at 52. The Cardinal have exceeded the total in seven of their previous eight games played at neutral locations, and are 4-1 O/U in their past five games, surpassing the number by seven or more points three times in that span. The Panthers, on the other hand, have 18 unders and one push in their previous 26 games dating back to the end of 2016.
Stanford Cardinal
With Love – Stanford’s electrifying but oft-injured rushing threat – opting to sit this one out in order to preserve himself ahead of the NFL Draft, the Cardinal will be hard-pressed to improve upon a ragged rush attack that produced just 108.3 yards per game, good for 122nd in the country. On the plus side, Stanford comes in as one of the most dangerous red-zone teams in the nation, scoring on 90.7 percent of its trips (ranking 13th overall).
Pittsburgh Panthers
The Panthers find themselves exactly where fans and bettors thought Stanford would wind up this season – near the national leaders in rushing yards per game (229.5, 18th). And success on the ground will be pivotal for a Pitt team that averaged just 142.2 yards through the air, better than only nine other Division I programs. The Panthers were also one of the most undisciplined teams in the country, averaging 69.46 penalty yards per game (109th).
Injuries
Dylan Jackson (DE)
Alameen Murphy (CB)
Alijah Holder (CB)
Andrew Pryts (LB)
Kaden Smith (TE)
Drew Dalman (C)
Mustafa Branch (LB)
Devery Hamilton (T)
Davis Mills (QB)
Jet Toner (PK)
Jimmy Morrissey (OL)
V'Lique Carter (DB)
Keyshon Camp (DL)
Jaylen Twyman (DL)
Mychale Salahuddin (RB)
Tyler Sear (TE)
Quintin Wirginis (LB)
Taysir Mack (WR)
Phil Campbell III (DB)
Injuries
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dylan Jackson (DE) | out for season | Undisclosed - 28 / 11 / 18 | 1-0 | 1-1 | + - |
Jackson is suffering from an undefined injury and will miss the remainder of the 2018 season. |
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Alameen Murphy (CB) | Out Mon | Undisclosed - 28 / 11 / 18 | 1-0 | 1-1 | + - |
Murphy missed the last game with an unspecified injury and will not participate in the Hyundai Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh. |
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Alijah Holder (CB) | Ques Sat | Suspension - 25 / 11 / 18 | 1-0 | 1-1 | + - |
Holder has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against California and it is unclear if he will play in the second half. |
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Andrew Pryts (LB) | Ques Mon | Knee - 25 / 11 / 18 | 1-0 | 1-1 | + - |
Pryts missed the last game dealing with a knee injury and it is unknown if he will suit up for the Hyundai Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh. |
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Kaden Smith (TE) | Ques Mon | Foot - 21 / 11 / 18 | 1-0 | 1-1 | + - |
Smith missed the last two games dealing with a foot injury and it is unclear if he will participate in the Hyundai Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh. |
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Drew Dalman (C) | Ques Mon | Undisclosed - 10 / 11 / 18 | 3-0 | 3-1 | + - |
Dalman missed the last three games with an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play in the Hyundai Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh. |
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Mustafa Branch (LB) | Ques Mon | Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18 | 3-0 | 3-1 | + - |
Branch has missed the last three games due to an undefined injury and his status for the Hyundai Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh is in question. |
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Devery Hamilton (T) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18 | 3-0 | 3-1 | + - |
Hamilton missed the last game with an undefined injury and his status is in question for Saturday's contest against UCLA. |
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Davis Mills (QB) | Out indefinitely | Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18 | 3-0 | 3-1 | + - |
Mills is dealing with an unspecified ailment and it is unclear when he will return to the lineup. |
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Jet Toner (PK) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18 | 3-0 | 3-1 | + - |
Toner missed the last game battling an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will participate in Saturday's contest against UCLA. |
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jimmy Morrissey (OL) | out for season | Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18 | 1-2 | 0-3 | + - |
Morrissey has an ankle injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2018 season. |
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V'Lique Carter (DB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 04 / 11 / 18 | 3-2 | 1-4 | + - |
Carter has an unspecified injury and it is unknown if he will play against Virginia Tech on Saturday. |
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Keyshon Camp (DL) | out for season | Upper Body - 29 / 10 / 18 | 4-2 | 2-4 | + - |
Camp will miss the rest of the season with an upper-body issue. |
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Jaylen Twyman (DL) | Ques Sat | Foot - 21 / 10 / 18 | 5-2 | 2-5 | + - |
Twyman has a foot injury and it is unknown if he will play against Duke on Saturday. |
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Mychale Salahuddin (RB) | Out indefinitely | Undisclosed - 13 / 10 / 18 | 6-2 | 3-5 | + - |
Salahuddin has been sidelined for undisclosed reasons and it is unclear when he will return to action. |
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Tyler Sear (TE) | Out Sat | Personal - 10 / 10 / 18 | 6-2 | 3-5 | + - |
Sear will not play Saturday against Notre Dame as he is tending to a personal matter. |
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Quintin Wirginis (LB) | out for season | Knee - 10 / 10 / 18 | 6-2 | 3-5 | + - |
Wirginis is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a non-contact knee injury. |
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Taysir Mack (WR) | Prob Sat | Foot - 04 / 10 / 18 | - | - | + - |
Mack has missed the last two games with a foot injury but is expected to be available Saturday against Duke. |
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Phil Campbell III (DB) | Ques Sat | Illness - 30 / 09 / 18 | - | - | + - |
Campbell III is ailing from an illness and it is uncertain if he will play against Syracuse on Saturday. |
Cardinal vs. Panthers Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 3 Dec 3:06pm STAN -6.5 -110 O +52 -110 Closing 31 Dec 6:17pm STAN -3.5 -110 O +53 -105 -
Injuries
Dylan Jackson (DE)
out for season Undisclosed - 28 / 11 / 18Alameen Murphy (CB)
Out Mon Undisclosed - 28 / 11 / 18Alijah Holder (CB)
Ques Sat Suspension - 25 / 11 / 18Andrew Pryts (LB)
Ques Mon Knee - 25 / 11 / 18Kaden Smith (TE)
Ques Mon Foot - 21 / 11 / 18Drew Dalman (C)
Ques Mon Undisclosed - 10 / 11 / 18Mustafa Branch (LB)
Ques Mon Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18Devery Hamilton (T)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18Davis Mills (QB)
Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18Jet Toner (PK)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18Jimmy Morrissey (OL)
out for season Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18V'Lique Carter (DB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 04 / 11 / 18Keyshon Camp (DL)
out for season Upper Body - 29 / 10 / 18Jaylen Twyman (DL)
Ques Sat Foot - 21 / 10 / 18Mychale Salahuddin (RB)
Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 13 / 10 / 18Tyler Sear (TE)
Out Sat Personal - 10 / 10 / 18Quintin Wirginis (LB)
out for season Knee - 10 / 10 / 18Taysir Mack (WR)
Prob Sat Foot - 04 / 10 / 18Phil Campbell III (DB)
Ques Sat Illness - 30 / 09 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Dylan Jackson (DE) out for season Undisclosed - 28 / 11 / 18 1-0 1-1 + - Jackson is suffering from an undefined injury and will miss the remainder of the 2018 season.
Alameen Murphy (CB) Out Mon Undisclosed - 28 / 11 / 18 1-0 1-1 + - Murphy missed the last game with an unspecified injury and will not participate in the Hyundai Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh.
Alijah Holder (CB) Ques Sat Suspension - 25 / 11 / 18 1-0 1-1 + - Holder has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against California and it is unclear if he will play in the second half.
Andrew Pryts (LB) Ques Mon Knee - 25 / 11 / 18 1-0 1-1 + - Pryts missed the last game dealing with a knee injury and it is unknown if he will suit up for the Hyundai Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh.
Kaden Smith (TE) Ques Mon Foot - 21 / 11 / 18 1-0 1-1 + - Smith missed the last two games dealing with a foot injury and it is unclear if he will participate in the Hyundai Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh.
Drew Dalman (C) Ques Mon Undisclosed - 10 / 11 / 18 3-0 3-1 + - Dalman missed the last three games with an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play in the Hyundai Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh.
Mustafa Branch (LB) Ques Mon Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18 3-0 3-1 + - Branch has missed the last three games due to an undefined injury and his status for the Hyundai Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh is in question.
Devery Hamilton (T) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18 3-0 3-1 + - Hamilton missed the last game with an undefined injury and his status is in question for Saturday's contest against UCLA.
Davis Mills (QB) Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18 3-0 3-1 + - Mills is dealing with an unspecified ailment and it is unclear when he will return to the lineup.
Jet Toner (PK) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 07 / 11 / 18 3-0 3-1 + - Toner missed the last game battling an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will participate in Saturday's contest against UCLA.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Jimmy Morrissey (OL) out for season Ankle - 20 / 11 / 18 1-2 0-3 + - Morrissey has an ankle injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2018 season.
V'Lique Carter (DB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 04 / 11 / 18 3-2 1-4 + - Carter has an unspecified injury and it is unknown if he will play against Virginia Tech on Saturday.
Keyshon Camp (DL) out for season Upper Body - 29 / 10 / 18 4-2 2-4 + - Camp will miss the rest of the season with an upper-body issue.
Jaylen Twyman (DL) Ques Sat Foot - 21 / 10 / 18 5-2 2-5 + - Twyman has a foot injury and it is unknown if he will play against Duke on Saturday.
Mychale Salahuddin (RB) Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 13 / 10 / 18 6-2 3-5 + - Salahuddin has been sidelined for undisclosed reasons and it is unclear when he will return to action.
Tyler Sear (TE) Out Sat Personal - 10 / 10 / 18 6-2 3-5 + - Sear will not play Saturday against Notre Dame as he is tending to a personal matter.
Quintin Wirginis (LB) out for season Knee - 10 / 10 / 18 6-2 3-5 + - Wirginis is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a non-contact knee injury.
Taysir Mack (WR) Prob Sat Foot - 04 / 10 / 18 - - + - Mack has missed the last two games with a foot injury but is expected to be available Saturday against Duke.
Phil Campbell III (DB) Ques Sat Illness - 30 / 09 / 18 - - + - Campbell III is ailing from an illness and it is uncertain if he will play against Syracuse on Saturday.