Pittsburgh Panthers (7-5) vs. Toledo Rockets (7-5)
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets December 26 2024 – In the GameAbove Sports Bowl, the Pittsburgh Panthers (7-5) face off against the Toledo Rockets (7-5) looking to close their season strongly. Both teams were not at their best towards the end of the season but there is the thrill of a postseason victory in this Thursday afternoon contest. The Panthers have to score a strong competitive edge in their lineup from the ACC while Toledo will seek to do their conference proud at Ford Field.
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets December 26 2024 Game Info
| When: | Thursday, December 26, 2024, at 2:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Pittsburgh | -250 | -6.5 (-115) | 51.5 Over (+100) |
| Toledo | +210 | +6.5 (-105) | 51.5 Under (-120) |
The Panthers are favored by 6.5 points, which indicates that despite recent battles, there is confidence in their ACC-proven roster. The plus 6.5 spread of the Rockets offers potential value for the betting underdog market as they seem to have a good history of covering the spread in close games. The total has not gone above 51.5 with market almost entirely on under, consistent with the team low scoring games in their recent past.
Nate Yarnell QB vs. Tucker Gleason QB
Pittsburgh’s Nate Yarnell has struggled this season as he managed to get a total of 1,056 passing yards with 10 touchdowns but also had 5 interceptions to his name. He is rather inconsistent as evidenced by his 58.7% completion rate, yet one bright spot is that he is able to target playmaker Konata Mumpfield who has 813 receiving yards. Given that Yarnell has been sacked 17 times, it is clear that his movement has been restricted.Managing to take a reasonable shape would be able to set his offensive line well for the future.
For the Rockets however, Toledo’s Tucker Gleason has shown to be a redeeming quality. Stating he has 22 touchdowns and 2457 total passing yards, he’s been able to keep the University of Toledo competitive which has been able to keep them on an edge. It will be important for him to develop a relationship with tight end Jerjuan Newton who has a total of 11 receiving touchdowns. He’s completed 61.8% of his passes despite throwing 7 interceptions and being sacked 13 times, showing he is capable of keeping his cool during pressure threats.
Panthers Struggle to Regain Momentum
The Panthers ended their campaign with 5 losses on the trot, starting from the game with Boston College (23 – 34). The month of December was kind for them as it ended with a positive win loss ratio (4-1). The record hides the true state of this team as they failed to score 20 or more goals in their last five games. Davis Jr. is seen as a weaker running back while Mumpfield is seen as the only receiver that gets the pass. It is essential for them to recover their defensive drive and them protect Yarnell in the pocket if they want to win in the future.
Rockets’ Late-Season Slump
Toledo has played five games and lost three of them, but one of those losses was by a final score of 14-21 to Akron which is close. The wins of this team came against Central Michigan by a score of 37 to 10 and against Eastern Michigan by 29 to 28. Despite these wins, their running game that included Connor Walendzak struggled and had an average of 3.7 yards per rush. Their defense did show some good performances but most of the times it was inconsistent which apparently is the reason Gleason and Newton have to score the points.
Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Trends
The Panthers have struggled against the spread, going 1-4 ATS in their last five games. Their recent games have largely stayed under the total, with six of their last eight falling short of the line. Despite their late-season slump, Pittsburgh boasts a 10-2 SU record against MAC opponents, making them a compelling option against Toledo.
Toledo Rockets Betting Trends
Toledo also sits at 1-4 ATS in their last five games. However, they’ve been reliable on Thursdays, boasting a perfect 7-0 SU record in games played on this day. Their December trends favor the under, with five of their last six games during the month hitting below the total.
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets Betting Previews
This match has an interesting battle of Pittsburgh´s ACC tested squad against Toledo´s well-rounded offense. Although Pittsburgh’s bad results in recent games cause some alarm, their better players’ ability and experience of coping in tougher opponents’ game are putting them at a safer side. With Gleason and Newton controlling a lot of the ball, there is an outside chance for them to win the game, especially if the defense from Pittsburgh leaves much to be desired.
The best option might be to consider the under at 51.5, because both Pittsburgh and Oklahoma have found it tough in the offensive department in the past few weeks. Prop bets for Jerjuan Newton out of the receiving yards or touchdowns seem to be decent bets, considering he is the centerpiece of Toledo’s offense.
Score Prediction: Pittsburgh Panthers 27, Toledo Rockets 20.
