The Pitt football team will make its 38th all-time postseason appearance when it faces Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. Specifically, the game is at Detroit’s Ford Field on December 26. The Panthers are 2-0 all-time in Detroit-hosted bowl games. Late on, they defeated Eastern Michigan 34-30 in 2019. Also, Pitt played at Ford Field in 2013 and scored a 30-27 win over Bowling Green. This will be the fourth all-time meeting between Pitt and Toledo. The GameAbove Sports Bowl marks the first College Football odds postseason encounter between the schools.
GameAbove Sports Bowl Pitt Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets
| Date and Time: | Thursday, December 26, 2024, 2 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Ford Field, Detroit, MI |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh U | -7 -110 | 51½ -110 | -265 |  |
| Toledo | +7 -110 | 51½ -110 | +223 | |
| ||||
GameAbove Sports Bowl Overview
The Quick Lane Bowl began in 2014. Specifically, it took the place of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The Little Caesars Bowl started as the Motor City Bowl in 1997 at the Pontiac Silverdome. And then eventually it moved to Ford Field in downtown Detroit in 2002. It pitted schools from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) against teams from the Big Ten or the Sun Belt Conference. Subsequently, The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl eventually went away as the Quick Lane Bowl took its place in 2014.
In 2023, Freshman Darius Taylor returned from a leg injury to rush for a career-high 208 yards. In turn, Minnesota beat Bowling Green 30-24 in the Quick Lane Bowl. Minnesota was selected for the bowl because it had the best Academic Progress Rate among five-win teams. Yet it won its seventh consecutive bowl game overall and fifth in a row under coach P.J. Fleck.
In sum, Taylor had 35 carries, including a 17-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter that gave Minnesota a 30-17 lead.
Pitt Panthers Team Overview
Last game, the Pitt Panthers lost 34-23 against the Boston College Eagles as 3.5-point road dogs. The game went over the sportsbook total of 50.5. Pitt has a record of 7-5 straight up, 7-5 against the spread, and 5-7 over/under the total. Pitt ranks 51st for total offense, 15th for passing, 101st for rushing, and 41st for scoring. Defensively, they rank 72nd overall, 120th against the pass, 25th against the rush, and 82nd for points allowed. Also, Pitt ranks 71st for fewest turnovers lost and 34th for takeaways.
Toledo Rockets Team Overview
Last game, the Toledo Rockets lost 21-14 against the Akron Zips as 9.5-point road favorites. The game went under the total of 49. Toledo has a record of 7-5 straight up, 5-7 against the spread, and 7-5 over/under the total. Toledo ranks 89th for total offense, 42nd for passing, 105th for rushing, and 75th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 52nd overall, 56th against the pass, 49th against the rush, and 31st for points allowed. Also, Toledo ranks 64th for fewest turnovers lost and 63rd for takeaways.
GameAbove Sports Bowl SBG Free Picks
Last time the Panthers and Rockets met in 2006, a 45-3 Pitt win at the former Heinz Field. Pitt leads the all-time series, 2-1. Pitt is making its first College Football odds bowl appearance since Dec. 30, 2022, when the Panthers defeated No. 18 UCLA, 37-35, in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. In this situation, Pitt has the deeper roster as a Power Four program.
GameAbove Sports Bowl SBG Best Bet: Pitt Panthers.