Sports Bowl Preview: Pittsburgh (7-5) vs. Toledo (7-5), December 26 at 2 PM EST.
BetMGM College Football Odds: Pittsburgh favored by 9.5 points.
KEY MATCHUP
Pittsburgh’s offense has struggled with a rushing game that averages 128.5 yards per contest, placing them 101st among FBS teams. In contrast, Toledo’s defense allows an average of 138.7 rushing yards per game, ranking 49th in the nation.
Defensively, Pittsburgh shines, sitting eighth in the FBS for rushing yards allowed on a per-carry basis, giving up just 3.1 yards per attempt. On the other hand, Toledo’s ground game has averaged only 3.5 yards per carry, which ranks them 113th in football.
LAST GAME
In their previous outing, Pittsburgh suffered a setback against Boston College, losing 34-23. Nate Yarnell threw for 296 yards, completing 23 out of 42 passes (54.8%), resulting in three touchdowns but also one interception. Derrick Davis Jr. managed five carries for 21 yards and caught one pass that went for a negative yardage. Konata Mumpfield was a standout, totaling 144 receiving yards from eight receptions and scoring a touchdown.
Toledo faced a tough contest against Akron, where they fell short with a score of 21-14. Quarterback Tucker Gleason achieved 289 passing yards with a completion rate of 70.5% (31 for 44), tossing two touchdowns and remaining interception-free. He also contributed significantly on the ground with 59 yards gained from 11 carries. Connor Walendzak recorded 87 rushing yards over 19 carries, alongside three receptions amounting to 14 yards. Junior Vandeross III had a solid performance with 84 yards on 11 catches.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
For Pittsburgh, Eli Holstein has thrown for a total of 2,228 yards, averaging 222.8 per game and completing 62.1% of his passes (180 out of 290) with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also adds a dynamic presence on the ground with 328 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, averaging 32.8 yards per game. Desmond Reid leads the rushing attack with 151 carries totaling 797 yards, averaging 72.5 yards per game, along with four rushing touchdowns. Notably, he also has 47 receptions for 564 yards and four touchdowns. Mumpfield has made a significant impact in the receiving game, totaling 813 yards on 52 catches with five touchdowns.
Toledo’s playmaker, Gleason, has amassed 2,457 passing yards, averaging 223.4 per game with a completion rate of 61.8% (207 for 335), resulting in 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He showcases versatility with 330 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, averaging 30 yards per game. Walendzak contributes to Toledo’s ground strategy, with 122 carries leading to 457 rushing yards (38.1 per game) and one touchdown, in addition to 13 receptions totaling 71 yards. Jerjuan Newton stands out in the receiving department, accumulating 949 yards (79.1 per game) on 64 receptions, with an impressive 11 touchdowns, placing him sixth in college football.
FACTS & FIGURES
This season, Pittsburgh has outscored its opponents by an average margin of five points per game, while Toledo has a slightly better margin of 5.4 points in their favor.
Despite ranking low at 101st in rushing production with just 128.5 yards per game, Pittsburgh’s defensive prowess is notable, as they rank 24th nationally by allowing only 115.5 rushing yards per game.
Toledo’s total offensive production sits at 366.5 yards per game, placing them at 89th nationally, while their defense stands at 52nd, permitting an average of 352.5 total yards per game.
