Free College Football Picks Today: Sun Bowl 2022

The University of Pittsburgh Panthers (8-4, 3-2 Away) travel to face the No. 18 University of California at Los Angeles Bruins (9-3, 6-2 Home) at Sun Bowl on Friday. The Bruins are 5.5-point favorites, and the total is 53.5.

Pittsburgh is coming off a dominant 42-16 win over No. 25 Miami (FL) at Hard Rock Stadium on November 26, their fourth straight victory. Kedon Slovis threw for 256 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Israel Abanikanda ran 15 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Jared Wayne caught 11 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns.

UCLA beat California 35-28 at FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium on November 25. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was 21 of 30 for 189 yards and a touchdown. Zach Charbonnet carried 24 times for 119 yards and a touchdown. Jake Bobo also scored once. He hauled in seven receptions for 62 yards.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Panthers are averaging 30.8 points per game for the season, 48th in FBS, and they are facing a Bruins defense that has surrendered 28.3 PPG (84th). Meanwhile, UCLA has scored 39.6 points a game this season, ninth in the nation, and Pittsburgh is allowing 23.4 PPG (42nd).

The Panthers rank 81st in the country in passing yards per game (220.8) and 47th in rushing (181.3). Look for them to exploit a matchup advantage through the air, as the Bruins are 121st in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (275.7). Against the run, UCLA is 29th (124.2).

UCLA has been one of the nation’s top rushing teams, averaging 246.4 yards per game (4th), while ranking 38th in passing yards (261.5). Pittsburgh’s defense has been equally impressive on the ground, as the Panthers are 7th in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (95.5). Against the pass, the Panthers are 67th (224.2).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through 11 games, Kedon Slovis has thrown for 10 touchdowns (9 INT) and 217.4 yards per game to lead Pittsburgh in passing. In four games away from home this season, he has four TDs (3 INT) and an average of 214.5 yards passing.

Israel Abanikanda leads the team in rushing with an average of 130.1 yards a game over 11 games. He has 20 touchdowns on the ground and two through the air. Jared Wayne is the Panthers’ leading receiver with 91.5 yards a game and five TDs.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson has 25 passing touchdowns (7 INT) with 240.2 yards per game through 12 games to lead UCLA. Zach Charbonnet has been the team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 135.9 yards a game through 10 games. He also has been valuable as a receiver, posting 32.1 yards a game through the air. He has 14 touchdowns. Jake Bobo has been a key target in the Bruins’ aerial attack. He has seven touchdowns and a 65.8 yard per game average through 12 appearances.

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.