Sun Bowl Odds - Pittsburgh vs. UCLA
Pitt Panthers failed to repeat as ACC champions after claiming the conference in 2021, but they reached a bowl game for the 37th time in program history. The Panthers rank 17th nationally in yards per pass attempt despite riding Israel Abanikanda, who had a huge season with 1,431 yards with 20 touchdowns on the ground. UCLA became bowl eligible as quickly as possible as they started the regular season with a 6-0 record. This will be the Bruins’ 37th appearance in a bowl game led by one of the top offenses in the country. UCLA ranks seventh nationally in yards per play against FBS opponents and reached 30 points in all but one game during the regular season.
2022 Sun Bowl at a Glance
Date: Friday, December 30, 2022
Time (ET) / TV: 2:00 PM / CBS
Venue: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas
Matchup: Pitt Panthers vs. UCLA Bruins
College Football Betting Lines
Pittsburgh Panthers +6.5
UCLA Bruins -6.5
Total: 58.5
Sun Bowl Preview
Last game, the UCLA Bruins won 35-28 against the Cal Bears as 11-point road favorites. The game went under the total of 63.5. UCLA has a record of 9-3 straight up, 6-6 against the spread, and 8-4 over/under the total. UCLA ranks 3rd for total offense, 38th for passing, 4th for rushing and 10th for scoring. Defensively they rank 89th overall, 120th against the pass, 32nd against the rush, and 85th for points allowed. Also, UCLA ranks 63rd for fewest turnovers lost and 66th for takeaways.
Last game, the Pitt Panthers won 42-16 against the Miami Hurricanes as 4.5-point road favorites. The game went over the total of 43.5. Pitt has a record of 8-4 straight up, 5-7 against the spread, and 9-3 over/under the total. Pitt ranks 58th for total offense, 82nd for passing, 44th for rushing and 49th for scoring. Defensively they rank 17th overall, 66th against the pass, 7th against the rush, and 42nd for points allowed. Also, Pitt ranks 96th for fewest turnovers lost and 69th for takeaways.
Sun Bowl Prediction
In this situation, Pitt is getting the better price.
Sun Bowl Format
The first Sun Bowl was played on January 1, 1935, as a fundraising event for underprivileged children in the community and for upgrades to the El Paso High School Stadium. The next year Hardin-Simmons and New Mexico State were invited to play, and the game has been a part of the college bowl season since that point. This is one of the oldest bowl games in America, starting the same year as the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl.
Keeping its roots close to home, the early Sun Bowls featured teams based in Texas or members of the Border Conference. Texas Tech, Hardin-Simmons, and UTEP have each been involved in multiple contests. UTEP was known as Texas Mines and Texas Western before changing its name in 1967. The Miners are the host school for the Sun Bowl and play their home games in the stadium.
Since 2011, the selection committee has paired teams from the ACC and the Pac-12. The conferences first hooked up on December 31, 2011, with Utah beating Georgia Tech in the only overtime game in Sun Bowl history.
The 2020 installment of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl was wiped out due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The game returned Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, and there was a late shift. Washington State of the Pac-12 was to face Miami (Fla.) of the ACC. COVID issues within the Hurricanes' program caused them to pull out. Central Michigan was to face Boise State in the Arizona Bowl, but when the Broncos pulled out due to their own COVID outbreak, CMU moved to fill the vacancy in the Sun Bowl.
Sun Bowl Past Results
| SEASON |
WINNING TEAM |
LOSING TEAM |
SCORE |
| 2021 |
Central Michigan |
Washington State |
24-21 |
| 2020 |
Cancelled due to COVID |
| 2019 |
Arizona State |
Florida State |
20-14 |
| 2018 |
Stanford |
Pittsburgh |
14-13 |
| 2017 |
North Carolina State |
Arizona State |
52-31 |
| 2016 |
Stanford |
North Carolina |
25-23 |
| 2015 |
Washington State |
Miami, Fla. |
20-14 |
| 2014 |
Arizona State |
Duke |
36-31 |
| 2013 |
UCLA |
Virginia Tech |
42-12 |
| 2012 |
Georgia Tech |
USC |
21-7 |
| 2011 |
Utah |
Georgia Tech |
30-27 (OT) |
| 2010 |
Notre Dame |
Miami, Fla. |
33-17 |
| 2009 |
Oklahoma |
Stanford |
31-27 |
| 2008 |
Oregon State |
Pittsburgh |
3-0 |
| 2007 |
Oregon |
South Florida |
56-21 |
| 2006 |
Oregon State |
Missouri |
39-38 |
| 2005 |
UCLA |
Northwestern |
50-38 |
| 2004 |
Arizona State |
Purdue |
27-23 |
| 2003 |
Minnesota |
Oregon |
31-30 |
| 2002 |
Purdue |
Washington |
34-24 |
| 2001 |
Washington State |
Purdue |
33-27 |
| 2000 |
Wisconsin |
UCLA |
21-20 |
The Sun Bowl has had major conference affiliations and currently selects bowl-eligible teams from the ACC and Pac-12. The Big Ten was affiliated from 1995 through 2005, and the Big 12 had a brief obligation from 2006 to 2009, as did the Big East.
Texas Tech and UTEP have made the most Sun Bowl appearances. The Red Raiders have made a record nine appearances in the Sun Bowl but haven’t played in El Paso in late December since 1993 when they lost their fifth straight Sun Bowl. They’re likely ecstatic that their current conference affiliation won’t bring them back to the Sun Bowl since they’ve lost a record eight games.
The hometown Miners have the most Sun Bowl victories of any team, with five while appearing in eight games. However, they hadn’t played in a Sun Bowl since 1967, when they won their record fifth game by defeating Mississippi 14-7. UTEP is one of three teams to win back-to-back Sun Bowl games, turning the trick in 1953 and 1954.
Most All-Time Wins
| WINS |
TEAM |
YEARS WON |
| 5 |
UTEP |
1949, 1953, 1954, 1965, 1967 |
| 4 |
Arizona State |
1997, 2004, 2014, 2019 |
| 4 |
Stanford |
1977, 1996, 2016, 2018 |
| 3 |
UCLA |
1991, 2005, 2013 |
| 3 |
Oklahoma |
1981, 1993, 2009 |
| 3 |
Oregon |
1963, 1999, 2007 |
| 3 |
Alabama |
1983, 1986, 1988 |
| 3 |
Wyoming |
1956, 1958, 1966 |
The Sun Bowl has had major conference affiliations and currently selects bowl-eligible teams from the ACC and Pac-12. The Big Ten was affiliated from 1995 through 2005, and the Big 12 had a brief obligation from 2006 to 2009, as did the Big East.
Texas Tech and UTEP have made the most Sun Bowl appearances. The Red Raiders have made a record nine appearances in the Sun Bowl but haven’t played in El Paso in late December since 1993 when the Red Raiders lost their fifth straight Sun Bowl. They’re likely ecstatic that their current conference affiliation won’t bring them back to the Sun Bowl since they’ve lost a record eight games.
The hometown Miners have the most Sun Bowl victories of any team with five while appearing in eight games. However, they haven’t played in a Sun Bowl since 1967 when they won their record fifth game by defeating Mississippi 14-7. UTEP is one of three teams to win back-to-back Sun Bowl games, turning the trick in 1953 and 1954.
2022-23 College Football Bowl Games
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