Quick Lane Bowl Prediction
Can Pittsburgh overwhelm Eastern Michigan when the two middling teams collide in the Quick Lane Bowl tonight at 8PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
Quick Lane Bowl
225 Pittsburgh vs. 226 Eastern Michigan
Thursday, December 26, 2019
8PM ET – Ford Field
TV: ESPN
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Public Betting Trends
According to the latest oddsmakers, Pittsburgh is the favorite in this game, as the Panthers are getting odds of -12.5 points against Eastern Michigan. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 49 points. The public betting currently has 51 percent going on Pittsburgh as the favorite. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NCAAF Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Eagles seek second bowl victory
Eastern Michigan is making its second consecutive bowl appearance and playing in a third bowl game over the last four seasons this week. EMU lost its season finale and comes into this bowl game 6-6 overall, 5-7 against the spread and 7-3-2 with the over.
EMU is solid on offense, but struggles defensively this season. Eastern Michigan is putting up 29.1 points and 402.8 yards per game on offense, while the defense is allowing 30.3 points and 428.3 yards per contest. Mike Glass III is leading the offense with 2,858 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, while also rushing for 345 yards and seven touchdowns. Arthur Jackson is his leading receiver with 39 catches for 679 yards and six scores. Shaq Vann is the top rusher with 667 yards and eight touchdowns.
Pitt stumbles into bowl
Pittsburgh wrapped up its regular season with losses to Virginia Tech and Boston College where the Panthers scored a combined 19 points in the two games. The Panthers come into this game 7-5 overall, 7-5 against the spread and 9-3 with the under.
Pitt hasn’t been a great defensive team in recent years, but the Panthers were solid this season. They allowed just 21.8 points and 302.5 yards per game. Offensively, Pitt put up 20.1 points and 374.1 yards per contest. Kenny Pickett has thrown for 2,737 yards and 10 touchdowns this year, but has nine interceptions. Taysir Mack is the leading receiver with 62 catches for 711 yards and two touchdowns, while A.J. Davis is the leading rusher with 532 yards and four touchdowns. Mack is questionable for the game with an undisclosed injury. The defense is led by Jaylen Twyman, who has 38 tackles and 10.5 sacks.
College Football Betting Trends
Eastern Michigan
The Eagles are 17-8 against the spread in their last 25 games against winning teams and 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games as an underdog.
Pittsburgh
The Panthers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five MAC opponents and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games in December.
Prediction:
Both of these teams are teams that tend to keep things close. Win or lose, Pitt has had most of its games decided by single digits. Eastern Michigan has stepped up in games as an underdog as well, picking up upsets over the likes of Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. This game is in Detroit and Eastern Michigan should have some fan support with the game being about an hour from campus. I don’t think Pitt is going to come in really juiced for a game against Eastern Michigan in Detroit, and I think the Eagles can capitalize on that. I will take the points here, as Pitt hasn’t shown an ability to really blow out anyone this season.
Quick Lane Bowl Prediction: Eastern Michigan +12.5
Related: Quick Lane Bowl Total Prediction