The ACC will take on the Big Ten in Tuesday’s Louisville vs. Washington Sun Bowl matchup at 2:00 p.m. ET. With the game essentially a pick’em and the total sitting at 50 points, what’s the smart bet today in El Paso, TX?
Game Matchup & Betting Odds
Louisville Cardinals (+1) vs. Washington Huskies (-1); o/u 50
2:00 p.m. ET, Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
TV: CBS
Louisville vs. Washington Sun Bowl Public Betting: Bettors Backing Cardinals
As of this writing, our CFB Public Betting page shows that 63% of bets are on Louisville. That said, this page is updated frequently so make sure that you click on the link provided so that you’re getting the most updated information.
QB Bailey to start for UL in bowl game
Harrison Bailey will be the Cardinals’ starting quarterback for their bowl game Tuesday against Washington, Matt McGavic of Sports Illustrated reports. Tyler Shough (pro draft prep) being out has resulted in the Cardinals requiring someone else to be their starting quarterback Tuesday. Thus, it will mark Bailey’s first start for the Cards. For them, he has 11 completions for 114 yards and one touchdown.
True Freshman Williams plays well in first start
Demond Williams was 17-for-20 passing for 201 yards and one touchdown during Saturday’s 49-21 defeat to Oregon. He also had 22 rushes for 17 yards. Williams made his first career start after serving as the change-of-pace quarterback behind fifth-year quarterback Will Rogers all season. The true freshman signal-caller fared decently well despite having no supporting rushing game against the Ducks’ highly-touted defense.
Williams scored his lone passing touchdown on a 28-yard hookup with wideout Giles Jackson with just under two minutes remaining. He also hit big-bodied wideout Denzel Boston for a two-point conversion just before halftime. The 6-6 Huskies will now wait to hear which bowl game they’ll be invited to this postseason, and Williams should log his second career start in this upcoming contest.
Louisville vs. Washington Sun Bowl Betting Trends
Louisville is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Louisville’s last 17 games
Washington is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Washington’s last 17 games
Louisville vs. Washington Sun Bowl Prediction
Take Washington. This is as close to an even matchup as you’ll find all bowl season, which is reflected by the spread. Ultimately, I liked what I saw out of Williams in his first start. He had plenty of extra practices and prep sessions in order to get ready for Louisville, which will benefit him and the Washington offense today.
Louisville had a weird season. There’s no shame in losing to Notre Dame, SMU and Miami – that’s two playoff teams and a Hurricanes squad that was ticketed for the playoffs before a late-year collapse against Syracuse – but the Cardinals also fell to Stanford. Louisville nearly lost to Virginia and Boston College as well. Ultimately, I don’t trust UL, because I don’t know what version the Cardinals we’re going to get.
Louisville vs. Washington Sun Bowl Prediction: WASHINGTON HUSKIES -1