Photo credit: @UNC_Basketball
On the NCAAB podcast with Michelle:
#1 The No. 15 Tar Heels’ Cameron Johnson scored 15 points in NC’s 85-60 win over Pitt.
#2 Alabama beat Kentucky 77-75 first time that Alabama beat Kentucky since 2013
#3 Virginia Tech defeated Boston College 77-66 on Sunday. Jarius Hamilton led BC with 31 points for the win.
Michelle does the NCAAB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Photo credit: elpasotimes.com
By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Monday, December 31, 2018
Stanford did its part to defend the honor of the Pac-12 Conference Monday, squeaking out a 14-13 victory over Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl at El Paso, Texas.
The Cardinal finished its season 9-4, and played the game without star running back Bryce Love, who sat out the game to prepare for the NFL Draft. Pitt wound up 7-7.
Stanford won, despite being held to 208 yards of total offense, and converting only 1 of 10 third downs.
The Cardinal were trailing 13-7 when, with 11:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, quarterback K.J. Costello tried to score from the Pitt 1-yard line, but fumbled. The ball was recovered in the end zone by Cameron Scarlett, who filled in for Love.
Jet Toner’s PAT kick provided the margin of victory. Bobby Okereke racked up five tackles with a sack and a pass break up. Sean Barton added a team-high eight tackles.
The Panthers opened the scoring early in the second quarter on a 29-yard field goal by Alex Kessman. Stanford took its first lead at 7:39 on Scarlett’s 1-yard plunge, putting the Cardinal up 7-3.
A 6-yard touchdown run by Darrin Hall put Pitt ahead 10-7 with 2:32 remaining in the half.
Pitt extended its lead to 13-7 on Kessman’s 28-yard field goal with 8:13 left in the third quarter.
Costello completed 6 of 17 passes for 105 yards and no interceptions. Scarlett gained 94 rushing yards on 22 carries while scoring both Cardinal touchdowns. Dorian Maddox averaged 5.8 yards on four attempts.
JJ Arcega-Whiteside caught 3 passes for 94 yards.
Hall gained a game-high 123 rushing yards for the Panthers on 16 attempts. Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett threw for 136 yards on 11 of 29 passing. Taysir Mack caught four passes for 68 yards, and Maurice Ffrench snared 5 passes for 49 yards.
Photo credit: youtube.com
By: Ana Kieu
Sure, the playoff semifinals are set for Saturday, but that isn’t the end of the 2018 bowl season. There are two full days of bowl games set for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, respectively. In the Sun Bowl, it’s an ACC and Pac-12 showdown as Pat Narduzzi’s Pitt Panthers meet David Shaw’s Stanford Cardinal at the University of Texas at El Paso on New Year’s Eve.
Here’s what you need to know about the Sun Bowl.
Spread
Stanford -4.5
Over/Under
52
Analyses
Stanford is the clear favorite, while Pitt is the obvious underdog. Pitt started out the season just 3-4 before pulling off four straight conference wins to win a division title and a trip to the ACC Championship Game. The Panthers’ rushing attack was dominant, as Darrin Hall and Qadree Ollison combined for over 2,200 yards and 20 touchdowns. The backs had their fair share of explosive plays, which helped drive an offense that didn’t have quite the passing game it hoped with quarterback Kenny Pickett. The Panthers’ problems came on defense when they were prone to giving up the explosive plays and ranked 106th in Bill Connelly’s Isolated Points Per Play metric with 1.26.
As you can see, that’s not good news against a Cardinal offense that ranked 19th with a similar metric of 1.28. The Cardinal faded away from the limelight following a 4-0 start when they coughed up four losses in a five-game skid. But Shaw’s team finished strong with three straight wins heading into the Sun Bowl. Running back Bryce Love didn’t have the Heisman-caliber season that we had hoped for, but quarterback K.J. Costello stepped up in his absence. Costello threw for 3,435 yards for the third-highest single season total in Stanford history, trailing just Andrew Luck and Steve Stenstrom. Costello must continue that kind of output in the Sun Bowl as Love decided to skip the Sun Bowl to prepare for the 2019 NFL Draft.
Like the Panthers, the Cardinal have weak points of their own. This year, it was their defense. We’re used to seeing stout units from Shaw and company, but this year’s team ranked 51st in S&P+ and struggled against the run and pass. Still, Stanford has a slight edge in record against the spread as they’ve gone 6-3-1 as a favorite this season, while Pitt has gone just 5-4 as an underdog. I think the Panthers’ running game can prevent the Sun Bowl from getting out of hand, but I doubt the Panthers can stop the Cardinal’s passing attack.
elpasotimes.com: Players of the Pitt Panthers and Stanford Cardinal arrived at El Paso Airport on Wednesday in preparation for the Sun Bowl scheduled for New Year’s Eve.
On the Stanford Cardinal and Sun Bowl podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:
#1 Both the Pitt Panthers (7-6) and Stanford Cardinal (8-4) arrived in El Paso on Wednesday in preparation for the Sun Bowl. It’s the first time both teams have met since 1932.
#2 Wearing a Sombrero, Stanford head coach David Shaw dances during the Sun Bowl’s pregame festivities coach. Shaw danced while a mariachi band played. It’s been something of a tradition with coaches arriving to the Sun Bowl.
#3 KJ Costello quarterback for the Cardinal will get his chance to throw in the Sun Bowl, Costello during the 2018 season threw 263 for 396 for 3534 yards and 29 touchdowns.
#4 Stanford running back Bryce Love carried 166 times for 739 yards and six touchdowns. Love has chosen not to play in the Sun Bowl because he’s preparing to join the 2019 NFL Draft.
#5 Jerry sets the stage at the Sun Bowl and who he picks to win this Bowl game.
Jerry does the Stanford Cardinal podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com Dec-27-2018
Photo credit: @StanfordFball
On the Stanford Cardinal football podcast with Jerry:
#1 Jerry, it’s the first time that the Stanford Cardinal (8-4) will face the Pitt (7-6) for the first time since 1932 in Pittsburgh. The Cardinal faced Pitt three times In 1928, the Cardinal beat Pitt in the Rose Bowl 7-6.
#2 Talk about the season that Stanford quarterback KJ Costello had. He threw for 263 completions for 3435 yards and 29 touchdowns.
#3 Pitt lost their latest game Saturday to Clemson 42-10 in the ACC Championship.
#4 Stanford running back Bryce Love, who was injured most of the season, had six in the touchdowns. Stanford’s other running back Cameron Scarlett had six touchdowns.
#5 So it’s Pitt and Stanford for the Sun Bowl. Jerry tells us how he sees this contest on New Year’s Eve.
Stanford Cardinal football podcasts can be heard each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
photo from Yahoo! Sports: Washington Huskies head coach Chris Peterson hoists the Pac-12 Championship Trophy after defeating the Utah Utes at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara on Friday night.
On the NCAAFB podcast with Michelle:
#1 Clemson (13-0) got a huge win over Pitt (7-6) Saturday 42-10 to their fourth straight ACC title. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence went 12-24 for 118 yards and Pitt’s quarterback Kenny Pickett struggled, throwing 4-14 for for just 14 yards.
#2 The Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) finished off Northwestern (8-5) 45-24. The Buckeyes dominated, thanks to fine offensive quarterbacking of Dwayne Haskins throwing for 499 yards, was picked off just once and had five passing touchdowns but the amazing thing was he got one touchdown on a shot gun and his offense did the rest of the work.
#3 The Washington Huskies (10-3) hoisted the Pac-12 Championship trophy on Friday night at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara with a 10-3 win over the Utah Utes (9-4). Huskies quarterback Jake Browning threw for 187 yards and a touchdown as that was enough to get past the Utes in defensive game. Plus Michelle’s final thoughts.
Michelle Richardson does the NCAA football podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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