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Louisville vs. Washington: Predictions, odds and how to watch the Sun Bowl
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The college football bowl season continues on New Year’s Eve with the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl featuring the Louisville Cardinals facing off against the Washington Huskies.
The Cardinals, who finished the regular season with an 8-4 record and placed fourth in the ACC standings, are on a mission to redeem themselves after a disappointing performance in last year’s Holiday Bowl against USC. Their quarterback, Tyler Shough, leads the offense and was one of three recipients of college football’s Comeback Player of the Year Award, having bounced back from injury to throw for 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns this season.
Under the guidance of first-year coach Jedd Fisch, the Huskies have embarked on a new journey, finding themselves in a different postseason bowl after reaching the national championship game last season. Washington will now look to freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. to lead the offense. In the few games he played, he achieved an impressive 76.6% completion rate, throwing for 570 yards and four touchdowns. Williams Jr. is supported by a solid running back, Jonah Coleman, who recorded 1,011 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of kickoff for the Sun Bowl.
Sun Bowl predictions: Louisville vs. Washington
USA TODAY Sports: Majority pick Louisville
- Scooby Axson: Louisville
- Jordan Mendoza: Louisville
- Paul Myerberg: Washington
- Erick Smith: Louisville
- Eddie Timanus: Louisville
- Dan Wolken: Washington
ESPN: Louisville 33, Washington 24
Adam Rittenberg writes: “Louisville certainly wants to avoid a repeat of the 2023 Holiday Bowl, when it allowed 42 points, 372 passing yards and six touchdowns to USC and Miller Moss. The Cardinals certainly could have contended for the ACC title and a potential CFP spot this season, and boast a nice young core with running backs Isaac Brown and Duke Watson. Washington has an eye toward the future after a predictably rocky first season under coach Jedd Fisch. The good news is running back Jonah Coleman will return, and promising quarterback Demond Williams Jr. will get another chance for valuable experience. Other than the Stanford debacle, Louisville played very well down the stretch and should have enough offense to handle Washington.”
College Football Network: Washington 27, Louisville 20
Staff writes: “Washington isn’t facing the same issue, but it will turn the keys of the offense over to true freshman Demon Williams Jr., who has shown flashes in spurts throughout the season. While typically, you wouldn’t want to put money on a true freshman, Williams has the dual-threat ability to mitigate processing issues under center. Would you rather bet on Louisville’s backup redshirt freshman Pierce Clarkson, who has appeared in just two games this year, completing 3 of 4 passes for 11 yards? I expect Williams and Co. to put up enough points to leave the Sun Bowl with a dub over the short-handed Cardinals.”
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Sun Bowl odds, lines: Louisville vs. Washington
The Louisville Cardinals are favorites to defeat the Washington Huskies, according to the BetMGM college football odds.
Odds as of Friday, Dec. 20 afternoon.
- Spread: Louisville (-2.5)
- Moneylines: Louisville (-140); Washington (+120)
- Over/under: 49.5
How to watch Louisville vs. Washington in the Sun Bowl
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31
- Time: 2 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
- Stream: Fubo
- Where: Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas)
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