2008 Sun Bowl: Oregon State (8-4) vs Pittsburgh (9-3)

By WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

The best part of Wednesday’s Sun Bowl matchup between No. 24 Oregon State of the Pac-10 and No. 18 Pittsburgh of the Big East would have been to see two of the nation’s top running backs in the Beavers’ Jacquizz Rodgers and the Panthers’ LeSean McCoy.

But OSU will be at a severe disadvantage as it will be without Jacquizz and his brother James for this game. Together, they have amassed 3,333 yards and 22 touchdowns.

James Rodgers was all-Pacific-10 Conference as a kick returner, and was OSU’s No. 2 rusher and No. 2 pass receiver. Jacquizz - one of the nation’s top freshmen - was No. 2 in the Pac-10 in rushing and was Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. Combined, the Rodgers brothers averaged 389 all-purpose yards per game.

Despite those injuries, Oregon State is a 2.5-point favorite on WagerWeb.com

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt says his team won’t make changes to its game plan despite the Rodgers brothers being out.



“I don’t think they’ll change their offense at all,” Wannstedt said. “We’ve been down that road too many times, and that’s something that you don’t talk about because you really don’t know until you kick off, and you just have to be ready to adjust on the move.”

The Beavers want to redeem themselves from their last showing, a blowout defeat to Oregon at home that knocked them out of the Rose Bowl. The Ducks ran for more than 321 yards in that game.

Now OSU sees LeSean McCoy, who was second in the Big East with 1,443 rushing yards and led the nation with 21 touchdowns.

“It’s now about redemption,” OSU defensive end Victor Butler said. “We want to show everyone that’s not how we play defense. We can do better, and will do better.”

Pitt’s passing game isn’t usually a big threat. Quarterback Bill Stull has been inconsistent with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The OSU passing game was the best in the Pac-10 and QB Lyle Moevao is finally close to 100 percent after dealing with a shoulder problem over the last month of the season.

This game traditionally has been a close one. Last year Oregon destroyed South Florida, but between 1999 and 2006 six Sun Bowls were decided by six points or fewer, and three of those decided by one point.

Bet on the 2008 Sun Bowl