Pinstripe Bowl Bowl | Predictions & Pick

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

vs.

Kansas State Wildcats (7-5) vs Syracuse Orange (7-5)
Thursday December 30 – 3:00 PM ET on ESPN
Yankee Stadium – New York, New York

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The K-State Wildcats got off to a great start this season.  They were 4-0 with wins against UCLA and Central Florida when they got whacked by Nebraska.  No shame in that but it seemed to take them a while to recover as they went only 3-4 down the stretch including an unexpected loss to Colorado.  This is a solid but unspectacular Wildcats team.  RB Daniel Thomas is one of the best backs in America and it is impressive that he was able to squirt free for almost 1500 yards given that every team K-State faces knows that he is practically their entire offense.  This team really struggles with their QB play.  Carson Coffman doesn’t make a lot of mistakes but he doesn’t make a lot of big plays either.  For Kansas State to win their bowl game he is going to have to play his last collegiate game like it means something more than just the lone snowy bowl game on the schedule.

The Syracuse Orange should be really excited to play in a bowl…it has been a while, and they are not far from home either.  This is a surprise team who emerged because of an unexpected defensive prowess ranking 5th in the nation in total yards allowed.  They give up only 18ppg which is both good and necessary as the Orange struggle to score.  This team struggled down the stretch losing 3 of its last four as the level of competition stiffened but it does have a nice win against West Virginia from earlier in the season.  Given how far the program had sunk this is a nice spot for Syracuse.  They should definitely have the crowd on their side and they are built to do well in a cold weather style of game.  Unfortunately so is their opponent.  This should be a tight contest.

Of all the bowl games so far this one might be the most evenly matched.  Both teams have played pretty consistent football most of the year, avoiding the mistakes that can easily turn a 7-5 team into a 5-7 one that takes off the month of December.  The key should be which team can make the play that will change the momentum of the game.  Its anybody’s guess but my gut says to back the Orange who should be more excited to participate than the Wildcats.

Game Prediction: With these teams pretty evenly matched this is a tough one to call.  One big advantage for K-State is on the sidelines where Snyder has much more experience than Marrone.  Whoever has the ball last should have a chance to win in this grind it out affair.  Look for the Orange, who are a team on the rise, to pull it out.

Score Prediction:

Syracuse – 28
Kansas State – 24

The spread is -1 (Syracuse) or pick in most places.  With no points to consider you have to choose the team you think will win it.  Syracuse is the solid emotional choice (if such a thing exists).

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Team records:

• Kansas State: 7-5 SU, 6-5 ATS
• Syracuse: 7-5 SU, 5-5 ATS

Kansas State Wildcats most recently:

• When playing in December are 5-5
• When playing on grass are 3-7
• After being outgained are 5-5
• When playing outside the conference are 7-3

Syracuse Orange most recently:

• When playing in December are 4-2
• When playing on grass are 2-8
• After being outgained are 5-5
• When playing outside the conference are 6-4

A few betting trends to consider:

• The total has gone OVER in 7 of Kansas State’s last 8 games
• Kansas State is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Syracuse’s last 6 games