Washington State Cougars vs Syracuse Orange Picks and Predictions December 27th 2024

Washington State Cougars vs Syracuse Orange December 27th 2024

FOX will be handling the television broadcast as the Syracuse Orange and Washington State Cougars face off in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl. Kick-off is set for 8:00 ET from Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, with Syracuse coming in as the -5.5-point favorite. The money line odds are -216 for Syracuse and +180 for Washington State, and the over/under line is at 61.5 points. The game is being played on a neutral site, and the Orange have a 9-3 record, while the Cougars are 8-4 this season.

Syracuse vs. Washington State Key Information

• Teams: Orange at Cougars
• Where: Snapdragon Stadium San Diego
• Date: Friday, December 27th
• Betting Odds SYRA -216 | WASHST +180 O/U 61.5

The Orange Can Win If…

Syracuse enters their Week 1 game against Washington State with a 9-3 record. They’ve gone 4-1 at home and 2-2 on the road this season. Syracuse has been favored in four games, going 3-1 in those matchups, while they’ve posted a 3-2 record as the underdog.

Their ATS record stands at 4-5, with an average scoring margin of +3.9 points per game. Syracuse is 1-3 against the spread as the favorite but has fared better as the underdog, covering in three of five games.

Syracuse’s over/under record is 4-4-1, with their games averaging 61.2 points. The average over/under line for their games has been 55.9 points, and this week’s line is set at 61.5 points.

Syracuse heads into week 1 with the top-ranked passing attack in college football, leading the nation in passing attempts, completions, and yards per game. They are 28th in scoring, averaging 32.6 points per game, and rank 20th in our offensive power rankings. Their third-down conversion rate is 48.9%, placing them 10th nationally.

Kyle McCord leads the Orange with 4,326 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, posting a passer rating of 97. Jackson Meeks has 911 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. On the ground, LeQuint Allen has rushed for 901 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Syracuse’s defense has allowed an average of 28.7 points per game this season, including 38 points in their latest matchup against Miami. They gave up 503 total yards, with 349 yards coming through the air. Miami also rushed for 154 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns.

Opponents have averaged 216 passing yards per game against Syracuse, completing 65.6% of their passes. Syracuse’s defense ranks 94th nationally against the run, allowing 153.8 rushing yards per game. They have faced the 16th fewest rushing attempts in the country, with an average of 29.4 per game.

• Syracuse has put together a record of 3-0 over their past three games. Against the spread, the team is 2-1 in these same games while going 2-0-1 on the over/under.
• The Syracuse Orange have gone 7-3 over their last ten regular season games. In these matchups, they ended with an ATS record of 5-5 and an over-under mark of 5-4-1.

The Cougars Can Win If…

Washington State enters Week 1 against Syracuse with an 8-4 record. They’ve gone 3-1 at home and 3-3 on the road this season. The Cougars have been favored in seven of their 12 games, going 4-3 as the favorite.

Against the spread, Washington State is 5-5, with a 3-1 record at home and 2-4 on the road. They’ve covered three times as the favorite and twice as the underdog, with an average scoring margin of +8.7 points per game.

The over/under line for this week is 61.5 points. Washington State’s games have averaged 64.8 points, and their over/under record stands at 4-6. Their average line this season has been 60.5 points.

Washington State’s offense ranks 10th in scoring, averaging 36.8 points per game, and they are 33rd in our offensive power rankings heading into week 11. Quarterback John Mateer has thrown for 3,139 yards with a passer rating of 113, leading the Cougars to the 9th-best passer rating nationally. Mateer has 29 touchdown passes and seven interceptions, while Washington State ranks 25th in passing yards per game, averaging 268.8 yards.

Kyle Williams has been a standout receiver with 1,026 yards and 13 touchdowns on 60 receptions. Washington State is 55th in rushing attempts, averaging 173.1 yards per game on the ground. Wayshawn Parker leads the team with 735 rushing yards, averaging 5 yards per carry.

Washington State’s defense allowed just 15 points in their recent game against Wyoming, but the Cougars still lost 15-14. They gave up 342 total yards, including 136 rushing yards on 39 attempts and 206 passing yards, while forcing one interception.

On the season, Washington State ranks 121st nationally, allowing 174 rushing yards per game. Opposing quarterbacks have averaged a passer rating of 85.1 and 255.3 passing yards per game, completing 62.1% of their throws.

• Spanning across their last three games, Washington State have gone 2-1. In addition, their ATS record over this stretch is 2-1 while posting a 1-2 over-under mark.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Washington State has a record of 7-3. Against the spread, Washington State went 6-4 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Lean

Our projection for the Syracuse vs. Washington State matchup in week one of the college football season is a 38-31 win for Syracuse. They are currently -5.5 point favorites, and we believe they will cover the spread.

With the over/under line set at 61.5 points, our model is suggesting a combined score of 69 points, making the over the best bet for this game.

No. 21 Syracuse Brings Stability Against a Scrambling Washington State in Holiday Bowl

The 2023 Holiday Bowl in San Diego features two programs on vastly different trajectories as No. 21 Syracuse faces Washington State on Friday. Syracuse aims to secure a 10-win season under the leadership of first-year coach Fran Brown and quarterback Kyle McCord, while Washington State is grappling with coaching turnover, roster upheaval, and the need to rebuild after a tough end to the regular season.

Syracuse: Momentum and Stability

Syracuse (9-3) enters the Holiday Bowl riding a three-game winning streak, including a dramatic 42-38 victory over Miami in the regular-season finale. That win solidified the Orange’s status as one of the season’s surprise success stories under Brown, whose immediate impact has propelled Syracuse into the national rankings.

The stability provided by McCord has been central to Syracuse’s success. The Heisman Trophy candidate leads the nation in passing yards (4,326) and has thrown 29 touchdowns. His decision to play in the Holiday Bowl underscores his commitment to the program.

“We don’t opt out around here. We love football,” Brown said, emphasizing the team’s culture of resilience and dedication.

A win would give Syracuse its first double-digit-win season since 2018 and only its second in the past 20 years. Brown sees the bowl as a stepping stone to loftier goals, including conference championships and College Football Playoff contention in future seasons.

Washington State: Chaos and Uncertainty

The Cougars (8-4) have had a turbulent postseason preparation, losing head coach Jake Dickert to Wake Forest and quarterback John Mateer to the transfer portal. More than 25 players have reportedly entered the portal, leaving interim coach Pete Kaligis with a patchwork roster for the game.

Kaligis has sought to rally his players, focusing on pride and unity during a challenging time.

“My message to (the players) was, ‘I know who we are. We’re going to play this game,’” Kaligis said. “I just love them so much. I want them to have everything.”

The Cougars will turn to senior quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, who has thrown just seven passes this season, to replace Mateer. Eckhaus faces a daunting task in leading a depleted team against a surging Syracuse squad.

Key Matchups

Kyle McCord vs. Washington State’s Secondary

McCord’s ability to spread the ball effectively will test Washington State’s undermanned defense. With several top players missing due to transfers, the Cougars’ secondary will have its hands full trying to contain McCord, who is eager to put a stamp on a stellar season.

Zevi Eckhaus’ First Start

Eckhaus steps into a challenging situation, tasked with replacing Mateer’s production both through the air and on the ground. His ability to manage the offense and avoid turnovers will be crucial for Washington State to remain competitive.

What’s at Stake

Syracuse

A win would mark a historic 10-win season for the Orange and serve as a validation of Brown’s leadership in his inaugural year. It would also give Syracuse its first bowl victory since 2018, setting the stage for future success.

Washington State

A victory would provide a morale boost for a program in transition and end its three-game bowl losing streak. It would also mark the Cougars’ first postseason win since the 2018 Alamo Bowl.

Prediction

Syracuse’s continuity and offensive firepower give it a significant edge against a Washington State team in disarray. With McCord at the helm and Brown’s leadership, the Orange are poised to capitalize on the Cougars’ vulnerabilities and finish the season strong.

Final Score Prediction: Syracuse 38, Washington State 17