Syracuse football, after having lost five games in a row toward the end of the 2022 regular season, managed to grab a comeback win at Boston College in the Orange’s final regular-stanza contest, and now the ‘Cuse will head to the Big Apple for the team’s first bowl game dating back to the 2018 term.
The Orange (7-5) was recently selected to suit up in the 2022 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl in late December versus Big Ten Conference squad Minnesota (8-4). The Golden Gophers finished in a tie for second place within the Big Ten’s West division.
For the entire 2022 regular-season campaign, Minnesota defeated New Mexico State, Western Illinois, Colorado, Michigan State, Rutgers, Nebraska, Northwestern and Wisconsin. Conversely, the Golden Gophers suffered setbacks to Purdue, Illinois, Penn State and Iowa.
Late last month, Syracuse football put forth a massive fourth quarter at Boston College to come away with a 32-23 triumph over the Eagles. That result, to me, was huge. It halted a five-game slide for Orange after the ‘Cuse started out 2022 at 6-0.
It also guaranteed that Syracuse football would finish this stanza with a record above the .500 mark. I’d love to see the Orange knock off Minnesota and secure an eighth victory in the 2022 season.
Syracuse football vs. Minnesota early odds in Pinstripe Bowl
When I wrote this column, actionnetwork.com had installed the Orange as a 7.5-point betting underdog against the Golden Gophers. Also at the time of this writing, the over/under was set at 42.0 points.
Syracuse football vs. Minnesota prediction in Pinstripe Bowl
In their short all-time series together, the Orange is 2-3 against the Golden Gophers. Back in the 2013 Texas Bowl, Syracuse football did take down Minnesota by a final score of 21-17. Prior to that result, the Golden Gophers had won three straight versus the ‘Cuse.
Per SU Athletics, Syracuse football is 2-0 in the Pinstripe Bowl, having defeated Kansas State, 36-34, in 2010 as well as West Virginia, 38-14, in 2012.
According to ESPN statistics, the Orange and the Golden Gophers score the same number of points per game, but on defense, Minnesota is giving up about nine fewer points per affair as well as nearly 60 fewer yards a game.
In their respective rushing attacks, the Golden Gophers also boast a massive advantage, to the tune of 218.4 yards per contest on the ground as compared to 142.8 rushing yards per encounter for the ‘Cuse.
I love my boys in Orange, and I’m proud of the 2022 season that the ‘Cuse has put forth. That being said, I don’t like this match-up for Syracuse football. I’ll go with Minnesota to prevail here.
Injuries, how to watch, live stream, next game
On the injury front, Syracuse football has lost numerous standout players to season-ending injuries, including star cornerback Garrett Williams, fullback/tight end Chris Elmore and linebacker Stefon Thompson, among others.
Additionally, we’ll have to wait and see which, if any, players on the 2022 roster opt out of this bowl game, due to professional aspirations or other reasons. Plus, already, a handful of Orange players have entered the NCAA’s transfer portal.
What’s more, ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news on December 8 that Syracuse football defensive coordinator Tony White is being hired for the same role at Nebraska out of the Big Ten. Thamel also first reported that ‘Cuse offensive coordinator Robert Anae is headed to N.C. State, and he’s being replaced in that position with the Orange by quarterbacks coach Jason Beck.
The ‘Cuse and Minnesota are scheduled to kick off in the Pinstripe Bowl beginning at 2 pm on Thursday, Dec. 29, from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. ESPN will televise this contest.
For Syracuse football and Golden Gophers fans who want to stream this game, you can check it out on fuboTV.
After its bowl game versus Minnesota, the ‘Cuse will have finished its entire 2022 schedule. We’ll obviously continue to monitor off-season developments, including new recruits offered and signed, key players returning and which guys on the current roster elect to head to the transfer portal or leave the program for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.