Syracuse football first-year head coach Fran Brown, his top-flight staff and their talented roster look to wrap up their stellar 2024 season with a win in their upcoming bowl game on the west coast.
While the 'Cuse this term did have a few small bumps along the way, the Orange ended its 2024 regular season on an ultra-high note. Syracuse football, late last month, mounted the largest comeback in program history, as the Orange knocked off then-No. 6 Miami, 42-38.
The 'Cuse finished the regular season at 9-3 overall, with three victories over ranked foes, a No. 21 national rating in the latest College Football Playoff top 25, and a solid 5-3 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play that resulted in the Orange being tied for fourth place in the league standings after the conference's preseason poll forecast Syracuse football to finish at No. 12.
Brown, in his debut term on the Hill, tied for the most regular-season triumphs by a first-year head coach in 'Cuse program history. And should the Orange prevail in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl against Pac-12 Conference member Washington State, the 'Cuse will attain a 10th win in a season for the first occasion since 2018.
No. 21 Syracuse football vs. Washington State odds, spread and total
When I wrote this article, FanDuel had the Orange as a 10.5-point betting favorite against the Cougars in the 2024 Holiday Bowl, with the over/under set at 59.5 points.
No. 21 Syracuse football vs. Washington State how to watch
Date: Friday, Dec. 27
Game Time: 8:00 pm EST
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego
TV/Streaming: FOX and fuboTV
Washington State's record: 8-4
Syracuse's record: 9-3
Syracuse’s full 2024 schedule: Click here
No. 21 Syracuse football vs. Washington State prediction and pick
Per SU Athletics, the Orange and the Cougars have met just once before, in 1979. In that contest, Syracuse football beat Washington State, 52-25, from Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Here is the Cougars' 2024 resume to date. They have wins over Portland State, Texas Tech, Washington, San José State, Fresno State, Hawaii, San Diego State and Utah State. On the flip side, Washington State has fallen to Boise State, New Mexico, Oregon State and Wyoming.
The Cougars enter the Holiday Bowl having lost three in a row. Washington State, in the 2024 regular season, put forth a prolific offensive attack, averaging 36.75 points and 440.4 total yards per affair.
Syracuse's Holiday Bowl opponent (Washington State) will be without its starting quarterback on Dec. 27. He is one of 19 players from WSU that have said they plan to explore their transfer opportunities. https://t.co/sY8LbSlDB6
— chris carlson (@ccarlsononSU) December 16, 2024
However, amid the transfer portal opening earlier this month, numerous Cougars players have elected to find another school, including the team's talented starting quarterback, redshirt sophomore John Mateer, according to media reports.
Woah. Per reports, Washington State starting QB John Mateer, a redshirt sophomore, is entering the portal and won't play against No. 21 Syracuse at the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27 in San Diego. Mateer has thrown for 3,139 yards and 29 TDs while rushing for 826 yards and 15 scores.
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) December 16, 2024
His counterpart at the 'Cuse, record-setting senior quarterback and top-10 Heisman Trophy finisher Kyle McCord, is playing in the Holiday Bowl, along with many other key contributors for Syracuse football this term.
While I'm an acknowledged homer when it comes to my alma mater, SU, given Washington State's depleted roster, I simply can't see the Orange losing this game, unless something weird transpires.
I'll project our beloved Syracuse football to prevail against the Cougars, 41-21.