NCAA Football
2024-12-27 - Syracuse Orange at Washington State Cougars
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football Holiday Bowl
Friday 27th December 2024 - Scheduled 8pm
1am (British Time)
Preview
The decimation of the Pac-12 in 2024 meant it was never going to be a 'Conference' that would be providing a College Football Playoff team without one of the two schools remaining going unbeaten. That was not the case for the Oregon State Beavers nor the Washington State Cougars (8-4) and the time between the end of the regular season and this Holiday Bowl has hurt Washington State.
New teams are set to rebuild the Pac-12, but that has not stopped the Cougars from losing countless players in the transfer portal. Not only players, but Head Coach Jake Dickert has left for the job that opened up with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and it all adds up to what has been lost by the top schools departing from the Pac-12 as they did.
John Mateer had been the dominant Quarter Back for the Cougars, but he is also moving on to take over the spot for the Oklahoma Sooners. It means Washington State will have to turn to Zevi Eckhaus for the Holiday Bowl, a Quarter Back that has thrown just seven passes all season.
On paper it should be a decent chance for the Cougars to have a solid Offensive outing against the Syracuse Orange (9-3), but those inexperienced players across the board are facing a team that has momentum on their side.
We are a few weeks removed from the end of the regular season, but Syracuse will be very proud of how they played right to the end. That includes upsetting the Miami Hurricanes and ending their hopes of playing in the College Football Playoff, while Syracuse have kept their key players together through the transfer portal.
Head Coach Fran Brown is proud of the fact that his players have chosen to be involved in this one, including Quarter Back Kyle McCord who is arguing his case to have another year of eligibility. Everything that the Orange hope to do in this game will come down to Kyle McCord and he could have a big day.
The Orange have not been able to run the ball efficiently in their most recent games, but this game represents a better opportunity to keep the team in front of the chains. A stronger Cougars Defensive Line struggled to contain the run, but you have to feel the wholesale turnover of personnel will make it even tougher, which is positive news for the now big favourite in this Bowl Game.
Despite a struggling run game, Kyle McCord was ripping out some big numbers in the passing game and he should be able to pick up from where he left off in the regular season. His focus will be on the field, even with the case to extend eligibility to be heard, and McCord should be able to lead Syracuse up and down when they have the ball in hand.
The layers have really shifted the line for this one after the news about the Washington State roster and Head Coach and that is no surprise. It is a big line now, but Syracuse have shown their Offensive firepower and can beat the Cougars backups by a significant margin.
Prediction
Lay the points with the favourite in the Holiday Bowl.
The Pick :
Washington State 17-37 Syracuse Orange
