Syracuse vs Minnesota NCAA Football Handicapping
The Minnesota Golden Gophers and Syracuse Orange will face off in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 27.
Syracuse Orange (6-6) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4)
Date: Friday, December 27, 2013
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Venue: Reliant Stadium
City: Houston, Texas
O/U Odds: 47.5
Spread: Minnesota -4
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Minnesota will play in the Texas Bowl for the second consecutive season despite having won two more games this year than they did a year ago, while Syracuse will battle a Big Ten opponent for the third time this season after dropping each of the first two by a combined 27 points.
Minnesota’s season has been a roller coaster ride as the team has endured long winning and losing streaks, and more importantly has dealt with the health of head coach Jerry Kill, who was forced to miss the team’s date with Michigan on Oct. 5 after suffering a seizure related to his battle with epilepsy.
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That spurned a four-game winning streak for the team. Kill returned to the sideline for the final two games of the year, both losses to superior programs in Wisconsin and Michigan State. Their were some positives to take away from that game, namely the play of the defense, which limited the Badgers and Spartans to a combined 34 points.
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In total, Minnesota enjoyed one of their better years in recent memory, winning eight games, although they surely hoped to end up in a more prominent bowl when they stood at 8-2 heading into the final two weeks of their regular calendar.
The Orange’s path to the postseason looked very different.
The team needed just a single win in their final three games to earn bowl eligibility and after two unsuccessful attempts against Florida State and Pittsburgh, the team just eked out a win in their regular season finale against Boston College to get to 6-6 on the year.
The team needed a late score to take the lead in that one as Terrell Hunt hooked up with Josh Parris for the go ahead score with six seconds left on the clock to down the Eagles.
The Orange are 0-4 against Big Ten opponents over the last two seasons, including a 17-10 loss to the Golden Gophers a year ago in which the team didn’t find the endzone until their were 46 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Minnesota played at a very high level this season, impressing many onlookers who expected less from the team. Now they get a Syracuse team that needed to eke out a win in their last game just to qualify for the postseason. Expect Minnesota’s offense to rack up yards on the ground while their defense limits Syracuse’s opportunities to score.
This game is worth a look on both the spread and the total.
The Golden Gophers are 6-0 ATS in their last six games overall and 7-1 ATS in their last eight non-conference games.
The play: Minnesota -4, Under 47.5
