The West Virginia Mountaineers fell short of winning the Big 12 title, but at least they get to participate in the bowl season to give them a chance to take something home with them before the year ends. However, they will be up against the very game and overachieving Syracuse Orange, who will look to put the cherry on top of what they consider as a successful campaign.
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Betting Preview for the Western Virginia Mountaineers vs Syracuse Orange College Football Camping World Bowl Game on December 28 2018
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
When: Friday, December 28, 2018, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Western Virginia Mountaineers (-1) vs Syracuse Orange (+1) – view all 2018 NCAAF lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Western Virginia Mountaineers (8-3 Overall / 6-3 Conference)
The Mountaineers started the season like a house on fire, winning all of their first five games and going 8-1 SU through nine contests, but a bad stretch near the conclusion of the 2018 campaign – losing both of their last two games — cost them an appearance in the Big 12 title game, and consequently a sexier bowl game. In any case, the fate they have had in the regular season doesn’t change the fact that the Mountaineers are among the deadliest in the nation offensively. In fact, the Mountaineers finished eighth in the nation in scoring with a production of 41.3 points per game. They were also sixth overall with 509.9 total yards per contest. Although West Virginia is going to miss the services of star quarterback Will Grier, who decided to skip the bowl game to focus on his preparation for the NFL, the Mountaineers’ roster is littered with enough talented playmakers to pose big problems for Syracuse’s defense.
The over is 5-0 in the Mountaineers’ last five games.
Betting on the Syracuse Orange (9-3 Overall / 6-2 Conference)
The Orange are among those who exceeded expectations this year, as the went on to finish the regular season with a 9-3 overall record. They set the tone early by going 4-0 SU, a stretch that saw Syracuse expose SEC power Florida Seminoles in a 30-7 victory at home. The Orange’s three losses were against teams that are headed to the College Football Playoff in the Clemson Tigers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and one at the hands of ACC Coastal Division champions Pittsburgh Panthers. Like West Virginia, the Orange also are a high-scoring team, one that averaged 38.8 points and 473.2 total yards per game, 11th and 14th in the nation. Syracuse have the tools to keep in step with the slightly favored West Virginia, and it should also be able to have its moments against the Mountaineers’ leaky defense that has allowed an average of 43.0 points in the team’s last two games. As for the Orange’s defense, it will look to rattle early a Will Grier-less West Virginia passing attack. Syracuse finished 25th in the nation with opposing teams completing just 55.87 percent of their passes against the Orange.
Syracuse is 4-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last five games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
West Virginia defeats the Orange, 33-31.
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