USF vs Syracuse Odds, Spread & Prediction – Boca Raton Bowl

Nov 11, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange running back LeQuint Allen (1) runs with the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY SportsUSF battles Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl on ThursdayThe latest college football odds price the Orange as small favoritesRead below for USF vs. Syracuse prediction, odds, and spread

The USF Bulls (6-6) will take on the Syracuse Orange (6-6) on Thursday, December 21st at 7:30 PM ET in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl. The game will be played at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, and will be broadcast on ESPN.

The ESPN oddsmakers have Syracuse as 3-point favorites, with the over/under set at 56.5 points. Both teams finished the regular season at .500 and will be looking to end their seasons on a high note with a bowl victory.

Let’s get into our USF vs Syracuse prediction, as we analyze the odds and determine the best bet.

USF vs Syracuse Odds – Boca Raton Bowl

In the USF vs Syracuse odds for the Boca Raton Bowl, the Orange are -150 moneyline favorites, giving them 60% implied win probability.

Syracuse fell 29-20 to Minnesota in their bowl game last season, while South Florida is playing in their first bowl game since 2018 (38-20 L vs Marshall).

 Odds as of December 19, 2023, at ESPN Sportsbook. Claim the ESPN Bet promo code to bet on USF vs Syracuse.

Bulls Betting Analysis

South Florida comes into the Boca Raton Bowl boasting a 6-6 record under first-year head coach Alex Golesh. Still, considering the team won a total of four games in the previous three seasons combined, this was a significant year for the USF program.

The Bulls boast a strong passing attack led by QB Byrum Brown, who threw for over 3,000 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2023. His favorite target is wide receiver Sean Atkins, who has caught 86 passes for 961 yards and five TDs.

Byrum Brown is THE most impressive QB prospect to ever play for USF.

SizeArm Strength Deceptive SpeedCompetitive NatureAwareness

He has it all

— Sam Barrington (@Sam_Barrington_) November 4, 2023

The quarterback Brown is also a force with his legs, rushing for 757 yards and seven scores this season. He’s joined in the backfield by senior running back Nay’Quan Wright, who has accumulated 757 rush yards and seven TDs.

Defensively, the Bulls were among the worst in the nation this past season. South Florida was exploited for 34.9 points per game and 455.3 yards allowed per game.

In their last game, USF defeated the Charlotte 49ers 48-13 thanks to four passing touchdowns from QB Brown. Turnovers were key for the Bulls, as they forced three interceptions from 49ers quarterbacks Trexler Ivey and Steven Johnson.

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Orange Betting Analysis

Syracuse enters the Boca Raton Bowl with an identical 6-6 record to their opponent. The big story surrounding the Orange is the firing of head coach Dino Babers last month, ending his eight-year tenure. The program has since hired Fran Brown as its next head coach.

While Brown will be Syracuse’s head coach in 2024-25, it will be Nunzio Campanile, Babers’ temporary replacement, who coaches Thursday night. Campanile helped his team defeat Wake Forest in the regular-season finale to make the Orange bowl-eligible.

We're movin' in lock, stock and barrel.

'Cuse is headed to the @BocaBowl pic.twitter.com/XCWwcn3gJP

— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) December 3, 2023

The Syracuse offense was led this season by quarterback Garrett Shrader, who underwent shoulder surgery after passing for three touchdowns and running for another in the win over Wake Forest. This means the team could turn to backup Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, who threw three touchdowns and six interceptions in limited action this season.

Whoever suits up at quarterback for Syracuse might not matter too much if elite running back LeQuint Allen continues to do his thing. Allen has been a tremendous asset to the team this season, rushing for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Orange struggled in a weak year for the ACC Conference. Syracuse is allowing 378 yards and 23.8 points per game, which places them in the bottom half of the Atlantic Coast Conference in both metrics.

USF vs Syracuse Prediction

This is an interesting college football bowl game matchup, with Syracuse transitioning into a new coaching era and South Florida making their first bowl game appearance since 2018. While the Orange hold some statistical edges, the Bulls are likely the more motivated team.

With Shrader out for the Orange, we can expect Syracuse to lean heavily on their dominant run game. They are already running the ball on 62% of their plays this season, and the Bulls rank 130th in rushing explosiveness allowed over the last six weeks.

When the Orange are favored to cover the spread as a favorite, it’s usually a smart idea to bet on them. The Orange are a very impressive 10-3-1 ATS when favored over the last three seasons. Barring any further major opt outs (follow our opt-out tracker), the Orange should win and cover in the Boca Raton Bowl.

Boca Raton Bowl Pick: Syracuse -3 (-110)

 

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