A discontinued conference rivalry is renewed when 7-5 Syracuse goes against 7-5 West Virginia in the Pinstripe Bowl Saturday, Dec. 29 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx (3:15 pm ET, ESPN2).
The early Pinstripe Bowl odds were listing the Mountaineers, who went 4-5 in the Big 12 this season, as four-point chalk over the Orange, who finished in a four-way tie for first in the Big East.
Syracuse is 3-1 ATS in its past 4 bowl games. [ More Pinstripe Bowl betting stats, trends and odds info ]
View West Virginia vs Syracuse Odds and Stats.
Betting Line: Sportsbooks such as Sportsbook had the Orange pegged as 3.5-point underdogs in this matchup. The total, meanwhile, was 73.5 in early betting over at Sportsbook.
Syracuse Bowl History
Year | Bowl | Team1 | Score | Team2 | Score | Team2 Line | ATS win |
1995 | Gator Bowl | Syracuse | 41 | Clemson | 0 | -2 | SYRACU |
1996 | Liberty Bowl | Syracuse | 30 | Houston | 17 | 16 | HOUSTO |
1997 | Fiesta Bowl | Syracuse | 18 | Kansas State | 35 | -4 | KAN.ST |
1998 | Orange Bowl | Florida | 31 | Syracuse | 10 | 7 | FLA |
1999 | Music City Bowl | Syracuse | 20 | Kentucky | 13 | -2.5 | SYRACU |
2001 | Insight Bowl | Syracuse | 26 | Kansas State | 3 | -6 | SYRACU |
2004 | Champs Sports Bowl | Syracuse | 14 | Georgia Tech | 51 | -6 | GATECH |
2010 | Pinstripe Bowl | Kansas State | 34 | Syracuse | 36 | 0 | SYRACU |
West Virginia Bowl History
Year | Bowl | Team1 | Score | Team2 | Score | Team2 Line | ATS win |
1996 | Gator Bowl | North Carolina | 20 | West Virginia | 13 | 6 | UNC |
1997 | Carquest Bowl | Georgia Tech | 35 | West Virginia | 30 | 1.5 | GATECH |
1998 | Insight Bowl | West Virginia | 31 | Missouri | 34 | -2 | MIZZOU |
2000 | Music City Bowl | Mississippi | 38 | West Virginia | 49 | 4 | WESTV |
2002 | Continental Bowl | West Virginia | 22 | Virginia | 48 | 5.5 | VIRGNA |
2003 | Gator Bowl | West Virginia | 7 | Maryland | 41 | -4.5 | MARYL |
2004 | Gator Bowl | West Virginia | 18 | Florida State | 30 | -9.5 | FLAST |
2005 | Sugar Bowl | West Virginia | 38 | Georgia | 35 | -7 | WESTV |
2006 | Gator Bowl | Georgia Tech | 35 | West Virginia | 38 | -9 | GATECH |
2007 | Fiesta Bowl | West Virginia | 48 | Oklahoma | 28 | -6 | WESTV |
2008 | Meineke Car Care Bowl | West Virginia | 31 | North Carolina | 30 | 2.5 | UNC |
2009 | Gator Bowl | Florida State | 33 | West Virginia | 21 | -2.5 | FLAST |
2010 | Champs Sports Bowl | North Carolina State | 23 | West Virginia | 7 | -3 | N.C.ST |
2011 | Orange Bowl | West Virginia | 70 | Clemson | 33 | -3 | WESTV |
How They Match Up:
The game also pits Syracuse's No. 61-ranked offense, averaging 29.3 PPG, against a Mountaineers defense that ranks No. 116 this week at 38.1 PPG. The Orange aerial game is averaging 301.6 yards per game, less than the Mountaineers secondary allows through the air, 327.1 YPG per game.
Defensively, the Mountaineers feature the league's No. 66-rated road run defense, allowing 175.2 yards per game. Syracuse, meanwhile, ranks No. 51 in rushing offense at home.
West Virginia was a 59-10 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against Kansas. They covered the 22-point spread as favorites, while the total score (69) made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors. In their last game, West Virginia's aerial attack generated 407 yards and the Mountaineers came away with a 59-10 victory over Kansas at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Syracuse won its last outing, a 38-20 result against Temple on November 23. Syracuse covered in that game as a 7.5-point favorite, while the 58 combined points took the game OVER the total. The Orange grabbed a Week 13 victory over the Owls in their last game, winning 38-20 at Lincoln Financial Field.
West Virginia Mountaineers Trends:
When playing in December are 8-2
When playing on grass are 6-4
After outgaining opponent are 8-2
When favored on the road are 7-3
Syracuse Orange Trends:
When playing in December are 5-3
When playing on grass are 4-6
After outgaining opponent are 7-3
When an underdog at home are 4-6
A few Mountaineers at Orange trends to consider:
West Virginia is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games when playing Syracuse
West Virginia is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games
West Virginia is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Syracuse
West Virginia is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Syracuse's last 5 games
Syracuse is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Syracuse is 8-15 ATS in its last 23 games
Syracuse is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games when playing West Virginia