It’s the Pinstripe Bowl from Yankee Stadium, and Syracuse is set to face Minnesota on Thursday. Dec. 29. The game is scheduled for 2 pm ET while airing on ESPN. Minnesota enters this game as 9.5-point favorites with the total set at 41.5. How will this one play out? Let’s dive into the Syracuse vs. Minnesota prediction for the Pinstripe Bowl below.
Syracuse vs. Minnesota Odds
- Spread: Minnesota -9.5
- Total: 41.5
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. New to FanDuel? Check out our FanDuel Sportsbook Review to find out how to redeem a $1,000 risk-free bet!
Game Info
- Date: Thursday. Dec. 29
- Time: 2 pm ET
- Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
- TV: ESPN
Syracuse Betting Trends
- Orange are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 bowl games.
- Orange are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
- Under is 6-1 in Orange’s last 7 neutral site games.
Minnesota Betting Trends
- Golden Gophers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 bowl games.
- Golden Gophers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
- Under is 4-1 in Golden Gophers’ last 5 bowl games.
Syracuse vs. Minnesota Predictions
The big news heading into this game is that Syracuse star RB Sean Tucker has opted out. That’s a significant loss, as Tucker was one of the better running backs in the nation.
Everybody knows what Minnesota is going to do in this game: run the ball, stop the run, and take control. The Golden Gophers run the ball at the fourth-highest rate in college football, and they rank 15th in rushing offense. There’s a good chance Minnesota gets the ground attack going against a Syracuse team that ranks 74th in rushing defense.
If Minnesota can get into a groove running the ball — which all signs point to that being the case — then this could be a runaway. The Golden Gophers rank fourth in scoring defense, fifth in total defense, and third in opponent third-down conversions. With Tucker not playing, Syracuse might have to throw the ball more than usual, and that could be an uphill climb against a Minnesota pass defense that ranks 13th in the nation.
Overall, the Golden Gophers should control this game from the outset and ultimately win by two or more scores.
The Pick: Minnesota -9.5 | -110 at FanDuel Sportsbook