- Syracuse and Washington State battle in the Holiday Bowl
- The Washington State Cougars are 2-5 in their last 7 games as an underdog
- Check out the Syracuse vs Washington State prediction, odds and our best bets below
The revitalized Syracuse Orange (9-3, 5-3 ACC) renew their festive spirit in the 2024 Holiday Bowl against Washington State (8-4). The Orange ended Miami’s College Football Playoff hopes with a 42-38 upset at home in their last contest.
Meanwhile, the Cougars faltered down the stretch, losing three straight games to end the season. The 2024 Holiday Bowl kicks off at 8 pm ET on Friday, December 27 on Fox.
Look for the Syracuse vs Washington State prediction, odds and our best bets, below.
Syracuse vs Washington State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | -18.5 (-106) | -880 | Over 59.5 (-110) |
| Washington State | +18.5 (-108) | +580 | Under 59.5 (-110) |
Syracuse are 18.5-point favorites in the college football bowl odds. The total for Syracuse vs Washington State is set at 59.5 points.
Bettors love the Orange, as 67% of spread wagers are on Syracuse in the college football public betting splits.
Odds as of December 27 at FanDuel. Check out the best football betting apps for Syracuse vs Washington State.
Syracuse Betting News & Notes
Fran Brown has been a revelation in his first year as head coach of the Orange. With a win he’d secure the most victories for a first-year head coach in the history of the program, and the third 10-win season of the century for Syracuse. Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord has been a huge part of those victories. McCord tops the nation in passing yards (4,326) and is currently fifth with 29 touchdowns.
Receiver Jackson Meeks leads the Orange with 911 yards and seven touchdowns this season, while Trebor Pena, and tight end Oronde Gadsden also surpassed the 800-receiving yards mark.
Plus, junior running back LeQuint Allen (901 yards, 14 touchdowns) will run wild over a Washington State defense that ranks 118th in EPA per rush.
Kyle was making it rain in Syracuse 😤
Kyle McCord threw for 354 yards and 4 touchdowns tonight in his debut with the Orange‼️@CuseFootball | @Cuse | @drpepper pic.twitter.com/NFuCRyyNxf
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) August 31, 2024
That being said, the Orange defense has been a below average unit this season, ranking 105th in EPA per pass allowed. The Cougars will aim to exploit that weakness on Friday night. Keep in mind, the Orange are 1-5 ATS in their last six games as a favorite.
Washington State Betting News & Notes
The Washington State team suiting up for the Holiday Bowl will hardly resemble the squad who played all season. A massive 10 starters have entered the transfer portal, with quarterback John Mateer being the most notable.
Mateer accounted for 3,965 total yards with 44 touchdowns this season. His production will be tough to replicate. Fill-in starter Zevi Eckhaus has thrown just seven passes at the FBS level since transferring from Bryant University.
On top of that, their coaching staff has been decimated. Head coach Jake Dickert departed for Wake Forest, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle is now at Oklahoma, and quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski joined Arbuckle in Norman. Assistant head coach Pete Kaligis will take over for the Holiday Bowl.
THE STAGE IS SET 🏟️@holidaybowl 🏈🌴❄️ pic.twitter.com/A9wKWSrNJF
— Snapdragon Stadium (@SnapdragonStdm) December 27, 2024
Unfortunately, the Cougars defense will also be in disarray. Starting safety Joshua Lataimua, corner Ethan O’Connor and tackle Ansel Din-Mbuh, amongst others, have entered the transfer portal.
A brutal Cougars defense that allowed 429 yards and 28 points per game will be without their coordinator and five starters against a potent Orange offense.
It’s important to note, Washington State has struggled as a underdog this season, going just 1-4 ATS.
Syracuse vs Washington State Prediction
Simply put, the cupboards are bare for Washington State. This line has tripled since opening with Syracuse as 5.5-point favorites in the wake of Jake Dickert’s departure. An already brutal defense will be hard pressed to stop Syracuse’s passing offense without their best players.
However, a three-score spread is too high in a game that features two suspect defenses. Instead, target the Syracuse vs Washington State Over.
Holiday Bowl Pick: Over 59.5 points -110, Syracuse Team Total Over 38.5 -108
-
BET365 SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $150 IN BONUS BETS!
-
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $150 IF YOUR BET WINS + $50 DEPOSIT BONUS
-
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $250 IF YOUR BET WINS
-
BETMGM SPORTSBOOKGET UP TO $1,500 BACK IN BONUS BETS + 2ND CHANCE TD CASH BACK!
-
CAESARS SPORTSBOOKBET $1 & DOUBLE YOUR WINNINGS ON YOUR NEXT 10 BETS
-
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, KS, KY, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY); (800) 327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA); (877) 8-HOPENY (NY); 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ); (888) 789-7777 (CT); 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA); 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN); mdgamblinghelp.org (MD); morethanagame.nc.gov (NC); 1800gambler.net (WV)
The Holiday Bowl is set to kick off on December 27, 2024, and this year’s matchup features the Syracuse Orange taking on the Washington State Cougars. Both teams are coming off successful seasons and will be looking to end their year on a high note with a victory in this prestigious bowl game.
Syracuse finished the regular season with a record of 9-3, including impressive wins over top-ranked opponents such as Clemson and Florida State. Led by head coach Dino Babers, the Orange have a high-powered offense that ranks among the best in the country. Quarterback Tommy DeVito has been a standout performer, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns on the season. Running back Sean Tucker has also been a key contributor, rushing for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, Syracuse’s defense has been solid all season, holding opponents to an average of just 21 points per game. Linebacker Mikel Jones leads the team in tackles and has been a disruptive force in the opposing backfield all season.
Washington State, meanwhile, finished the regular season with a record of 8-4, highlighted by wins over Oregon and Washington. Head coach Nick Rolovich has done an excellent job in his first season with the Cougars, implementing an up-tempo offense that has given opposing defenses fits all year. Quarterback Jayden de Laura has been a revelation, throwing for over 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns on the season. Running back Max Borghi has also been a key contributor, rushing for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Defensively, Washington State has been solid but not spectacular, allowing an average of 28 points per game. Linebacker Jahad Woods leads the team in tackles and has been a playmaker all season, recording multiple interceptions and forced fumbles.
As for the betting odds, Syracuse is currently listed as a slight favorite in this matchup, with most sportsbooks giving them a one-point edge over Washington State. The over/under for total points scored in the game is set at 65, indicating that oddsmakers are expecting a high-scoring affair between these two explosive offenses.
Overall, this Holiday Bowl matchup between Syracuse and Washington State promises to be an exciting and closely contested game between two evenly matched teams. Fans can expect plenty of offensive fireworks and big plays on both sides of the ball, making this game a must-watch for college football fans everywhere.