Thursday’s bowl action includes the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium with Kansas State facing Syracuse in what figures to be a very close game in NCAA betting.
It will be the first bowl game in the Bronx in 48 years. The college football betting odds are a pick on this game with the total at Sbgglobal listed at 47.5.
Crowd Edge to Syracuse
The Orange are going to have an edge in crowd support with the game at Yankee Stadium. Syracuse doesn’t have to travel far for the game and they have 24 players on their team from New York.
Slow Game
Both teams are going to look to run the ball on Thursday. Kansas State has Daniel Thomas who was second in the Big 12 with 1,495 rushing yards and tied for the Big 12 lead with 16 touchdowns. When Thomas runs well the Wildcats win but when he is held to 90 yards or less the Wildcats are 1-7. Syracuse allowed 172.5 rushing yards per game in their last four games. Kansas State doesn’t throw very well as Carson Coffman threw 12 TDs but 7 interceptions this season. Syracuse also will run the ball as they have Delone Carter who was third in the Big East in rushing yards. Syracuse has quarterback Ryan Nassib who threw 16 touchdown passes but eight interceptions. The Kansas State defense was terrible against the run this season allowing 229.1 yards per game. With both teams looking to run the ball this could be a game that goes under the total.
Missing Players
Syracuse is going to be without punter Rob Long, defensive tackle Andrew Lewis and linebacker Brice Hawkes. Lewis had 28 tackles this season while Hawkes was mainly a special teams player.
Series NCAA Betting Facts
Kansas State and Syracuse have met twice in history and both times were in bowl games. The Wildcats defeated the Orange, 35-18, in the 1997 Fiesta Bowl while Syracuse won 26-3 in 2001 in the Insight.com Bowl. This will be the 14th bowl game in Kansas State history and 12th under Bill Snyder. The Wildcats are 6-5 all-time in bowls under Snyder. This is Syracuse’s 23rd bowl appearance and they are 12-9-1 all-time in bowl games.