Camping World Bowl Prediction
Quarterback Will Grier will skip Friday’s Camping World Bowl when West Virginia takes on Syracuse at 5:15 p.m. ET. That said, do the Mountaineers still have appeal as an underdog?
Game Snapshot
244 West Virginia Mountaineers vs. 243 Syracuse Orange
5:15 p.m. ET, Friday, December 28, 2018
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Orange are 3-point favorites to beat the Mountaineers. The total, meanwhile, sits at 65.5 points. As of this writing, 56% of the public betting tickets wagered on this matchup are on the Orange.
West Virginia Mountaineers
HC Dana Holgrosen plans to use both redshirt sophomore Jack Allison and Trey Lowe in the Camping World Bowl. Will Grier will not play against Syracuse as he focuses on his NFL future, so West Virginia will take a look at the potential future of the program. Allison is a Miami transfer who was originally a four-star recruit back in 2016. He only has attempted 10 passes this season. The other quarterback, Trey Lowe, is a three-star dual-threat quarterback from the 2018 class. Consider this upcoming bowl game as a try-out for next season’s open quarterback spot.
Syracuse Orange
Syracuse HC Dino Babers said that redshirt senior S Antwan Cordy (undisclosed) is unlikely to play in the Camping World Bowl. This game is shaping up as a battle of reserves in part, with both teams sitting out multiple notable players. On the Orange side, defensive linemen Alton Robinson and McKinley Williams have both been suspended for the contest. Cordy (5’8/183) is not dealing with a suspension, but rather an undisclosed issue which cost him the final two games of the regular-season campaign. This season, the athletic standout — he graced Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks” list over the summer — has registered 27 tackles, a sack and three passes defended in 10 games. Of note, Cordy will be eligible for a sixth year should he want to bring it back for one more run with the Orange. He is not expected to make that call until some point after the Camping World Bowl.
Betting Trends
West Virginia
The over is 5-0 in the Mountaineers’ last five games overall.
Syracuse
The under is 5-1 in the Orange’s last six neutral site games.
Prediction
Missing Grier hurts but the Mountaineers are still loaded with offensive potential. Senior wideouts Gary Jennings Jr. and David Sills V have combined for 115 receptions, 1,823 yards and 28 touchdowns. The trio of Kennedy McKoy, Martell Pettaway and Leddie Brown will also take some pressure off of sophomore Jack Allison. WVU also has the better defense in this matchup so I’m going ride the value with the Mountaineers and take the points.
Camping World Bowl Prediction: West Virginia Mountaineers +3