2013 College Football Bowl Picks: Texas Bowl Odds and Predictions – Syracuse vs Minnesota 12/27/2013

2013 College Football Bowl Picks: Texas Bowl Odds and Predictions – Syracuse vs Minnesota 12/27/2013: The ACC will take on the Big Ten when the Syracuse Orange (6-6, 4-4 ACC) take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4, 4-4 Big Ten) in the Texas Bowl. Both teams finished .500 in conference play, and while the Orange will be trying to finish above .500 overall for the year, the Golden Gophers will be looking for a nine-win season. Heading into the game, Minnesota is a 4 ½-point favorite.

To say that Syracuse has struggled on offense this season would be kind. The Orange rank 100th in the country in scoring at 22.8 points per game, and their passing attack ranks outside the top 100 nationally. Quarterback Terrel Hunt has thrown for just 1,450 yards to go along with 10 touchdowns and eight picks. If there has been a bright spot, it is running back Jerome Smith, who has scored 11 touchdowns and run for more than 800 yards. Defensively, Syracuse has been a middle-of-the-road team, ranking 60th in the country in points allowed.

Aside from a decent rushing attack, Minnesota has struggled on offense this season. The Golden Gophers rank 80th in the country in scoring and 116th in passing yards. Quarterback Philip Nelson has thrown for less than 1,300 yards and just nine scores this year, and receiver Derrick Engel leads the team with just 25 catches. On the plus side, running back David Cobb has run for 1,111 yards and seven scores for a ground attack that ranks in the top 35 nationally. Minnesota’s defense has also held its own, ranking 27th in the country in points allowed.

The Orange Win If:

If Syracuse is going to win the game, shutting down the Minnesota rushing offense is a must. The Golden Gophers have one of the worst passing attacks in the country, and the Orange need to dare Nelson to beat them with his arm. Offensively, the Orange have to limit their mistakes to avoid giving Minnesota any scoring opportunities. The bottom line is that Syracuse is not going to be able to win anything that resembles a high-scoring game, but if the Orange can take away the Golden Gophers’ rushing attack and make the game an ugly, low-scoring affair, a victory isn’t out of the question.

The Golden Gophers Win If:

Establishing their ground game early will be crucial for the success of the Golden Gophers. Not only will a solid running game allow Minnesota to wear down a suspect Syracuse defense, but it will keep the Golden Gophers’ defense fresh. On the flip side, a sloppy start could doom Minnesota. The Golden Gophers don’t have the passing attack to play from behind, and if they have to start trying to throw the ball, things could get ugly. If Minnesota is able to move the chains and put points on the board with its ground game, the Golden Gophers’ defense will take care of the rest.

Bottom Line:

Although both teams suffer from inefficient offenses, Minnesota’s ground game and solid defense have already proven themselves on the field. The Golden Gophers own victories over Penn State and Northwestern, and Syracuse lost to both the Nittany Lions and Wildcats. Meanwhile, Minnesota more than held its own in close losses to Big Ten powers Wisconsin and Michigan State. On the flip side, the Orange were crushed by ACC frontrunners Florida State and Clemson, losing by a combined score of 108-17. Add it up, and Minnesota’s defense should have no trouble stifling the punchless Syracuse offense, and the Golden Gophers’ ground game should take care of the rest.

Prediction: Minnesota Golden Gophers (-4 ½) Cover the Spread

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