The Syracuse Orange and the Minnesota Golden Gophers meet for the second time in a bowl setting on Thursday. The programs squared off in the 2013 Texas Bowl, and now will take the field in the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl in New York. Syracuse is 2-0 all-time in the Pinstripe Bowl and, despite five losses in the last six games, the Orange are 7-5 this season. Minnesota is 8-4 this season with four wins in the final five games.
Caesars Sportsbook lists the Golden Gophers as 10.5-point favorites for this 2 p.m. ET kickoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 44.5 in the latest Syracuse vs. Minnesota odds. Before locking in any Minnesota vs. Syracuse picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Syracuse vs. Minnesota and just locked in its picks and Pinstripe Bowl predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college football odds and betting lines for Syracuse vs. Minnesota:
- Syracuse vs. Minnesota spread: Minnesota -10.5
- Syracuse vs. Minnesota over/under: 44.5 points
- Syracuse vs. Minnesota money line: Minnesota -420, Syracuse +320
- SYR: The Orange are 6-6 against the spread this season
- MINN: The Golden Gophers are 7-5 against the spread this season
- Syracuse vs. Minnesota picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Syracuse can cover
Syracuse's offense doesn't have running back Sean Tucker (NFL opt-out) available in this game, but the Orange have strong metrics across the board. Syracuse is in the top three of the ACC in averaging 8.4 yards per pass attempt, and the Orange coughed up only eight interceptions in 12 games. Syracuse is above-average in overall rushing production, averaging more than 140 yards per game on the ground, and Minnesota has the fewest sacks (17) on defense of any Big Ten team.
On defense, Syracuse ranked in the top five of the ACC in total defense (338.8 yards per game) and scoring defense (22.7 points per game), and the Orange are elite against the pass. That includes a top-two ACC mark in passing defense (188.8 yards per game) with 31 sacks and 6.4 yards allowed per pass attempt. Minnesota produced only 10 passing touchdowns in 12 games, with the Golden Gophers completing fewer than 61% of pass attempts.
Why Minnesota can cover
Minnesota has tremendous defensive metrics, and the Golden Gophers also have plenty of offensive firepower. Broadly speaking, Minnesota is 17-6 in the last 23 games at road or neutral sites, and the Golden Gophers are above-average in total offense (404.3 yards per game) and scoring offense (28.3 points per game) this season. Minnesota is No. 2 in the Big Ten in rushing offense, generating 218.3 yards per game, and the Golden Gophers average 4.8 yards per carry.
Through the air, Minnesota is producing 8.4 yards per pass attempt, and the Golden Gophers have given up only 13 sacks this season. Minnesota is elite on third down, ranking No. 2 in the country in efficiency at 52.6%, and the Golden Gophers have one of the best running backs in the country in Mohamed Ibrahim. He ranks in the top four of the country with 1,594 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns. Veteran quarterback Tanner Morgan will be available after missing time with an upper-body injury, though Minnesota could opt to roll with freshman Athan Kaliakmanis, who threw for more than 300 yards in a win against Wisconsin last time out.
How to make Syracuse vs. Minnesota picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting 47 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Syracuse vs. Minnesota? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Syracuse vs. Minnesota spread you need to jump on Thursday, all from the model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.
