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USATSI

The South Florida Bulls will have a much easier commute than the Syracuse Orange when they meet in the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl on Thursday night. Both teams enter with 6-6 records for this bowl game being played in Florida. South Florida is playing in its first bowl game since 2018, while Syracuse is coming off an appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl last season, falling to Minnesota, 28-20.

The 2023 Boca Raton Bowl is scheduled to kick off from FAU Stadium on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. The contest will be played fewer than 250 miles away from South Florida's campus. In contrast, Syracuse is more than 1,300 miles away from FAU Stadium. The latest Syracuse vs. South Florida odds via SportsLine consensus list the Orange as 3-point favorites, while the over/under is 55.5. Before making any South Florida vs. Syracuse picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's Jimmie Kaylor. 

Kaylor is a NFL, college football and DFS expert for SportsLine, who has covered the NFL and college football for close to a decade as a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. His background as a former college football All-American and NFL player gives him a unique perspective when building his fantasy lineups and locking in his betting picks. He has his finger on the pulse of the college football landscape and has been cashing in big for the last two years. 

Kaylor has been red-hot all season, going 78-32-2 overall on his college football best bets for SportsLine this season so far. He is up over 46.65 units, returning a profit of $4,665 for $100 bettors. Anyone who has followed his picks this season is way up.

Now Kaylor has dialed in on Syracuse vs. USF and just revealed his coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the college football odds for the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl:

  • South Florida vs. Syracuse spread: Syracuse -3
  • South Florida vs. Syracuse over/under: 55.5 points 
  • South Florida vs. Syracuse money line: Syracuse -159, USF +133
  • South Florida vs. Syracuse picks: See picks here
  • South Florida vs. Syracuse live stream: fubo (try for free)

Why South Florida can cover

Despite being a freshman, quarterback Byrum Brown has showcased one of the best combinations of arm talent and rushing ability for signal callers in college football. Brown has thrown for 3,078 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for 745 yards and 11 scores over 12 games. The freshman is coming off one of his best college performances by throwing for 253 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 43 yards and a touchdown in a 48-14 win over Charlotte. 

South Florida has thrived as the underdogs this season, going 5-2 against the spread when getting points. The Bulls have also been able to win outright often as a one-score underdog, including going 3-0 straight-up when being an underdog by 3.5 points or fewer. Syracuse lost six of its last eight games and will be without starting quarterback Garrett Shrader (shoulder). See which team to pick here.

Why Syracuse can cover

South Florida has not thrived as an underdog in recent years, winning just three times in its last 20 games in that role. The Bulls have only covered the spread once in their last seven games in December, and they have not played in a bowl game since 2018. Meanwhile, Syracuse is playing in back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2012 and 2013, and running back LeQuint Allen finished with 100-plus rushing yards in five of his last six games. 

The Orange have several replacement options for Shrader, including backup Carlos Del Rio-Wilson or their creative wildcat offense that they used late in the regular season. Interim coach Nunzio Campanile led Syracuse to a win over Wake Forest and will be in charge again on Thursday night. The Orange are facing a South Florida defense that was among the worst in the country in points (34.9) and yards (455.3) allowed per game. See picks at SportsLine.

How to make USF vs. Syracuse picks

Kaylor has analyzed this matchup from every angle and he's leaning Under on the point total. He has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.

So who wins Syracuse vs. South Florida in the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl, and what critical x-factor makes one side of the spread a must back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the expert on a 78-32 roll on college football best bets, and find out.