West Virginia (7-5) vs. Syracuse (7-5), 3:15 p.m. EST (ESPN) At Yankee Stadium, New York
West Virginia (7-5) vs. Syracuse (7-5), 3:15 p.m. EST (ESPN)
At Yankee Stadium, New York
Line: West Virginia 31/2
Series Record: Syracuse 32-27
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The Mountaineers are trying to wrap up a season that started great (5-0), went sour (five-game losing streak), then ended on the upswing (two straight victories) with their first bowl victory as a member of the Big 12. It will come, oddly, against a member of their old conference. At least for now. The Orange began their last season in the Big East 1-3 before closing strong and sharing the conference title. It's off to the Atlantic Coast Conference for Syracuse next year.
KEY MATCHUP
QB Geno Smith and WRs Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin and against Syracuse's pass defense and veteran secondary. The Orange rank 63rd in the nation in sacks and 65th in yards passing allowed. Not terrible, but this will be as tough a test as All-Big East S Shamarko Thomas and the Orange defensive backs have faced this season. Snow is expected in the New York area on Saturday, so maybe that will slow down the prolific Mountaineers. On the other side of the ball, West Virginia's defense ranks 123rd in the nation against the pass so clearly it could use any help it can get.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Virginia: Austin is one of the most dynamic and versatile players in the country. An All-American all-purpose player, Austin does most of his damage as a receiver. He had 1,259 yards through the air, 598 rushing and a little more than 900 on returns.
Syracuse: QB Ryan Nassib. Like his West Virginia counterpart, Smith, Nassib is NFL-quality. The senior passed for 3,619 yards and 24 touchdowns.
FACTS & FIGURES
Syracuse is making its second trip to the Pinstripe Bowl. The Orange won the first one two seasons ago, beating Kansas State 36-34. ... Syracuse will be without two suspended players for the full game, and another for at least part of it. RB Adonis Ameen-Moore and TE Max Beaulieu were suspended earlier this week for violating team rules. Ameen-Moore played in six games for the Orange, rushing 30 times for 108 yards and five touchdowns. Beaulieu played in one game. Last week, coach Doug Marrone announced starting linebacker Marquis Spruill would miss a significant portion of the Pinstripe Bowl after the senior was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for getting into a scuffle with Syracuse police. ... West Virginia will be without C Joe Madsen, suspended for academic reasons ... Six times this season the loser of a West Virginia game has scored at least 34 points.
Pinstripe Bowl Matchup
SYRACUSE (7-5)
41 Northwestern 42
29 Southern Cal 42
28 Stony Brook 17
10 at Minnesota 17
14 Pittsburgh 13
15 at Rutgers 23
40 UConn 10
37 at South Florida 36
24 at Cincinnati 35
45 Louisville 26
31 at Missouri 27
38 at Temple 20
WEST VIRGINIA (7-5)
69 Marshall 34
42 James Madison 12
31 Maryland 21
70 Baylor 63
48 at Texas 45
14 at Texas Tech 49
14 Kansas St. 55
38 TCU, 2OT 39
34 at Oklahoma St. 55
49 Oklahoma 50
31 at Iowa St. 24
59 Kansas 10
Rushing offense
Car Yds Yds/g
Syracuse 490 2062 171.8
West Virginia 431 2131 177.6
Passing offense
Att Cp Yds Yds/g
Syracuse 449 283 3619 301.6
West Virginia 509 359 4091 340.9
Total offense
West Virginia (7-5) vs. Syracuse (7-5), 3:15 p.m. EST (ESPN)
At Yankee Stadium, New York
Line: West Virginia 31/2Series Record: Syracuse 32-27WHAT'S AT STAKE
The Mountaineers are trying to wrap up a season that started great (5-0), went sour (five-game losing streak), then ended on the upswing (two straight victories) with their first bowl victory as a member of the Big 12. It will come, oddly, against a member of their old conference. At least for now. The Orange began their last season in the Big East 1-3 before closing strong and sharing the conference title. It's off to the Atlantic Coast Conference for Syracuse next year.
KEY MATCHUP
QB Geno Smith and WRs Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin and against Syracuse's pass defense and veteran secondary. The Orange rank 63rd in the nation in sacks and 65th in yards passing allowed. Not terrible, but this will be as tough a test as All-Big East S Shamarko Thomas and the Orange defensive backs have faced this season. Snow is expected in the New York area on Saturday, so maybe that will slow down the prolific Mountaineers. On the other side of the ball, West Virginia's defense ranks 123rd in the nation against the pass so clearly it could use any help it can get.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Virginia: Austin is one of the most dynamic and versatile players in the country. An All-American all-purpose player, Austin does most of his damage as a receiver. He had 1,259 yards through the air, 598 rushing and a little more than 900 on returns.
Syracuse: QB Ryan Nassib. Like his West Virginia counterpart, Smith, Nassib is NFL-quality. The senior passed for 3,619 yards and 24 touchdowns.
FACTS & FIGURES
Syracuse is making its second trip to the Pinstripe Bowl. The Orange won the first one two seasons ago, beating Kansas State 36-34. ... Syracuse will be without two suspended players for the full game, and another for at least part of it. RB Adonis Ameen-Moore and TE Max Beaulieu were suspended earlier this week for violating team rules. Ameen-Moore played in six games for the Orange, rushing 30 times for 108 yards and five touchdowns. Beaulieu played in one game. Last week, coach Doug Marrone announced starting linebacker Marquis Spruill would miss a significant portion of the Pinstripe Bowl after the senior was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for getting into a scuffle with Syracuse police. ... West Virginia will be without C Joe Madsen, suspended for academic reasons ... Six times this season the loser of a West Virginia game has scored at least 34 points.
Pinstripe Bowl Matchup
SYRACUSE (7-5)
41 Northwestern 42
29 Southern Cal 42
28 Stony Brook 17
10 at Minnesota 17
14 Pittsburgh 13
15 at Rutgers 23
40 UConn 10
37 at South Florida 36
24 at Cincinnati 35
45 Louisville 26
31 at Missouri 27
38 at Temple 20
WEST VIRGINIA (7-5)
69 Marshall 34
42 James Madison 12
31 Maryland 21
70 Baylor 63
48 at Texas 45
14 at Texas Tech 49
14 Kansas St. 55
38 TCU, 2OT 39
34 at Oklahoma St. 55
49 Oklahoma 50
31 at Iowa St. 24
59 Kansas 10
Rushing offense
Car Yds Yds/g
Syracuse 490 2062 171.8
West Virginia 431 2131 177.6
Passing offense
Att Cp Yds Yds/g
Syracuse 449 283 3619 301.6
West Virginia 509 359 4091 340.9
Total offense
Plays Yds Yds/g
Syracuse 939 5681 473.4
West Virginia 940 6222 518.5
Rushing defense
Car Yds Yds/g
Syracuse 436 1778 148.2
West Virginia 483 1710 142.5
Passing defense
Att Cp Yds Tds Rating
Syracuse 369 233 2843 21 141.76
West Virginia 410 265 3925 36 169.63
Total defense
Plays Yds Yds/g
Syracuse 805 4621 385.0
West Virginia 893 5635 469.5
Net punting
No. Yds Net
Punts Avg Ret Ret Avg
Syracuse 53 39.1 17 204 35.2
West Virginia 40 38.7 19 143 35.1
Punt returns
No Yds Avg
Syracuse 29 119 4.1
West Virginia 15 165 11.0
Kickoff returns
No Yds Avg
Syracuse 35 666 19.0
West Virginia 50 1025 20.5
Turnover margin
Gained Lost
Fum Int Tot Fum Int Tot Mar/g
Syracuse 10 9 19 11 9 20 -.08
West Virginia 9 9 18 5 7 12 .50
Scoring offense
G Pts Avg
Syracuse 12 352 29.3
West Virginia 12 499 41.6
Scoring Defense
G Pts Avg
Syracuse 12 308 25.7
West Virginia 12 457 38.1
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