Betting On Syracuse Vs. Washington State DirectTV Holiday Bowl

• Odds have Syracuse as a 17-point favorite over Washington State.
• Kyle McCord will play for Syracuse.
• Washington State will be without starting QB John Mateer and most coaches.

SAN DIEGO – The DirectTV Holiday Bowl is going to be a lopsided one between #21 Syracuse Orange and Washington State Cougars as both teams are on opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to who is playing and who isn’t.

The 2024 DIRECTV Holiday Bowl will be Washington State vs. Syracuse. Source: us pic.twitter.com/NFt7ghIk6F

— DIRECTV Holiday Bowl (@holidaybowl) December 8, 2024

Syracuse Vs. Washington State

• Moneyline: Syracuse (-800) vs. Washington State (+525)
• Spread: Syracuse -17
• Total: 60.5

Legal sports betting sites have seen drastic line movement in this one as Syracuse originally opened as a 2.5-point favorite and has since shifted to a 17-point favorite with several opt outs and coaching changes for Wazzu.

Syracuse To Have Their Way

Unfortunately, opt outs have spoiled what could have been the highest-scoring game during Bowl Season. Syracuse will nearly be at full strength with notable names like Kyle McCord, Trebor Pena, LeQuint Allen, and Oronde Gadsen all suiting up.

Washington State, on the other hand, will have 10+ starters not playing including QB John Mateer, starting receiver Kris Hutson, and starting running back, Wayshawn Parker just to name a few. The Cougars coaching staff will also be absent as head coach Jake Dickert is moving to Wake Forest while they’ll also be without their offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and running backs coach.

At full strength in this one, Syracuse is going to have their way all game long as they are one of their more explosive offenses in the country averaging 32.6 ppg which is second in the ACC only behind Miami. Also allowing them to have their way is the fact that even at full strength, Washington State is still allowing 28.1 ppg to opponents this season. The Cougars defense will be without eight total starters leaving plenty of holes for the Orange to execute on.

The Orange are 6-6 against the spread this season with a +1.9 cover margin on average. The Cougars are also 6-6 ATS but with a -1.5 cover margin and have failed to cover in four of their last five games to finish the season.

All in all, look for Syracuse to run with this one and have no issues with college football sportsbooks in covering the 17-point spread.

News tags: Bowl Season | CFB | College Football | DirectTV Holiday Bowl | football | Holiday Bowl | John Mateer | Kyle McCord | Syracuse | Syracuse Orange | Washington State | Washington State Cougars | Wazzu