Syracuse vs Washington State prediction & betting tips - Dec. 27 - Holiday Bowl

The Syracuse Orange are set to play the Washington State Cougars on Friday at 8 p.m. ET in the Holiday Bowl. The game can be seen on FOX.

Syracuse (9-3) ended its season with a 42-38 upset win over Miami. Washington State (8-4) ended the year on a three-game losing streak.

Syracuse vs Washington State: Preview

Syracuse is a 16-point favorite while the over/under is set at 59.5 points.

The Orange ended the year on a high note with a stunning upset win over Miami. Syracuse now gets to play in the Holiday Bowl and will have most of its impact players, as the full list of Syracuse players not playing in the bowl game is as follows:

• Braden Davis, QB (transfer portal)
• Will Nixon, RB (injury)
• Joshua Miller, OL (transfer portal)
• Noah Rosahac, OL (transfer portal)
• Anwar Sparrow, LB (transfer portal)
• Kadin Bailey, LB (transfer portal)
• Jaeden Gould, CB (transfer portal)
• Marcellus Barnes Jr., CB (transfer portal)

Kyle McCord will start the Holiday Bowl for Syracuse. McCord threw for 4,326 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Running back LeQuint Allen rushed for 901 yards and 14 touchdowns and he will also play in the bowl game.

Washington State, meanwhile, is barely fielding a team in the bowl game, as 27 players have entered the portal, including quarterback John Mateer. Head coach Jake Dickert also took the job at Wake Forest, so he won't be coaching the team. The full list of Cougars not playing is as follows:

• Taariq Al-Uqdah, LB (transfer portal)
• John Mateer, QB (transfer portal)
• Ethan O’Connor, CB (transfer portal)
• Brady McKelheer, QB (transfer portal)
• Dylan Paine, RB (injury)
• Wayshawn Parker, RB (transfer portal)
• Brandon Hills, WR (transfer portal)
• Kris Hutson, WR (transfer portal)
• Andre Dollar, TE (injury)
• Mahki Whitney, TE (transfer portal)
• Devin Kylany, OL (injury - questionable)
• Landon Roaten, OL (transfer portal)
• Luke Roaten, OL (transfer portal)
• Ansel Din-Mbuh, DL (transfer portal)
• Hyrum-Benjamin Moors, DL (transfer portal)
• Khalil Laufau, DL (transfer portal)
• Tai Faavae, LB (transfer portal)
• King Williams, CB (transfer portal)
• Warren Smith, CB (transfer portal)
• Adrian Wilson, S (transfer portal)
• Aslan Fraser, S (transfer portal)
• Jackson Lataimua, S (transfer portal)
• Nick Haberer, P (transfer portal)

Washington State will be starting Zevi Eckhaus. Eckhaus threw for 61 yards on 6 completions and a touchdown.

The Cougars have been decimated on offense and defense as Washington State will struggle on both sides of the ball.

McCord will have a ton of success throwing the ball against the Cougars' defense as Syracuse will cruise to a blowout win here.

Prediction: Syracuse 37, Washington State 17

Syracuse vs Washington State: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Syracuse -16 (-110)

Tip 2: Under 59.5 points (-112)

Tip 3: Syracuse -9.5 first half (-115)