Friday, December 28
Orlando, FL
5:15 PM
Syracuse University
vs
West Virginia
Preview: Syracuse, West Virginia Collide in 2018 Camping World Bowl
12/27/2018 3:00:00 PM | Football
2018 CAMPING WORLD BOWL
#17Â SYRACUSE (9-3) VS. #15 WEST VIRGINIA (8-3)
Game Details:Â 5:15 p.m. | Friday, Dec. 28
Location: Orlando, Fla. | Camping World Stadium
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live Stats
Television:Â ESPN
Radio:Â Syracuse IMG Sports NetworkÂ
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Instagram: @CuseFootball
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF) | Digital Bowl Guide | All-Access
West Virginia Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF) | Digital Bowl Guide
Camping World Bowl Links: Website | Fan Guide | Stadium Information
ORLANDO, Fla. – Making its first bowl appearance since 2013, No. 17 Syracuse takes on former BIG EAST rival No. 15 West Virginia in the 2018 Camping World Bowl on Friday, Dec. 28. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. and the matchup will air nationally on ESPN, with Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter) on the call.
With a 9-3 record, the Orange can reach 10 wins for just the seventh time in program history with a victory over the Mountaineers. The Orange clinched second place in the ACC Atlantic Division – after being picked to finished last on that side of the conference during the preseason – with a 42-21 win at Boston College in their last regular-season game.
West Virginia, losers of their last two regular-season contests, finished in a third-place tie with Iowa State in the Big 12.
SERIES HISTORY
The Camping World Bowl marks the 61st meeting between Syracuse and West Virginia, including the second time the teams have squared off in the postseason. With the rivalry dating back to 1945, the series is the fourth-most frequent in Syracuse history.
The two schools were charter members when the BIG EAST Conference began sponsoring football in 1991, and played annually during the regular season from 1955-2011. The Orange own a 33-27 advantage in the all-time series and have won the last three pairings, most recently claiming a 38-14 victory in the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
BOWLING ONCE AGAIN
This season's Camping World Bowl berth snaps Syracuse's four-year bowl drought, a stretch that had been tied for the second-longest among current Power-Five teams.
The Orange have appeared in 25 bowl games, holding a 15-9-1 record. Their .620 bowl winning percentage ranks eighth all-time among teams with at least 15 bowl appearances. From 1989 to 1996, Syracuse won seven straight bowl games – a streak that is the seventh-longest in college football history.
CAMPING WORLD BOWL HISTORY
Originally titled the Blockbuster Bowl, the first edition of the game was a matchup between Penn State and Florida State in Miami, Fla. in 1990. Over the years, the game has been called the Blockbuster Bowl (1990-91, 93), Carquest Bowl (1994-97), Micronpc.com Bowl (1998-2000), Tangerine Bowl (2001-03), Champs Sports Bowl (2004-11) and Russell Athletic Bowl (2012-2016). The first Camping World Bowl was played last season with Oklahoma State defeating Virginia Tech, 30-21.
Syracuse has played in the game once previously, losing to Georgia Tech by the score of 51-14 in the 2004 Champs Sports Bowl.
THE YEAR OF THE ORANGE
It's been a year to remember for Syracuse.
The 2018 campaign is the first time since 2001 the Orange have won at least nine games, been nationally-ranked, had a unanimous All-American (Andre Szmyt), gone unbeaten at home (6-0), won at least six conference games (6-2) and had a player attend the ESPN College Football Awards show (Szmyt). Syracuse also more than doubled its win total from a season ago, which is one of the biggest turnarounds in the FBS this season.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Coach Dana Holgorsen's squad has spent the entire season ranked in the top 20 of the AP poll and boasts the ninth-ranked scoring offense in the country at 42.3 points per game. The Mountaineers have dominated the first two quarters this season, outscoring their opponents cumulatively 276-131 in the first half.
West Virginia's offense is without its star quarterback Will Grier, however, who announced he will not play in the game. While Grier's backup, and presumed starter, Jack Allison, has thrown just 10 passes this season, he will have the luxury of throwing to wideout David Sills V, whose 15 touchdown receptions rank first in the Big 12. Running back Kennedy McKoy, meanwhile, is seventh in the Big 12 with 729 rushing yards.
Defensively, linebacker David Long Jr. is fourth in the conference with 97 total tackles and third with eight sacks.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
#17Â SYRACUSE (9-3) VS. #15 WEST VIRGINIA (8-3)
Game Details:Â 5:15 p.m. | Friday, Dec. 28
Location: Orlando, Fla. | Camping World Stadium
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live Stats
Television:Â ESPN
Radio:Â Syracuse IMG Sports NetworkÂ
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Instagram: @CuseFootball
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF) | Digital Bowl Guide | All-Access
West Virginia Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF) | Digital Bowl Guide
Camping World Bowl Links: Website | Fan Guide | Stadium Information
ORLANDO, Fla. – Making its first bowl appearance since 2013, No. 17 Syracuse takes on former BIG EAST rival No. 15 West Virginia in the 2018 Camping World Bowl on Friday, Dec. 28. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. and the matchup will air nationally on ESPN, with Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter) on the call.
With a 9-3 record, the Orange can reach 10 wins for just the seventh time in program history with a victory over the Mountaineers. The Orange clinched second place in the ACC Atlantic Division – after being picked to finished last on that side of the conference during the preseason – with a 42-21 win at Boston College in their last regular-season game.
West Virginia, losers of their last two regular-season contests, finished in a third-place tie with Iowa State in the Big 12.
SERIES HISTORY
The Camping World Bowl marks the 61st meeting between Syracuse and West Virginia, including the second time the teams have squared off in the postseason. With the rivalry dating back to 1945, the series is the fourth-most frequent in Syracuse history.
The two schools were charter members when the BIG EAST Conference began sponsoring football in 1991, and played annually during the regular season from 1955-2011. The Orange own a 33-27 advantage in the all-time series and have won the last three pairings, most recently claiming a 38-14 victory in the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
BOWLING ONCE AGAIN
This season's Camping World Bowl berth snaps Syracuse's four-year bowl drought, a stretch that had been tied for the second-longest among current Power-Five teams.
The Orange have appeared in 25 bowl games, holding a 15-9-1 record. Their .620 bowl winning percentage ranks eighth all-time among teams with at least 15 bowl appearances. From 1989 to 1996, Syracuse won seven straight bowl games – a streak that is the seventh-longest in college football history.
CAMPING WORLD BOWL HISTORY
Originally titled the Blockbuster Bowl, the first edition of the game was a matchup between Penn State and Florida State in Miami, Fla. in 1990. Over the years, the game has been called the Blockbuster Bowl (1990-91, 93), Carquest Bowl (1994-97), Micronpc.com Bowl (1998-2000), Tangerine Bowl (2001-03), Champs Sports Bowl (2004-11) and Russell Athletic Bowl (2012-2016). The first Camping World Bowl was played last season with Oklahoma State defeating Virginia Tech, 30-21.
Syracuse has played in the game once previously, losing to Georgia Tech by the score of 51-14 in the 2004 Champs Sports Bowl.
THE YEAR OF THE ORANGE
It's been a year to remember for Syracuse.
The 2018 campaign is the first time since 2001 the Orange have won at least nine games, been nationally-ranked, had a unanimous All-American (Andre Szmyt), gone unbeaten at home (6-0), won at least six conference games (6-2) and had a player attend the ESPN College Football Awards show (Szmyt). Syracuse also more than doubled its win total from a season ago, which is one of the biggest turnarounds in the FBS this season.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Coach Dana Holgorsen's squad has spent the entire season ranked in the top 20 of the AP poll and boasts the ninth-ranked scoring offense in the country at 42.3 points per game. The Mountaineers have dominated the first two quarters this season, outscoring their opponents cumulatively 276-131 in the first half.
West Virginia's offense is without its star quarterback Will Grier, however, who announced he will not play in the game. While Grier's backup, and presumed starter, Jack Allison, has thrown just 10 passes this season, he will have the luxury of throwing to wideout David Sills V, whose 15 touchdown receptions rank first in the Big 12. Running back Kennedy McKoy, meanwhile, is seventh in the Big 12 with 729 rushing yards.
Defensively, linebacker David Long Jr. is fourth in the conference with 97 total tackles and third with eight sacks.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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