Ohio Bobcats vs. Syracuse Orange 8/31/24 – With the onset of the new season of college football, staking their first claim are the Ohio Bobcats (10-3 last season) and the Syracuse Orange (6-7 last season) in this exciting contest. The game will show live on Saturday versus JMA Wireless Dome and on ACCN. In contrast, both teams are coming off a dissimilar record from their last season, meaning it’s time for a showdown as each one wants to begin their campaign from a positive perspective. This game presents college football free picks and dynamics that may change the result in a variety of ways.
Ohio Bobcats vs. Syracuse Orange 8/31/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET |
| Where: | JMA Wireless Dome |
| TV: | ACCN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Ohio Bobcats (10-3 Last Season) vs. Syracuse Orange (6-7 Last Season)
The Ohio Bobcats have a powerful rushing attack courtesy of Rickey Hunt Jr. The last season, he made 134 rushing yards on 23 attempts and managed to penetrate into the end zone 4 times. This rushing efficiency will be important, particularly against a Syracuse defense that has shown vulnerability in the past. On the receiving end, Tyler Walton managed 37 catches and gained 349 yards, which indicated that he was able to make the best play in pressure situations. This detailed look at the team’s dynamics ties into the broader context of Southern Illinois vs BYU game, where similar team strengths will be tested.
On the other hand, the Syracuse offense’s performance has been inconsistent, although this year, they will clearly depend on Garrett Shrader. Thus last year, Shrader completed 134 of 214 passes attempted for 1,686 yards, scored 13 touchdowns against 6 interceptions. It’s also important to note his performance, where he found the likes of Umari Hatcher for deep passes. Hatcher recorded 482 yards with 32 catches in that game. However, Syracuse’s running game, spearheaded by LeQuint Allen, who rushed for 1,064 yards last season, could be the key to balancing their offensive attack and exploiting Ohio’s defense, similar to dynamics seen in the Houston Christian vs SMU matchup.
Parker Navarro QB vs. Garrett Shrader QB
Consistency has been one of the most prominent features of Parker Navarro’s career as the Ohio quarterback, along with not turning the ball over too much with a passer rating of 159.4 and just 1 interception last season. Quite remarkable is his ability to perform when it matters, having completed 69.2% of his passes, making him a lethal asset for the Bobcats. Navarro’s task will be to keep his calm, and stay composed when the time to deliver arrives and gets cornered by Syracuse’s notorious reputation of being strong at home.
On another note, Garrett Shrader has had some high moments for Syracuse. In addition to being sacked a lot the previous season, Shrader was able to endure and breakout in big moments consistently over the course of the season, even exhibiting long throw capability evidenced by an 86 yard pass completion. You will need the experience of Shrader and the ability to run away from trouble as the Bobcat defense will be playing physical against him.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Syracuse Orange -14.5 -110, Total Odds: 46.5
The betting odds are leaning heavily towards Syracuse, with a spread of -14.5. The total points prediction of over 46.5 reflects expectations for a reasonably high-scoring game, likely influenced by both teams’ offensive weapons and defensive vulnerabilities shown in recent seasons.
Ohio Bobcats Betting Trends
Ohio’s betting trends show a strong capability to cover spreads in August games and a consistent pattern of games going UNDER the total points, especially on the road. These trends suggest a defensive solidity and an offense that manages the clock well, crucial factors for bettors considering the under on total points.
Syracuse Orange Betting Trends
Syracuse, while struggling ATS in their recent games, shows a propensity for low-scoring contests at home, with 4 of their last 5 games going UNDER the total. Their defensive strength at home could pose challenges for Ohio, making the -14.5 spread a point of contention for sports bettors.
Ohio Bobcats vs. Syracuse Orange 8/31/24 Betting Picks
Given the trends and performances, Ohio may not win, but they have good chances of covering the spread of +14.5. The Bobcats did not break down and have some tactical superiority over the pace of the game, so they should be within reach of making a comeback. The suggestion would be that Ohio has chance of making a cover and the total points scored in the match would tip in favor of the UNDER option due to the past history of both teams.
In a nutshell, despite the fact that Syracuse is the favorite team, the more effective bet would be Ohio covering the spread with the final score not being much farther from what’s presented in the market. Like always, use these tries as part of your wider Premium expert game predictions elaboration.