Camping World Bowl: What to Know

In collaboration with M!KEDROPSPORTS

Camping World Bowl

Syracuse Orange (9-3) vs West Virginia Mountaineers (8-3)

Date: Friday, December 28 at 5:15 ET

Location: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida  

Bowl history

Originated: 1990

Previous bowl names: Blockbuster Bowl (1990-1992), Carquest Bowl (1993-1997), MiconPC Bowl (1998-2000), Tangerine Bowl (2001-2003), Champs Sports Bowl (2004-2011), Russell Athletic Bowl (2012-2016)

History of Conferences: ACC is 13-5 since 2000

Last year’s result: Oklahoma State beat Virginia Tech 30-21

Syracuse bowl history

This is the Orange first bowl game since 2013. They have won their last three bowl games, with their last loss coming in this same bowl, previously known as the Champs Sports Bowl in 2004 to Georgia Tech. 

West Virginia bowl history

West Virginia is 0-4 in the Camping World Bowl. All-time they are 15-21 in bowl games. Since joining the Big 12 in 2012, the Mountaineers have made a bowl game in six of the last seven years. Coach Dana Holgorsen is 1-4 in bowls at WVU. They have lost the last two years, with their last bowl win coming during the 2015 season in the Cactus Bowl, against Arizona State.

Over the last 30 years, West Virginia is just 3-10 against ACC teams in bowl games. They last played in this game in 2016 (known as Russell Athletic Bowl) and lost to Miami. They previously played Syracuse in a bowl game in 2013. 

Series history

From 1955-2011 these teams played annually as Big East rivals. Syracuse left the Big East for the ACC in 2012 and would wind up playing West Virginia again that season in the Pinstripe Bowl. Syracuse won that bowl game and have won the last three meetings against the Mountaineers.

Game Notes

Players to Watch 

Syracuse: Eric Dungey, QB

West Virginia: David Stills, WR

Syracuse

Syracuse finished with their most wins (nine) since 2001 when they went 10-3. The 9-3 mark is also their first winning record since 2013, when they went 7-6. 9-3 comes on the heels of back-to-back 4-8 seasons to start coach Dino Babers’ tenure in northern New York. No shame in the Orange losses, losing to Notre Dame and both ACC Championship game representatives – Clemson as well as Pitt. One of the big highlights of the season was throttling Florida State 30-7, snapping a 10 year losing streak versus the Seminoles.

West Virginia

This is certainly a disappointing finish to the season for West Virginia. They had much higher expectations as they expected to be in a New Years Six bowl, especially after they beat Texas. The Mountaineers had hoped to make the Sugar Bowl as the Big 12’s representative. This was also Dana Holgorsen’s best team with quarterback Will Grier. A late-season loss to Oklahoma State is what derailed their high hopes. Without Grier at quarterback (he is sitting to focus on the NFL draft), West Virginia’s offense becomes a major concern in this game. 

Final Analysis 

The Camping World Bowl lost a lot of intrigue once Grier decided to sit out. This is a game that Syracuse is happy to be in with a chance to win 10 games and it’s a game West Virginia should be above. 

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