Syracuse at Western Michigan College Football Picks and Predictions 8/31/2018

Friday, August 31, 2018

Waldo Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Syracuse Orange head to Waldo Stadium to play the Western Michigan Broncos on Friday, August 31, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Syracuse as 1.5 point favorites. The Orange were 6-5-1 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 2-9-1. The Broncos were 5-7-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 8-4-0.

Valuable Syracuse Orange Betting Trends

The Syracuse Orange were 2-9-1 against the over/under last season

The Syracuse Orange were 6-5-1 against the spread last year

Important Western Michigan Broncos Betting Trends

The Western Michigan Broncos were 8-4-0 against the over/under last season

The Western Michigan Broncos were 5-7-0 against the spread last year

Key Syracuse Orange Injuries

08/22/18 LS Matt Keller Foot is upgraded to probable Friday vs Western Michigan
08/21/18 RB Dontae Strickland Undisclosed is probable Friday vs Western Michigan
08/21/18 DB Evan Foster Undisclosed is probable Friday vs Western Michigan
08/21/18 DL Kendall Coleman Knee is upgraded to probable Friday vs Western Michigan
08/11/18 DE Jake Pickard Knee is "?" Friday vs Western Michigan
08/11/18 DL Zach Morton Knee is "?" Friday vs Western Michigan

Key Western Michigan Broncos Injuries

06/27/18 RB Matt Falcon Medical is out for season
06/27/18 DL Steven Clark Medical is out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Syracuse Orange were 83rd in the country in points scored with 329 last season. They ran 1,027 plays last year for 5,476 yards, which ranked them 28th in Division 1 in total offense. The Orange averaged 5.3 yards per play, which was 97th in the nation. As a team they accumulated a total of 293 1st downs last season, ranking them 36th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Syracuse ran for 1,938 yards, which ranked 78th in college football. They ran 479 times, averaging 4 yards per rush as a unit. The Orange were penalized on offense 74 times for 593 yards last year, which had them 71st in the country in penalties. Eric Dungey passed for 2,495 yards last year. He completed 225 throws while attempting 377 passes for a completion percentage of 59.7%. His quarterback rating last season was 122.8. He averaged 6.3 adjusted yards per throw and 6.6 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Syracuse was 95th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 386 last year. They gave up a total of 5,328 yards on D, which was 92nd in D-1. The Orange were 114th in yards per play allowed with 6.4. Opponent offenses completed 232 throws on 382 attempts against the Syracuse Orange defense last season, ranking them 67th and 57th in the nation. The Syracuse pass defense also surrendered a total of 2,968 yards in the air, which was 81st overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 451 attempts for 2,360 yards last season, putting them in 91st place in the country against the run. The Orange had 79 penalties for 715 yards on defense last year. That placed them 83rd in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Syracuse was 61st in the country in punt returns with 19 last season. They totaled 137 punt return yards and averaged 7.2 yards per return, which was 68th in D-1. They returned 38 kicks for 863 yards on special teams, which put them 45th in kick return yardage. The Orange averaged 23 yards per kick return and they were 39th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 6,475. The Syracuse Orange tried 30 field goals last year and made 22, which was 9th in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 73%. Syracuse Orange kickers made 97% of their extra points, going 35 for 36 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,500 yards on 58 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That ranked them 33rd in the NCAA in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Broncos ran for 2,698 yards as a team last year, which ranked 30th in college football. They ran 562 times, averaging 4.8 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Western Michigan Broncos were penalized on offense 68 times for 641 yards last season, which had them 89th in the country in penalties. They were 42nd in the nation in points scored with 407. They ran 856 plays last season for 4,675 yards, which ranked them 114th in Division 1 in total offense. Western Michigan averaged 5.5 yards per play, which was 88th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 250 1st downs last year, placing them 80th overall as an offensive unit. Jon Wassink averaged 7.2 yards per pass attempt and 7.7 adjusted yards per throw last season. He completed 124 passes on 193 attempts for a completion percentage of 64.2%. His quarterback rating last year was 144.6. He threw for 1,391 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Western Michigan Broncos rush defense allowed 440 attempts for 1,884 yards last year, putting them in 45th place in D-1 against the run. Western Michigan committed 82 penalties for 742 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 94th in college football. They were 68th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 348. They surrendered a total of 4,553 yards on D, which was 35th in the country. The Broncos were ranked 72nd in yards per play allowed with 5.7. Opposing offenses completed 209 passes on 364 attempts against the Western Michigan defense last season, placing them 38th and 46th in Division 1. The Western Michigan Broncos pass defense also gave up a total of 2,669 yards through the air, which was 45th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Western Michigan Broncos attempted 23 field goals last season and made 16, which was 59th in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 65%. Broncos kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 46 for 47 last year. Their punters totaled 2,756 yards on 65 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That placed them 47th in Division 1 in punting average. Western Michigan was ranked 92nd in the nation in punt returns with 14 last year. They accumulated 106 punt return yards and averaged 7.5 yards per return, which was 61st in college football. They returned 40 kicks for 806 yards on special teams, ranking 55th in kick return yardage. The Western Michigan Broncos averaged 20 yards per kick return and they were 89th in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,587.

Who will win tonight's Orange/Broncos college football game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Broncos +1.5

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