The 2022 Pinstripe Bowl features the 7-5 Syracuse Orange against the 8-4 Minnesota Golden Gophers. Here is the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl preview.
Syracuse won seven games to make their first bowl game since 2018. They defeated four bowl-eligible teams in NC State, Purdue, UConn and Louisville. The Orange lost to Clemson, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Florida State and Wake Forest this season, who all qualified for a bowl game.
The offense averages 28.3 points per game, which is 67th in the country. They pass for 223.8 yards (ranked 76th) and rush for 142.1 yards per game (ranked 78th).
Garrett Shrader has started at quarterback for the Orange this season. He has 2,310 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions on 65 percent completion. Three players have at least 300 receiving yards on the season. Oronde Gadsen leads the team with 54 catches for 891 yards and six touchdowns.
Leading running back Sean Tucker is opting out for this bowl game. Without him the Orange will turn to LeQuint Allen, who had 180 rushing yards. Shrader will help, as he had 415 rushing yards from the quarterback position.
Their defense allows 22.7 points per game, which is 35th in the FBS. They give up 149.3 rushing yards (ranked 65th) and 188.8 passing yards per game (ranked 19th). Marlowe Wax and Mikel Jones each had over 80 tackles on the season. Caleb Okechukwu has seven sacks on the season. Jason Simmons has impressed in the secondary with seven passes defended and one interception.
Eight wins gave Minnesota the opportunity to make their second-straight bowl game under P.J. Fleck. They defeated two bowl-eligible teams: Wisconsin and New Mexico State. All four of their losses (Purdue, Illinois, Penn State and Iowa), came to teams who made bowl games.
The Golden Gophers score 28.2 points per game, tying them for 68th in the country. They average 185.9 passing yards (ranked 114th) and 218.2 rushing yards per game (ranked 11th).
Tanner Morgan has been the starter, but has missed time at quarterback due to a concussion. He has 1,324 passing yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions on 67.3 percent completion. If he can’t play, backup Athan Kalamaikas will start. He has 866 passing yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions on 52 percent completion. The Golden Gophers have four receivers with at least 250 receiving yards on the year. Daniel Jackson and Brevyn Spann-Ford have been solid with 484 and 481 receiving yards respectively.
Mohamed Ibrahim returned this season after tearing his ACL last year. He has 1,594 rushing yards to lead the team and also has 19 touchdowns. Trey Potts and Bryce Williams have provided nice depth, but Ibrahim is the workhorse.
Defensively, they give up 13.3 points per game, which is fourth in the country. They concede 105.8 rushing yards (ranked 15th) and 173.7 passing yards per game (ranked eighth). Mariano Sori-Marin leads the team with 78 total tackles. Defensive lineman Danny Striggow has led the team with 3.5 sacks. Terell Smith has been a standout in the secondary with five passes defended and two interceptions.
Minnesota’s defense will be tough, especially with the Orange being without Sean Tucker. Syracuse also has some key players in the transfer portal, making the game a little easier for the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota Golden Gophers 21 Syracuse Orange 13
Make sure to check out our college football page for more content like 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Preview!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
