Bowl Mania: Boca Raton Bowl

2023 Boca Raton Bowl

When: Thursday, December 21st @ 8:00 PM ET

Where: Boca Raton, Florida

Who: South Florida (6-6) vs. Syracuse (6-6)

Spread & Total: Syracuse -2.5; O/U 56.5

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Tale of the Take: South Florida Bulls

After a 1-11 2022 season, South Florida experienced a complete overhaul once Alex Golesh and staff were hired. Golesh’s first season began with a challenging non-conference schedule, with three of four games against eventual bowl eligible teams. The Bulls went 1-2 against those bowl eligible teams, losing to Western Kentucky and Alabama, while beating eventual Celebration Bowl Champion Florida A&M. There were no sways for the Bulls when they began conference play, as they never won or lost more than two straight games. South Florida went 2-4 against bowl eligible teams this season, and 2-0 in one possession games.

Offensively, the Bulls slightly preferred the run (54.4% of their plays) over the pass (46.4% of plays). The Bulls had a solid duo on the ground: running back Nay’Quan Wright and quarterback Byrum Brown combined for 64.7% of the team’s carries, 70.6% of the team’s rushing yards, and 81.8% of the team’s rushing touchdowns. Through the air, Brown had one main target this season: Sean Atkins. He totaled 32.5% of the team’s receptions, 29.6% of the team’s receiving yards, and 20.8% of the team’s receiving touchdowns. South Florida averaged 82.6 plays per game, the best mark in FBS.

Defensively, South Florida has the worst pass defense in FBS. They allow 8.2 YPA, 115th of 133 FBS programs; this is the 5th-worse mark among bowl eligible teams. 29 passing touchdowns allowed is 131st and the 2nd-worse mark among bowl eligible teams. Allowing just under 35 PPG ranks 124th; only USC allows more among bowl eligible teams.

Opt Outs: N/A

Injuries:

IOL Andrew Kilfoyl

Starting LG; questionable with undisclosed injury suffered in late-November

IOL Zane Herring

Starting RG; questionable with undisclosed injury suffered in late-November

Transfer Portal Departures:

QB Gerry Bohanon

WR Javohn Thomas

DE Lloyd Summerall

CB Jameel Sanders

S Will Jones

Players to Know:

#17 QB Byrum Brown

Redshirt freshman completed 64.3% of his attempts, 7.7 YPA, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. 153 carries was 2nd on the team; 960 yards (net sack yards) and 11 touchdowns led the team in rushing

#38 WR Sean Atkins

2023 All-AAC Second Team Offense. Led the team with 86 receptions, 961 yards, and five touchdowns. 86 receptions is tied for 7th nationally

#17 LB Jhalyn Shuler

2023 All-AAC Honorable Mention. 85 tackles (42 solo) led the team. Four pass breakups, two sacks, and a forced fumble

Preview: Bowl Mania: Frisco Bowl

Tale of the Tape: Syracuse Orange

The Orange had some changes throughout a roller coaster 2023 season. After a 4-0 nonconference start, the Orange lost five straight conference games, all against bowl eligible teams. Sitting at 4-5, Syracuse had to win two of their next three to become bowl eligible. They did just that, but the week before Thanksgiving, head coach Dino Babers was fired after a 31-22 loss to Georgia Tech. His replacement, Nunzio Campanile, was the interim coach that led the Orange to a 35-31 win over Pitt to secure a bowl berth.

Syracuse hired Fran Brown, the former defensive backs coach at Georgia. Campanile will coach the bowl game. Syracuse went 0-6 against bowl eligible teams and 1-1 in one possession games.

Offensively, the Orange rely heavily on the run. They rank 71st of 82 bowl eligible teams in passing yards per game. They average just 24.3 attempts per game, 7th fewest among bowl eligible teams and 124th in FBS. The Orange average 40.7 rush attempts per game and 4.5 YPC. Syracuse averaged 65.3 plays per game, 102nd nationally. The Orange will be on their 3rd string quarterback after starter Garrett Shrader underwent shoulder surgery this week.

Defensively, Syracuse saw 32.8 pass attempts per game. They allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 62.7% of their pass attempts and an average of 7 YPA. The Orange defense saw 38 rush attempts per game, but was relatively strong at holding opponents in check. Opposing teams averaged just 3.9 YPC. The Orange led FBS with 19 forced fumbles.

Opt Outs: N/A

Injuries:

QB Garrett Shrader

In the transfer portal; injured shoulder in late October at Virginia Tech. 

QB Carlos Del-Rio

Backup to Shrader. Only 102 career attempts; 47.1% completion rate, 6.1 YPA, four touchdowns and eight interceptions. 

WR Damien Alford

Questionable with a shoulder injury; lead receiver with 527 receiving yards. 29 receptions and three touchdowns

OG Kalen Ellis

Starting LG; has been out since September

OT David Wohlabaugh Jr.

Starting RT; has been out since September

Transfer Portal Departures:

QB Garrett Shrader

Starting QB; completed 62.6% completion rate, 7.9 YPA, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. Second leading rusher on the team (138 attempts, 613 yards, eight touchdowns)

DE Leon Lowery

3.5 sacks is tied for 3rd-most on the team. One pass breakup and fumble recovery

CB Jeremiah Wilson

Five pass breakups is tied for 2nd-most on the team. One interception, returned for touchdown

RB Ike Daniels

WR Isaiah Jones

TE Steven Mahar

IOL Wes Hoeh

IOL Jakobie Seabourn

DT Terry Lockett

DT Jalil Smith

DE Francois Nolton Jr.

LB Josiah Jeffery

LB Mekhi Mason

S Myles Farmer

S Malcolm Folk

DB Aman Greenwood

 

Player to Know:

#89 TE Dan Villari

Started at QB against Georgia Tech (Shrader played in the regular season finale against Wake Forest). Went 14-for-14 for 59 yards against the Yellow Jackets. Rushed 12 times for 81 yards and a touchdown in the wildcat offense

#10 QB Braden Davis

Could be the starter after Shrader and Del Rio-Wilson are ruled out. One career attempt that went for a six yard loss

#1 RB LeQuint Allen

2023 Second-Team All-ACC Offense. 1,062 rushing yards and nine touchdowns this year; added 36 receptions for 197 yards and a touchdown

#2 LB Marlowe Wax

2023 Second-Team All-ACC Defense. 99 total tackles (67 solo) and four forced fumbles led the team. Four sacks is tied for 2nd-most on the team. Two pass breakups and an interception

Bowl Game Trends:

• 2023 Boca Raton Bowl: American Athletic Conference is 0-4 in this bowl’s history
• Florida teams are 2-1 in the Boca Raton Bowl (hometown Florida Atlantic has the two wins)
• First Boca Raton Bowl for a Power Five school
• First bowl game for both coaches
• Syracuse’s Nunzio Campanile: 10th career game (2-7)
• South Florida’s Alex Golesh: 13th career game (6-6)

Game Synopsis:

Syracuse is on to their 3rd-string quarterback who has just one career attempt. If they decide to go with the wildcat offense, the team was extremely one sided against Pitt and Georgia Tech; Syracuse averaged just 30.5 passing yards per game and 299 yards on the ground. South Florida’s weakness on defense is their pass defense, but how effective will Syracuse be through the air? Even with Syracuse’s strength being their defense, can they contain a South Florida team that averages the most offensive plays per game?

Syracuse has had six chances to beat a decent team and failed every time. If South Florida can contain Allen on the ground, I like their chances in this one. I’m taking South Florida to pull the upset and win the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl.

Bowl Mania Pick To Win: South Florida

Bowl Mania Confidence: 12/43

Follow @DrewRoberts_ for more football content!

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