The West Virginia Mountaineers will face off against a familiar foe this college bowl season as they take on the Syracuse Orange at Yankee Stadium in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday.
West Virginia was formerly part of the Big East and played against Syracuse every year for over 50 seasons, but left for the Big 12 this year. The two teams will meet for the 60th time on Saturday with identical 7-5 records and will try to salvage disappointing seasons.
The Mountaineers started off the 2012 season as hot as anyone in college football, climbing to No. 5 in the nation after going 5-0 while averaging 52.0 points per game.
The team lost its next five games to fall out of the BCS picture and pulled things together at the end to rebound with two straight victories to end the season. The Mountaineers defeated Iowa State on Nov. 23 before demolishing Kansas 59-10 at home in the regular-season finale.
"We finished the season strong with two straight wins, and I am glad our players get the reward of playing in a bowl game," head coach Dana Holgorsen said to the Associated Press. "This will be West Virginia's 11th straight bowl appearance and one more chance for our fans to see the 2012 Mountaineers. Playing in New York City will provide a national stage and Yankee Stadium will be a great venue for our seniors to finish their careers."
West Virginia will rely heavily on quarterback Geno Smith, who started the season as an early Heisman candidate before the Mountaineers hit their losing streak. Smith has passed for 4,004 yards and an FBS-leading 40 touchdowns with just six interceptions this season and set school records with 11,461 career-passing yards and 96 touchdowns.
"He's been playing well. He's played well all year, he's a great quarterback, and I'm proud of his accomplishments," said Holgorsen of Smith. "He's a great kid and he will be remembered around here for a long, long time."
Last season the Mountaineers defeated Clemson 70-33 in the Orange Bowl and saw Smith throw for 407 yards and six touchdowns. Smith opened the year by passing for 25 touchdowns and zero interceptions over his first six games, including a ridiculous performance against Baylor. In the 70-63 win on Sept. 29, Smith passed for 656 yards and eight touchdowns while completing 45-of-51 passes.
Smith will look towards receivers Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin, who both had over 1,200 receiving yards and combined for 35 touchdown catches. Bailey is leading the team with 106 receptions for 1,501 yards and an FBS-best 23 touchdowns, while Austin has made 112 catches for 1,259 yards and 12 scores.
The Mountaineers and Smith are facing off against an underrated Syracuse offensive unit that gains nearly 500 yards per game and is scoring just under 30 points per contest. Although the Mountaineers have a high-powered offense, it could be the Orange who have a big day, considering West Virginia is giving up nearly 40 points per game, ranked ninth-worst in the nation.
Syracuse enters the game on a hot streak after winning its final three games, including a 45-26 victory over then-No. 9 Louisville on Nov. 10. Head coach Doug Marrone led the Orange to a share of the Big East title this season with a 5-2 record after winning its final two games over Missouri and Temple on the road.
Last season Syracuse defeated the Orange Bowl-champion Mountaineers 49-23 and will play in the Pinstripe Bowl for the second time in three years after defeating Kansas State 36-34 in 2010. The Orange has previously lost eight straight to West Virginia before winning the past two matchups.
"I think one of the things we all have to be conscious of is that to the right of us is the Steinbrenner Trophy," Syracuse coach and Bronx native Doug Marrone said. "That's what we're both here for. I think it's very important that we all understand that."
Quarterback Ryan Nassib has been solid all season for Syracuse, who leads the Big East in offense after passing for 3,619 yards and 24 touchdowns with just nine interceptions. The senior completed over 63 percent of his passes and was fantastic over the final three games, throwing six touchdowns and just one interception.
The Syracuse offense features both a 1,000-yard rusher and receiver this year with running back Jerome Smith and wideout Alec Lemon.
Smith has gained 1,019 yards and scored three touchdowns, while Lemon has made 70 catches for 1,063 yards and seven touchdowns. In the win over Missouri on Nov. 17, Lemon had a season-high 12 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns and has scored at least once in five of the past six games.
Syracuse started off the tear by losing three out of its first four games, but rebounded to defeat Pittsburgh before falling to Rutgers 23-15 on Oct. 13. The Orange then won five of the next six games to finish the year, losing only to the Cincinnati Bearcats 35-24 on the road on Nov. 3.
Nassib has been the catalyst for the Orange on offense this year and is the main reason why the team is earned a share of the Big East title. The defense is giving up 25 points per game and will need to hunker down and play fundamental football to slow down West Virginia and Geno Smith.
The Orange will be without two players for the game, as Marrone suspended sophomore tailback Adonis Ameen-Moore and reserve tight end Max Beaulieu for violating athletic department rules. The defense will also be without linebacker Marquis Spruill for "a significant portion" of the game after he was arrested in an incident with police in early December.
PREDICTION: West Virginia 52, Syracuse 48. There's just no way to slow down Smith and the Mountaineers offense. The team has scored over 40 points five times this season and is ranked seventh in the nation in points with 41 per game. Nassib and the Orange will offer a big challenge for West Virginia and will be able to put up points against one of the weakest units in college football. The Mountaineers will try to force the Orange into running the ball where they rank 53rd in the nation. Both quarterbacks will have room to shine against vulnerable defensive backfields, but it will be Smith and the Mountaineers who will end up on top when it's all said and done. Nassib and the Orange will put up a great fight in the senior's final game.
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