Syracuse football final bowl projections, open thread

The Syracuse Orange (9-3, 6-2) are going bowling in 2018. This much we know. But the WHERE part of all of that remains a mystery... until later today.

When we last spoke about SU’s potential destination just days ago, the Pinstripe Bowl seemed most likely, with outside shots for the Camping World and Sun. A lot of Orange fans would prefer the Camping World Bowl above other options, but the most likely path to get there probably would’ve needed Georgia to beat Alabama, since it would’ve altered the Big 12 selection order by shifting Texas down to the Alamo Bowl (putting WVU in the Camping World). After gaining a 28-14 lead over the Tide on Saturday, Georgia did not beat Alabama. So now things are more up in the air.

If you subscribe to the line of thinking the News & Observer’s Joe Giglio has put out there, this means Syracuse is headed to the Pinstripe Bowl, with NC State going to the Camping World Bowl. But Giglio’s not the only bowl prognosticator out there. So what are other publications saying?

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Camping World Bowl

Bleacher Report: vs. Iowa State Cyclones

CBS Sports: vs. Iowa State

College Football News: vs. Iowa State

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: vs. Iowa State

ESPN’s Mitch Sherman: vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

Orlando Sentinel: vs. Iowa State Cyclones

Pinstripe Bowl

The Athletic: vs. Wisconsin Badgers

Athlon Sports: vs. Michigan State Spartans

NBC Sports: vs. Purdue Boilermakers

SB Nation: vs. Purdue

247Sports: vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers

USA Today: vs. Purdue

Sun Bowl

SI.com: vs. California Golden Bears

Sporting News: vs. Arizona State Sun Devils

Yahoo: vs. California

Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

You’ll notice a few more folks have tossed us into the Pinstripe bucket (via info from sources and/or influence from Gilgio’s picks), though there are also more Sun Bowl picks too. If the Camping World Bowl picks NC State, that leaves the Sun or Pinstripe for Syracuse, since it’s very likely the other tier one ACC Bowls already have their selections locked (Belk would pick Virginia, Gator would pick Miami).

Totally understand the frustration here, though a Pinstripe Bowl against a lesser Big Ten team does mean Syracuse will get a chance to play in front of a partisan crowd at Yankee Stadium, and get a real chance at a 10-win season. The Orange made a ton of progress as a program, both on the field and in terms of perception. Cashing in a greater ability to get to a big bowl game next year (Orange, Citrus back in play) sounds like an annoying consolation prize. But if you’re looking for a silver lining, there it is.

We’ll publish something as soon as we know where SU’s headed. College Football Playoff rankings and bowl matchups roll out at noon ET. Then the other games are supposed to announce at 3 p.m. (though something could break earlier).