All aboard the toaster-pastry train!
Just when you thought Syracuse football’s Pop-Tart hopes and dreams were crushed, the Orange reeled us back in.
Down by seven points to Virginia Tech with five minutes to play, Kyle McCord and LeQuint Allen marched SU down the field with a game-tying touchdown drive. The Orange pulled out a gutsy 38-31 win in overtime after Allen’s third rushing touchdown and a walk-off fumble recovery by Texas A&M transfer Fadil Diggs.
Let’s check out how the dub over the Hokies reflects on our weekly Pop-Tart Bowl O’Meter:
Woohoo! In his first season at the helm, Fran Brown has his squad bowl-eligible after eight games. The Pop-Tart Bowl is back in the realm of possibility, but it will probably take a few more wins for the Orange to get there.
Here’s where “experts” project Syracuse to play in the postseason after locking in its spot in Bowl Season:
ESPN – Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl vs No. 14 LSU Tigers – Schlabach
Here’s a new one. If everybody opts in, this would be an all-time battle against one of the SEC’s bests and an excellent test for Brown in his inaugural year.
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl vs Wisconsin Badgers – Bonagura
Looks like Bonagura just stole his ESPN counterpart’s prediction from last week. This would be a battle of memorable mascots in Otto vs. Bucky Badger, but I’d prefer Otto and a life-sized Pop-Tart instead.
Brett McMurphy – The Action Network
Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs Minnesota Golden Gophers
A tub of Mayo mascot is definitely second to the Pop-Tart, so this bowl game wouldn’t be the worst. Just please don’t give us the Gophers again.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs Illinois Fighting Illini
CFN also agrees on the Mayo Bowl but changes its opponent from Michigan to Illinois in this update. The Illini have dropped out of the top 25 after losing their last two and will have to prove they’re Mayo-worthy after their bye week.
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl vs Wisconsin Badgers
Seems like Jerry Palm is locked in on the Bronx, this week flipping to Wisco from Minnesota. Maybe a few more Orange wins will give him a change of heart to the Pop-Tart.
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No one has predicted a Pop-Tart Bowl appearance yet, but we still can hope. Where do you think the Orange will play after Week 10?