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2023 Boca Raton Bowl Betting Odds, Predictions, Preview

Kevin Rogers
Kevin Rogers Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read
Bowl Central

The Boca Raton Bowl wrapped up on Thursday, December 21, 2023 and bettors watched a blowout as South Florida blanked Syracuse 45-0 as a 3.5-point underdog.

Recap all the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl Betting Odds, Picks, Predictions and History below and be sure to check back for the 2024 installment.

Boca Raton Bowl Betting Odds

USF @ SYRA Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • 1Q
  • 2Q
  • 3Q
  • 4Q
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+4.5 -110 +1.5 -115 +0.5 -105 +1.5 -110 +1.5 -112 +1.5 -115 +1.5 -120 +3.5 -122  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-4.5 -110 -1.5 -105 -0.5 -115 -1.5 -110 -1.5 -108 -1.5 -115 -1.5 -112 -3.5 -100  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
o55.5 -110 o27.5 -114 N/A o28 even o27.5 -118 o29.5 -115 o27.5 -113 o55.5 -110  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
u55.5 -110 u27.5 -106 N/A u28 -120 u27.5 -102 u29.5 -115 u27.5 -115 u55.5 -110  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+152 +110 +115 +122 +120 N/A +108 +128  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-184 -134 -140 -145 -142 N/A -139 -154  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+4.5 -110 N/A N/A +0.5 -120 N/A +0.5 -120 N/A +3.5 -122  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-4.5 -110 N/A N/A -0.5 even N/A -0.5 -110 N/A -3.5 -100  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
o55.5 -110 N/A N/A o27.5 -110 N/A o26.5 -110 N/A o55.5 -110  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
u55.5 -110 N/A N/A u27.5 -110 N/A u26.5 -115 N/A u55.5 -110  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+152 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +128  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-184 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -154  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+4.5 -110 +1.5 -164 +0.5 -125 +0.5 -115 +0.5 -115 +0.5 -150 +1.5 -143 +3.5 -122  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-4.5 -110 -1.5 +130 -0.5 -105 -0.5 -105 -0.5 -105 -0.5 +115 -1.5 +107 -3.5 -100  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
o55.5 -110 o12.5 -112 N/A o13 -110 o12.5 -112 o12.5 -115 o12.5 -117 o55.5 -110  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
u55.5 -110 u12.5 -112 N/A u13 -110 u12.5 -108 u12.5 -115 u12.5 -112 u55.5 -110  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+152 +102 +115 +115 +120 N/A +105 +128  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-184 -130 -150 -135 -142 N/A -136 -154  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+4.5 -110 +1.5 -135 N/A N/A -10.5 +130 +0.5 -120 N/A +3.5 -122  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-4.5 -110 -1.5 +108 N/A N/A +10.5 -166 -0.5 -105 N/A -3.5 -100  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
o55.5 -110 o13.5 -215 N/A N/A o13.5 -125 o16.5 -130 N/A o55.5 -110  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
u55.5 -110 u13.5 +162 N/A N/A u13.5 -105 u16.5 even N/A u55.5 -110  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+152 +106 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +128  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-184 -136 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -154  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+4.5 -110 +1.5 -164 N/A N/A N/A +0.5 -155 N/A +3.5 -122  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-4.5 -110 -1.5 +130 N/A N/A N/A -0.5 +120 N/A -3.5 -100  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
o55.5 -110 o13.5 -128 N/A N/A N/A o10.5 -105 N/A o55.5 -110  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
u55.5 -110 u13.5 -102 N/A N/A N/A u10.5 -120 N/A u55.5 -110  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+152 -100 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +128  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-184 -128 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -154  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+4.5 -110 +1.5 -150 N/A N/A N/A +0.5 -160 N/A +3.5 -122  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-4.5 -110 -1.5 +120 N/A N/A N/A -0.5 +125 N/A -3.5 -100  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
o55.5 -110 o14.5 +106 N/A N/A N/A o16.5 -110 N/A o55.5 -110  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
u55.5 -110 u14.5 -132 N/A N/A N/A u16.5 -115 N/A u55.5 -110  
Final
South Florida Bulls 218 South Florida
+152 +104 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +128  
Syracuse Orange 217 Syracuse
-184 -132 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -154  
  • Opening point spread: Syracuse -5.5
  • Opening moneyline: Syracuse -220/South Florida +180
  • Opening total: Over/Under 58 points scored
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET Thursday, Dec. 21 (ESPN)

UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY, DEC. 21: Ninety minutes pre-kick, the Orange are -3 (-115) at BetMGM. The line has seen a lot of ups and downs, in part due to Syracuse transfer portal/injury info (see below update). Syracuse opened -5.5 back on Dec. 4 and sped to -3.5 within a few hours.

The line dipped to Syracuse -3 on Dec. 12, and Monday brought movement all the way down to -1. The Orange have since rebounded, peaking at -3.5 this morning before the nudge back to -3 (-115).

All that noted, ticket count is almost 2/1 and money is approaching 3/1 on underdog South Florida. Moneyline action favors the 'dog, as well, with tickets 3/1 and money 2/1 on the Bulls.

The total opened at 58.5, stretched to 60.5 by Dec. 5 and topped out at 61 on Dec. 13. But it's been on the decline throughout this week, plunging to 56.5 Monday/56 Wednesday/55 this morning.

It's now at 55.5, with 53% of bets on the Over/61% of dollars on the Under.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20: A day out from the Boca Raton Bowl, Syracuse is 3-point chalk in DraftKings Sportsbook's college football bowl odds market. This line was a speedy mover early at DK, going from Orange -5.5 to -3 within a few hours on Dec. 4.

Syracuse (6-6 SU/5-6-1 ATS) has been -3 at various juice for most of the past couple weeks. Sunday/Monday, however, the number went to -2.5/-2/-1.5/-1. It's since rebounded to Orange -3. Syracuse is taking 58% of spread bets/56% of spread money.

One reason for all the line moves: Syracuse has a bundle of players out, via transfer portal or injuries, as is the case for QBs Garrett Shrader and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson.

Interestingly, the total opened at 58.5 and got as high 62 Saturday. But Monday/today brought a plunge all the way to the current 56.5. The Under is seeing 63% of bets/53% of cash.

South Florida is 6-6 SU and ATS.

Click here for Vegas Insider senior reporter Patrick Everson's full College Football Bowl Odds: Spreads, Lines, Trends for Every Bowl Game.

Boca Raton Bowl Pick, Prediction

Action Network college football betting expert Collin Wilson offers this prediction:

There aren't significant losses for either team, as Syracuse should finally have a healthy Garrett Shrader at quarterback.

The Orange offense is a heavy ground attack with their quarterback serving as the biggest contributor.

Limiting explosives has been the biggest issue for South Florida all season, thanks in part to a bottom-FBS rank in broken tackles allowed.

Don't be fooled by Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown’s touchdown-to-interception numbers — he has logged more turnover-worthy plays than big-time throws and faces his worst coverage package in Cover 1 against Syracuse.

Pick:  Syracuse -3

For more college football picks, check out Action Network's College Football Bowl Confidence Pool Rankings: Collin Wilson’s Picks for All 2023 Bowl Games.

Boca Raton Bowl Betting Resources

  • Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023
  • Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN
  • Venue: FAU Stadium
  • Location: Boca Raton, Florida

Boca Raton Bowl History

The Boca Raton bowl began in 2014, and the matchup has conference tie-ins with Conference USA, the American Athletic Conference (AAC), the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Mountain West Conference, and the Sun Belt. The game takes place at FAU Stadium from Boca Raton, Florida.

Marshall captured the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl with a 52-23 victory against Northern Illinois. The MAC rebounded in the 2015 installment, as Toledo knocked off Temple 32-17 in a game that was marred with poor weather in the Sunshine State. The 'under' cashed in each of the first two Boca Raton bowls before the 'over' barely hit in the 2016 victory by Western Kentucky over Memphis.

UAB posted a wire-to-wire 37-13 victory over Northern Illinois in the 2018 installment. The Blazers cashed as short favorites (-1.5), marking the fourth chalk to cash in five Boca Raton Bowls.

However, the underdog struck back in 2019 as host school Florida Atlantic cruised past SMU 52-28 to capture the Boca Raton Bowl for the second time in three seasons, with the Owls winning outright as seven-point 'dogs.

The 2020 version of the game saw a ranked BYU team pick up a 49-23 blowout win over UCF, which made the short trip down Florida's Turnpike to Boca and had a large advantage in crowd support. It didn't matter, as the favorite cashed for the fourth time in five Boca Bowls.

In 2021, it was another blowout, this time in favor of the Conference USA representative Western Kentucky. QB Bailey Zappe passed for 422 yards and six touchdowns, giving him 5,967 passing yards and 62 touchdowns on the season, both FBS records.

The Underdog-Under outcome connected for the second straight Boca Raton Bowl matchup as South Florida hammered Syracuse 45-0.

Boca Raton Bowl Betting Results

YearMatchupLine, TotalATS Result
2023South Florida 45 Syracuse 0Syracuse -3.5, 55.5Underdog-Under
2022Toledo 21 Liberty 19Toledo -3.5, 51Underdog-Under
2021Western Kentucky 59 Appalachian State 38Western Kentucky -1, 68.5Favorite-Over
2020BYU 49 UCF 23 BYU -5, 80Favorite-Under
2019Florida Atlantic 52 SMU 28 SMU -7, 63.5Underdog-Over
2018UAB 37 Northern Illinois 13 UAB -1.5, 41.5Favorite-Over
2017Florida Atlantic 50 Akron 3 Florida Atlantic -23.5, 63.5Favorite-Under
2016Western Kentucky 51 Memphis 31 Western Kentucky -7, 78.5Favorite-Over
2015Toledo 32 Temple 17Temple -2.5, 50Underdog-Under
2014Marshall 52 Northern Illinois 23Marshall -8.5, 67.5Favorite-Under

College Football Bowl Betting Resources

College Football Playoff Odds: Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends for Semifinal Games

College Football Playoff odds for the semifinals are on the board and getting attention, even as debate rages over the four participants. Michigan nabbed the No. 1 ranking and a meeting with No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. No. 2 Washington then faces No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl.

Here’s everything you need to know about College Football Playoff odds for the semis: opening lines, spreads and betting trends for each game, as multiple oddsmakers provide insights on CFP odds and action. Check back regularly for updates and use our new ESPN BET bonus code VIBONUS to get the most out of your action.

College Football Playoff Odds for Semifinals

Kevin Rogers

Kevin Rogers

Kevin has been handicapping professionally since 2007 at VegasInsider before shifting to ScoresAndOdds. He focuses on MLB, NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball, and NHL and mainly uses trends, systems, and situations as his top handicapping angles. More from Kevin Rogers
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