Minnesota (8-4, 4-4 Big Ten) is slated to square off with Syracuse (6-6, 4-4 ACC), Friday, Dec. 27 in the 2013 Texas Bowl in Houston, Texas.
The Golden Gophers come into the game off their best season in a decade, while the Orange managed bowl eligibility by nipping Boston College 34-31 in their season finale.
Minnesota holds a 3-1 all-time advantage over Syracuse, the two meeting as recently as last season when the Gophers won 17-10 in Minneapolis. Syracuse’s only win came in 1995 and the two have never met in a postseason game.
This season’s Texas Bowl will feature two teams which share similar DNA. Minnesota has struggled to establish a passing attack this season (No. 118 in the FBS), but has been effective on defense (No. 28 in scoring). Syracuse, similarly, has been more effective running the ball (No. 39 in the FBS in rushing yards versus No. 87 in passing) and has done well limiting opponents' scoring (No. 59).
It will be a battle between an Orange team which can run and stop the run and a Golden Gopher squad which is slow-moving but super disciplined.
Here are the details:
Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 27, 6:00 p.m. EST
Place: Reliant Stadium, Houston, Tex.
TV: ESPN
Statistics courtesy of College Football Statistics, ESPN, College Football Data Warehouse, Minnesota and Syracuse. Recruiting data courtesy of Rivals.