The biggest game for SU Football in 18 years is here.
Syracuse is 8-2, ranked #12 in the nation. Notre Dame is 10-0 and #3. Syracuse has a chance to get a bid to a NY6 Bowl if they keep winning. And while Syracuse is probably overrated in terms of being #12 in the nation, they are, despite some FS1 analysts, a very good football team. So can Syracuse pull the upset, and head into their final game in the top ten?
Syracuse heads to Yankee Stadium to take on Notre Dame. I am frankly astounded if we're putting things into perspective that Syracuse is heading into week 12 with Syracuse very much in the running for a NY6 Bowl. They're ranked in the top 15. I mean... what world are we in? It honestly doesn't even seem real. Syracuse has literally had a winning record 3 times after 2001. But here we are, sitting at a guaranteed Bowl Game, and a guaranteed winning season. And now unbeaten Notre Dame heads to NY to take on the Orange. The key matchup lies with the Notre Dame defense. If they can stop the Orange attack, they'll win the game. Because as we all know, Notre Dame will break the Syracuse defense, just enough to score a few times. Syracuse will need to score more points (duh!), but Eric Dungey and the running backs will need to advance the ball and keep the Notre Dame offense off the field if SU hopes to pull the upset. The good news is Syracuse is bringing the #1 Special Teams unit in the country. With an average starting position better than their opponents, as well as their opponents starting farther back, Syracuse has a real shot in limiting Notre Dame from putting points on the board by the simple fact that thee have to move the ball more to score than Syracuse. Couple that with Szmyt being able to drill almost any field goal, and Syracuse has a real shot in putting points on the board. Notre Dame is a very good team, and may bury Syracuse early. But somehow this team is different. It isn't the regular Syracuse team that finds themselves a decent team, and able to pull an upset, but just don't show up. Syracuse actually has skill position players that can compete with Notre Dame (or Clemson for that matter). I say this often, but if Syracuse can limit the amount of big plays (or more accurately catastrophic plays), Syracuse has the chance of coming away the victor. But really, Special Teams and the offense should carry the day. How can I pick against Syracuse at this point in the year. I'm taking the Orange 37 to 35.
This game is available on NBC and the NBC Sports App (with cable login) at 2:30pm. Both John and I will be in Yankee Stadium and will probably be excited but cold. Syracuse has the potential to earn their best win in at least two decades. LET'S GO ORANGE!
Labels: Football, Notre Lame, Preview, Syracuse Needs to Win to Make Thanksgiving Tolerable
Nice take. Can't disagree!