Syracuse vs Notre Dame – College Football Predictions
The Game
Just two more games, baby.
The Fighting Irish sit at 10-0 and are just a couple of wins away from a date with the college football playoff. That’s the good news. The potentially bad news is that a really good team awaits them in the Bronx on Saturday in the Syracuse Orange. These guys are sitting with a record of 8-2 and almost took down mighty Clemson earlier in the season.
The Details
Notre Dame -10.5 Syracuse (65.5)
MEGALOCKS LINE – Notre Dame -8.5
“Vegas” Implied Projected Score: Notre Dame 38 Syracuse 27.5
The Match-Up
Syracuse offense vs Notre Dame defense
The Orange are moving like a TREMENDOUS MACHINE having scored 40,51,41 and 54 points in their past four contests. They have one of the most balanced offenses in college football (#27 rushing, #36 passing) and move at a really fast pace. QB Eric Dungey is efficient with the football (60%, 14-5 TD to INT) and has a dangerous and deep receiving corps to utilize when MATRICULATING the ball down the field in the passing game. Dungey has also rushed for 12 TDs in his spare time. RB Moe Neal has rushed for 716 yards at 6.0 yards a pop. Things should be interesting on Saturday because the Orange will go up against a solid Notre Dame defense that is ranked #25 in the FBS (41 rushing D, #6 pass efficiency D). In their last four games they have only allowed 242,344,249 and 322 total yards. Notre Dame does a decent job of getting to the QB and the Orange have allowed 25 sacks in 10 games.
Notre Dame offense vs Syracuse defense
There is an embarrassment of riches at QB as the Irish can go with the deadly runner (Brandon Wimbush) who can still beat you occasionally with his arm OR the emerging JUGGERNAUT Ian Book who has really turned heads this season (74.5%, 15-4 TD to INT). Book missed the last game due to injury but will be ready to go on Saturday. Our NOTRE DAME INSIDERS project that both QBs will get some action in this game and you might see Wimbush in the game when Notre Dame gets near the goal line and/or in critical short yardage situations. RB Dexter Williams has been DEVASTATING (770, 6.8, 10 TD) and one can only wonder what his stat line would look like had he been available for the first four games of the campaign. The weapons in the passing game have become much more potent since Book became the starter and there is no doubt that Syracuse will have their hands full in this contest. The Orange do a great job of getting after the passer and have already bagged 33 sacks (#2 ACC) after managing only 16 in each of the past two seasons. They still give up a ton of yards (#97 total defense) and will almost certainly allow Notre Dame to easily get into the 30s.
Summary
The game is being played at Yankee Stadium and it will be interesting to see how effectively the Orange offense moves the ball outside in the elements. Syracuse is 6-0 in the cozy confines of the Carrier Dome but just 2-2 away from home. This is a tough game to handicap because Notre Dame will definitely be feeling pressure being so close to earning a playoff berth, while the Orange have nothing to lose and would love to bag a big signature win. The problem for Syracuse? The Irish ARE a playoff caliber team and don’t have a weakness that we can see. They are beatable, but it will take an A+ effort from the Orange to get it done.
Conclusion
Official play: None.
Side: Slight lean to the Irish if you can find -10 or better.
Total: Lean to the over.
Note:
‘Lean’ implies we are comfortable suggesting ‘small potatoes’ on the game. Nothing more. < but always stay tuned for updates >
‘Slight lean’ implies we are almost certain to avoid the game and/or total from a betting standpoint even for ‘small potatoes’. We give an opinion for those who need to get down and want advice.