A Top-25 opponent enters the Dome… but who will leave with the win?
The Syracuse Orange welcome their first top-25 opponent of the 2024 season to the JMA Wireless Dome tomorrow. It’s a noon kick on ACC Network and here’s what we predict will happen:
Christian: Georgia Tech 28, Syracuse 27
I think we’re all aware that Marlowe Wax is a big loss for the defense. I think we’re about to learn how big of a difference Wax makes. The Syracuse offense looks great and should keep the Orange in this game. But when you run a defense with two linebackers and one of them goes down, it’s going to take a mountain to replace that production and presence. With Syracuse’s run defense problem showing up early in week one, Georgia Tech will have no problem sticking to their guns to edge out a win.
Kevin: Georgia Tech 38, Syracuse 34
I expect both offenses to move the ball in this one behind experienced quarterbacks. Syracuse is going to have a challenge with Haynes King’s ability to make plays with his arm and legs. A lot of the focus is on the run game, but King has hit on 77.8% of his attempts in the first two games and the Yellow Jackets have a game-breaker in Malik Rutherford. I think Syracuse keeps up but a couple of stalled red-zone drives end up making the difference in this game.
Carson: Syracuse 34, Georgia Tech 28
Yes, I’m optimistic, but for good reason. One, I think Georgia Tech is a bit overrated. GT is 2-0 against a winless Florida State team and a Georgia State team that was picked to finish last in the Sun Belt East division. What about those two wins makes this game un-winnable? **whispers** Overrated. And two, this is the Yellow Jackets’ first ‘true’ road game, which means something. Syracuse should have a packed Dome filled with 40,000+ screaming fans, and I don’t know if Haynes King and company are prepared for that kind of atmosphere. Give me the Orange to pick up a surprise upset win on Saturday.
Dom: Syracuse 31, Georgia Tech 27
Like Kevin, I’m expecting this to be a scoring barrage between both sides. Whichever team shoots itself in the foot with turnovers or costly mistakes will be the one that ultimately loses, because it’s hard for me to see either team stop the other. The Dome should be rocking and the things that went wrong versus Ohio (namely poor tackling) should regress back to the mean. It’s a close call, but I’m going with the hometown pick this time. If Syracuse’s offense can stay hot, the defense just needs to be decent enough.
Mike: Georgia Tech 35, Syracuse 31
I don’t think you can fix a run defense which looked that bad in just a week… especially when your top defender is suddenly not part of the picture. Sure the Orange offense should keep up with the Yellow Jackets – especially with pass blocking that which compared to last year was excellent in the opener – but I imagine there will be chunks of the Dome turf that literally get torn up by the opposition’s very potent ground game. Unless the front line can tighten up their gaps, it’s going to be a long afternoon of attrition in the trenches.
Max: Syracuse 33, Georgia Tech 30
The Yellow Jackets shocked the world in Week 0 by upsetting what appeared to be a top-10 Florida State team. After seeing the Seminoles get trampled on their home turf by Boston College earlier this week, that “upset” win might mean nothing after all. GT feels a bit overhyped, and while Haynes King should still find some success on the ground, a Wax-less Orange D comes up big in the fourth and pulls out a win in the Dome.
Steve: Syracuse 34, Georgia Tech 31
Shootouts Shootouts all around Everyone seems to want to predict this as an offensive game and… I do to. I do however think that the Orange should be able to move the ball enough and hold on by the skin of their teeth on this one. GT comes back to earth and the Orange show the defensive line issues aren’t nearly what we feared.
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Now it’s your turn: