Taking it to the great outdoors
The Syracuse Orange (4-1, 1-1) are back on the road again this week, and it’s the first outdoor game for the Orange. Syracuse is back in ACC play to take on the NC State Wolfpack (3-3, 0-2). It’s an 8:00 kick tomorrow night on ACC Network from Raleigh and here’s what we think will happen tomorrow:
Kevin: Syracuse 34, NC State 23
Raleigh has been a nightmare for the Orange, but this Syracuse team is built to go on the road and get a conference win. I think this is the week the Orange defense really steps up and frustrates NC State freshman QB CJ Bailey. This seems like another game where Yasin Willis gets more carries in an attempt to set up the Wolfpack defense for the deep ball from Kyle McCord. I think we see the first Syracuse touchdown for Justus Ross-Simmons in this one.
Max: Syracuse 35, NC State 31
I had this game chalked up as a loss before the season began, imagining a hostile road environment against a Top 25-ranked team. The NC State student-section will still wreck havoc, but their on-field product has greatly underperformed to this point. Both teams are struggling defensively, but the Orange have the more potent offense and should fine the easy holes early. While it won’t look pretty at times, a veteran SU defense should do enough against a freshman quarterback to secure a narrow win.
Carson: Syracuse 38, NC State 24
Syracuse is coming off of its biggest win of the season, no doubt, and the Wolfpack couldn’t be at a lower point, well, unless they’d lost to Louisiana Tech or Northern Illinois. But to be frank, I fully expect the Orange to ride that momentum right into Carter-Finley Stadium, against an NC State squad that has severely underperformed through six games, and get a win. The Wolfpack are giving up 48 points to power-five opponents (#14 Tennessee 51, #21 Clemson 59, Wake Forest 34), and I don’t think that will change in a week. Raleigh has not been kind to the Orange in years past, but I think, this year, SU flips the script and picks up its second conference win.
Dom: Syracuse 35, NC State 28
My prediction ends up in the middle of the board among the TNIAAM crew. Even if this isn’t the same NC State team we thought it was now compared to the preseason, a hostile road environment will still prove to be a test at times for Syracuse. With the Wolfpack’s starting QB also out, Syracuse’s offense should have a clear advantage. My concern is if NC State plans to run the ball more. Overall, still think Syracuse wins by a touchdown.
Mike: Syracuse 31, NC State 20
The Orange offense has been on a tear but I believe they’ll slow down a bit in their first road game. With RB2 Will Nixon out for the year it’ll be up to Allen and Willis to build off a strong ground game from last week and cut up one of the poorer rush defenses in the ACC. The last time SU took on an NC State backup QB, it was a rout, but Bailey showed last week he has the arm to keep this close. Counting on the defense to make him make rookie mistakes.
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