Syracuse Football: Syracuse vs Demon Deacons; staff prediction
The Syracuse football squad looks to fight back to .500 with a home tilt against Wake Forest. ITLH breaks it all down in our weekly staff prediction.
Paul A. Esden Jr.- Site Expert
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This is the definition of a 50-50 game. The experts have reiterated that message to with the analytics. Both teams head into this game and are telling each other, “man we’ve got to win this game.”
Wake Forest has lost four out of their last five and remain a game away from bowl eligibility. The Demon Deacons are night and day different from last season and might’ve taken a few pages out of the Orange is the New Fast playbook.
As most of the staff will suggest, I also expect this to be a shoot out. Probably not as crazy as SU vs Pitt last year with the 76 to 61 final score. But I think the Orange pull this one out and then must win one out of their final two games to go back bowling. Orange prevail 45 to 38.
Neil Adler- Contributor
The Syracuse football squad suffered another heart-breaking loss last weekend, this time at Florida State. Ugh. Now the Orange must regroup and focus on Wake Forest, which it hosts this Saturday afternoon.
The Demon Deacons (5-4, 2-3) are coming off a road setback to highly ranked Notre Dame. The ‘Cuse (4-5, 2-3) had its chances versus the Seminoles, but ultimately fell just a tad short. The SU-WF battle is basically a toss-up, in terms of the betting spread. While I’m not much of a gambling man, I think that Syracuse prevails in this affair, knocking off the Demon Deacons, 35-27. We need this victory in a huge way, ‘Cuse Nation, to have a legitimate shot at securing a bowl berth. Let’s go!
Paul A. Esden Sr. – Contributor
Well the Syracuse Orange enter the last quarter of the schedule needing to win two out of three to go bowling for the first time with this group of student athletes.
With that being said, this is one that I had penciled in as a W in July. Many shocking things have happened and the OITNF has showed a lot of maturity and growth.
I expect that the Cuse will win this one despite some poor coaching decisions. It will not be an easy one as John Wolford is an experienced senior QB with a impressive resume of playing tough in big games. But we are back in the Loud House I have the Orange winning a close one 35-32.
Andrew Carey- Contributor
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Syracuse came up just short again against Florida State this past weekend. Syracuse has now lost every game on the road this season and Syracuse will be happy to return home and play in front of the Orange faithful. Eric Dungey and the Orange offense will need to put up some points in order to get the win.
Wake Forest four year starter John Wolford is dangerous on offense despite the loss of their top play maker Greg Dortch to a season ending abdominal injury. This game will be an offensive shoot out but ultimately Syracuse’s defense gets the stop they need to secure another home win. Cuse 35-31.
Next: Syracuse Football Report Card: Who stood out in loss to FSU?
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
Syracuse desperately needs a victory this weekend. They have come close in too many games to count now not to finish strong. Needing to win two of the next three to be bowl eligible, the Orange should win their last two home games.
This weekend’s game versus Wake Forest at home should prove close. Wake is a talented team this year, especially on offense. Do they have enough to beat the Orange? Probably, but I think the Syracuse defense plays strong this weekend and stops multiple key drives in the game. Ultimately, I think the Orange outlast the Demon Deacons in a shootout, 38-31.