Syracuse Football: 2019 schedule prediction, 3rd quarter analysis

We’re halfway through Paul A. Esden Sr’s official Syracuse football 2019 schedule prediction. Here’s the full look and analysis of the third quarter.

Our Paul A. Esden Sr is giving his official Syracuse football 2019 schedule prediction. In case you missed it here’s the first two quarterly predictions of the first six games on the schedule:

• Quarter No. 1 breakdown here.
• Quarter No. 2 breakdown here.

We enter into the third quarter with a record of 6-0 (2-0 in the ACC).  In the third quarter, we face three ACC opponents that will determine if we are playing for the ACC Championship in December.

First up on the docket is Pittsburgh at home in the Dome under the Friday Night Lights.

The Orange will be looking to avenge one of their three losses from last year when the Panthers beat ‘Cuse in a heartbreaking overtime thriller. Pittsburgh was a head-scratcher of a team last year. They got blown out in four games against (Penn State, UCF, Miami and Clemson) but played other top schools tough (Syracuse, Notre Dame) despite having only four returning starters on offense.

• Last year Pitt was a blue-collar lunch box school that caught the Orange a little off guard. I do not expect that to happen this year as the Panthers will struggle with the loss of two 1,000 yard rushers and four offensive linemen. Our CNY gridiron will win this one in a Rock-N-Sock ‘em Robot back and forth slobber knocker.

Next up is Florida State Seminoles, this was the 2018 Statement game that placed the Orange as a real contender.

Now I fully recognize that last year’s FSU squad was in the rebuild mode but they were not that far removed from winning the National Championship in 2013. The Orange went out and dominated the Seminoles in a physical fashion. This game showed off our team’s true grit as our 2-3 star recruits versus 4-5 star recruits.

• This game will be a much closer game than last year. Second-year head coach Willie Taggart has recruited more of the pieces to fit his gulf coast offense, couple that with talented returning quarterback James Blackman and Orange killer Cam Akers and you have the making of fantastic fall matchup. I believe our ‘Cuse team will win as Dino Babers will bring in a talented team with experience in the Orange is the New Fast system.

We round out the second quarter of the 2019 campaign with a game against Boston College.

The Eagles are a long-time rivalry game that typically is played as the last game of the season, this game comes a little earlier this year and with a lot of importance as the Orange look to finish the third quarter undefeated in the ACC.

• The key to this game will come down to the matchup of Syracuse’s rebuilt linebacking core  (which should be figured out by this time in the season) and Boston College’s star running back AJ Dillon. Last year Dillon was hampered by an ankle injury and managed only 56 yards on the ground against the Orange, a far cry from the 193 yards and 3 TDs that he put up during his rookie year. Stopping this first team ACC running back will be crucial for coming out of this one with a W. I have this one down in the win column as the Orange go down the home stretch of the college football season with an eye on playing in January.

I wrap up my review of the second quarter with our Orange team 9-0.

Yes that is a bold prediction to be sure and much of this will depend on the development of our offensive line and Tommy DeVito but we have the talent and coaching staff to make this happen.

One thing is a lock, this will be an exciting 2019 campaign that you are not going to want to miss a second.  In the words of Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, we better get our popcorn ready!  Be Loud, Be Proud, Be ORANGE!!!