Syracuse Football: Week 3 Clemson Tigers crystal ball predictions

Ryan Lee, Contributor (1-1)

Syracuse football has its biggest game at the Carrier Dome, or just “The Dome,” Idk whatever, in a long time. The defending National Champions are 2-0 and coming off an impressive defensive performance against the then12th ranked Texas A&M. The Orange are listed at 1-1 but I cannot recall what happened last weekend. *sigh*

Well, let’s get to business.

Syracuse, to have a hope against the Tigers, need to be flat out better especially on the defensive side of the ball. Even with a Clemson team who has not really hit a stride yet behind Heisman hopefuls Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne.

Tigers also have freaky skilled receivers on the outside as well with Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross, that give me nightmares and I don’t play in a secondary that has to face them. Yet Lawrence has only found the endzone twice this year through the air but has given it away with three picks.

There are so many different matchups to look for on Saturday.  Can the Orange secondary play zone against the likes of Ross and Higgins and fix the breakdowns that occurred against Maryland? Can the offensive line stand up to a team with the pass-rushing depth the Tigers possess, especially if Syracuse falls behind?

I am tempted to name the biggest matchup as the offensive line against Clemson’s defensive front, even with Sam Heckel’s injury proving to be the biggest injury on the team so far, but there is one more that can decide if Syracuse can get any stops against the ferocious Tigers.

That matchup is SU linebackers against the run and play-action game. Andrew Armstrong, Lakiem Williams, and company will have their hands full on Saturday. Early against Maryland, Williams and Armstrong were sucked in on numerous play-action looks from the Terrapins leading to gashed in the passing game down the middle of the field.

This led to confusion for the rest of the contest, and 63 points given up on the heels of a shutout. Being sucked in on play-action wasn’t the only SU flaw.

They gave up over 300 yards on the ground and with a back like Etienne, who gashed Cuse a year ago, the linebackers will be called on to fill their assignments and gang tackle to keep the chains from moving.

I have touted this Syracuse defense as the best they have had this century, and talent-wise I still believe it. Performing up to these lofty expectations however is its own story. After last week I cannot change on my preseason pick and go with the Syracuse Orange.

I am picking the National Champions to avenge the 2017 loss. I hope the dome remains packed with a sellout crowd late into the game but certainly has run away potential in it. Clemson doesn’t score 63 but a 45-24 win will still be worrisome but that is my pick.