Syracuse Football: Week 14 Wake Forest crystal ball predictions
Ryan Lee, Contributor (10-1)
A disappointing 2019 campaign for Syracuse football is coming to an end. The expectations for many were high and the Orange couldn’t quite get going with injuries and new pieces slotting in.
Wake Forest is coming in with a chance to get to nine wins before their potential bowl game. Before a pair of duds late to Virginia Tech and Clemson the Demon Deacons were in contention for a New Years Six Bowl.
Wake Forest is a high octane offense that scores 33 points per contest. The Demon Deacons ranks in the top 50 in the nation in scoring (40th), rushing offense (46th), and passing offense (24th). Junior quarterback Jamie Newman has already racked up 2,622 yards through the air and that is with missing their win against Florida State.
Wake Forest has several weapons for Newman. On the ground running backs Cade Carney, a senior, has been the most consistent back in regards of attempts but is complemented by the more explosive freshman Kenneth Walker III. Both running backs are over 500 yards and Walker III is averaging 6.5 yards a carry and has more yards on 51 fewer rushes.
Wake Forest as mentioned earlier is more dangerous through the air in terms of yardage. Sage Surratt is the top target. The talented sophomore has a 1,000-yard season already and proven himself a scoring target with 11 receiving scores, although he’s missed the last several weeks due to injury.
Just like the young stud Walker III is complimented by the senior Carney, Surratt has senior Kendall Hinton. Hinton is 135 yards away from going over the 1,000-yard threshold.
For Syracuse to take down the Demon Deacons they will need seniors to step up and show out in the Dome for their final game in Orange.
On the defensive side; real NFL talent in Kendall Coleman and Alton Robinson will be tested against a front that doesn’t allow many sacks. The duos sack totals are down and won’t necessarily move the needle by just getting after the quarterback.
Newman is closing in on 500 yards rushing himself and has only been sacked 18 times this year. Robinson and Coleman being able to put pressure on Newman while not breaking contain will be the first level of defense for the Orange.
The next level will be the linebacking core of Andrew Armstrong and Lakiem Williams another pair of seniors. They will have the task to stop the running game, an aspect Syracuse frankly hasn’t done enough of this year to maintain success.
The final senior is Moe Neal.
Neal wanted to become a 1,000-yard rusher but looks like he will be just short. Neal would need 252 and a historic final game to get there. Neals average is back to five yards a carry after a slow start to the year. Neal will want a third straight hundred-yard game to finish strong. But with a bowl game not obtainable don’t be surprised if the Orange keeping riding young upcoming backs Jarveon Howard and Jawhar Jordan, plus next year’s presumed anchor Abdul Adams.
Syracuse will need to bring out one of their best games of the year to win against Wake Forest. A dealing Demon Deacons team still has a 58 percent according to ESPN’s Football Power Index but this game reminds me of the finale of the Scott Shafer tenure.
This most likely won’t be the end of the Dino Babers regime in Syracuse it has the feel of change that is bound to happen in 2020. An Orange team that has disappointed will see a chance to close the season on a high at home as they did against Boston College in 2015.
Syracuse 31 Wake Forest 27