Syracuse Football: Week 14 Wake Forest crystal ball predictions

Mat Mlodzinski, Contributor (8-3)

Syracuse – 56, Wake Forest – 52

There is going to be A LOT of scoring in this one.

The Syracuse Orange are 4-7.

In those 11 games, they have given up 40 points or more in four of them. Wake Forest is at a steady 8-3, but like Syracuse, has had a defense that has been shaky at times, allowing 40 or more twice in the past six games.

This is also the final home game this season for Dino Babers and Tommy DeVito – a coach and quarterback tandem that needs to put something together that Orange fans can at least bank on heading into next season.

In essence, that’s what this season has all been about.

Preseason, expectations were high. Those were quickly shut down after getting blown out at Maryland, and then dropping four straight during ACC play. However, the Orange still had a chance to become bowl eligible up until last week, when they fell to Louisville in a high scoring affair.

Make no mistake – Wake is tough. They can play very solid defense when called upon, but given the stakes for the Orange, I can see this as a game where the Demon Deacons do give up a lot of points. Offensively, they pass the ball well, with Jamie Newman accounting for 23 touchdowns through the air this season, to only nine interceptions. They also house four 300+ yard rushers, including Newman, showing the depth this team has when in possession of the football.

Overall, I’m just counting on Syracuse coming out ready – knowing that 4-8 will not slide, and at least one win to end the season at 5-7 still sort of gives the fans in Central NY some type of hope heading into next season.