In week one, the Syracuse football defense stifled Louisville’s talented dual-threat quarterback, Malik Cunningham. The Orange, at home, pasted the Cardinals by a 31-7 count.
Cunningham is one of numerous top-flight quarterbacks whom the ‘Cuse defense will have to contend with in Atlantic Coast Conference competition for the Orange during the 2022 season.
However, next up for Syracuse football (2-0) is a non-conference clash with Big Ten Conference member Purdue (1-1) this Saturday afternoon on the Hill.
And the Boilermakers, too, possess their own stellar quarterback who could present a lot of problems for the ‘Cuse defense. In fact, it’s likely that we could see a boatload of points on the scoreboard for each squad at the JMA Wireless Dome before, hopefully, a boisterous home crowd.
Syracuse football and Purdue each have an explosive offense.
This past weekend, the ‘Cuse smoked UConn on the road, limiting the Huskies to just about 200 yards of total offense. I’m not being pessimistic here, but the Syracuse football defense is probably not going to allow only 200 yards to the Purdue offense.
Naturally, it’s quite early on in the 2022 stanza, so the sample sizes aren’t big. But through the first two games that the Orange and the Boilermakers have played, both offenses are proving mighty impressive.
In fact, if we’re talking about points scored per game and total yards per contest, both Syracuse football and Purdue reside in the top 50 across the country in each of those categories, according to statistics on the NCAA’s Web site.
The Boilermakers are averaging nearly 44 points a game, while the ‘Cuse is not far behind, collecting close to 40 points per encounter.
Purdue’s offense is averaging nearly 475 total yards per affair, and Syracuse football is generating more than 450 total yards a game.
Understandably, the Orange has the edge in rushing yards per contest, given its All-American running back Sean Tucker, while the Boilermakers have the advantage through the air in passing yards per game.
If you turn to the defenses, Purdue is allowing 17.5 points per contest and about 275 total yards, as compared to 10.5 points allowed a game and roughly 268 total yards for Syracuse football. The Orange’s points given up are presently tied for 17th-best across college football.
Now, in all fairness, Purdue shut out Indiana State but gave up 35 points in a four-point setback to Penn State, which now resides in the top 25 of both major polls.
Syracuse football allowed one touchdown to Louisville and most recently beat UConn, 48-14. Have the Boilermakers faced a slightly more difficult schedule to date this season than the ‘Cuse? Perhaps.
Regardless, Saturday afternoon’s battle will be a significant test for the Purdue and Syracuse football defenses. While the ACC is loaded with quarterbacks, Boilermakers QB Aidan O’Connell is just as lethal.
O’Connell, a sixth-year player for Purdue, has generated 576 yards through the air to date in the 2022 campaign, along with five passing touchdowns and no interceptions.
He was terrific a stanza ago for the Boilermakers, completing 71.6 percent of his passes for 3,712 yards, 28 touchdowns and just 11 picks.
In the Orange’s two triumphs to kick off the 2022 season, the team has given up a mere three total touchdowns. If the ‘Cuse could somehow contain Purdue to a similar amount, I believe that Syracuse football is going to conquer the Boilermakers.