Syracuse Football: 6 points to ponder about the Orange's ACC clash at Boston College

With the Syracuse football versus Boston College noon game coming up this Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass, this game has some potential to be a fun game with anticipation building back up around the program after two early season losese for Cuse but an overtime win against Virginia Tech.

So in anticipation of it, I wanted to share six points to ponder for the casual SU fan going into the game. And instead of just listening to me, I thought I would share two observations I felt important from the recent Fran Brown press conference on Monday about this game, two observations from a Cuse.com post and then add two of my own as well that I think make this game matter.

Here are six points to ponder as Syracuse football travels to Boston College.

Fran Brown Press Conference Points to Ponder
- Control the Running Game on Both Sides of the Ball

Syracuse Head Coach Fran Brown talked extensively about the running game of BC in his press conference as well as the versatility of the Boston College Eagles QB. On the Cuse side of things, when asked about using LeQuint Allen Jr. more against BC, Coach Brown emphasized that they plan to take whatever the defense will give them in order to win. He also pointed out the fact that the Eagles have multiple backs with over 200 yards each and can hit you with many players.

So it looks like one big key to this game will be to control the line of scrimmage. Can the front of the Cuse defense limit the running game? Can the LBs provide solid help to them? Can they tackle guys to prevent big runs? And can SU's offensive line give Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord time to throw and open up holes for Allen to get some big run opportunities or catch those screen passes with good opportunities for some good YACs (yards after catch)?

- Bill O'Brien Versus Fran Brown

In my opinion, Boston College hiring head football coach Bill O'Brien to their program was a huge get. Coach O'Brien is a former NFL head coach who knows football and has been coaching football since 1993 when he was a tight ends coach at Brown University before stints in the NFL with New England and Houston.

So this could come down to who makes the right calls as first-time head coach Fran Brown is across the field from an experienced coach like O'Brien, someone he even praised in his press conference multiple times. And while BC is 4-4 right now (1-3 in the ACC), DO NOT TAKE THEM LIGHTLY! This Eagles team knows they need two wins to be bowl-eligible and are hungry for wins to turn this season around.

Cuse.com Article Points to Ponder
- Rivalry Game

Ah the fun topic of discussing who is Syracuse football's top rival. While you can point to teams like West Virginia or Pittsburgh as potential rivals based on the past, keep in mind that according to the article, BC is the fifth-most frequently played program.

For many years, the excitement was also in part due to the game being the last game of the season, often with bowl implications for one or both teams as well. And even when BC left the Big East to join the ACC, when Syracuse joined them, one of the selling points was having this matchup as a regular occurrence.

And if you want to have fun with BC fans. you can remind them that they may be called Boston College but they don't even technically play in Boston but instead in Chestnut Hill, which is kind of like the Giants and Jets being NY teams but playing in NJ. But I guess the Chestnut Hill Eagles don't sound as good nationally.

- LeQuint Allen Jr./Kyle McCord Records

This team is blessed to have multiple players who for the most part have remained healthy and been productive. Among them are QB Kyle McCord and RB LeQuint Allen Jr.

I will start with LeQuint as he passed one of my favorite least spoken-about running backs in the Syracuse program recently. He set the record for the most receptions by a running back with 97 receptions, surpassing SU RB Antwon Bailey, who in this writer's opinion, is the most underrated RB in program history with his versatility. Congratulations to LeQuint, who also set the program's single-season reception record as well, at 42.

And then there is Kyle McCord. Kyle is currently third in single-season passing yards behind Eric Dungey and Ryan Nassib. He is also one passing touchdown away from tying Orange greats Don McPherson, Donovan McNabb and Nassib's junior year for 4th in passing touchdowns in a season at 22 (the current leader is Nassib, with 26 in his senior season). This is elite company, and I look forward to seeing if he can surpass them all.

My Points to Ponder
- The Marlowe Wax Jr. and Oronde Gadsden II Impact

And now my two observations. I want to start with the impact of Marlowe Wax Jr. and Oronde Gadsden II when healthy. Many observers look too hard at stats and in Oronde's case at least, will note he might not have as many receptions or TDs as they hoped by now but when he is on the field, he is blocking and a target who defenses have to take seriously, often opening up options for other receivers including RB Allen or someone like Justus Ross-Simmons, who had a huge 2 TD game against Virginia Tech, or Zeed Haynes, who was on the sideline for the VT game and might be back on the field soon possibly.

So if you are worried about Oronde, I will trust coach here and believe he is just fine. There is a reason he is one of four players heading to the East-West Shrine Bowl as well.

And with Marlowe Wax Jr., the team did fine in his absence but you can tell that when he is on the field, he makes a huge impact, including a fumble recovery and a strip fumble in the Virginia Tech game that sealed the Orange win.

Marlowe is an NFL-level talent in my opinion and a guy who plays with high ability and high intensity and is a pleasure to watch in Orange while we can. There is something about the confidence in this team when you know Marlowe is on the field and made me so excited to see him make that strip to win the game.

- Fan Enthusiasm

And last but not least, I would like to point out that while this team is now bowl-eligible if they want fans to stay excited, they will still have to continue to win. Watching the fan base on social media when Virginia Tech was up 21-3 at the half, you'd swear this program was sinking and would never win another game. But the comeback showed heart and hopefully regained many fans' confidence in this program again, especially with four games remaining and two at home.

Many in this fanbase love to point to the past and be disgruntled about the lack of success in November, often forgetting that past seasons have often carried with them major season-ending injuries at key positions. Some also seem to forget that every season is different and at least to me, those narratives are tiring to hear about constantly, especially in a season where many players seem relatively healthy and playing well and the staff has turned over.

So I say that to say this, win big at BC and I think you will see a resurgence of fan interest in the season. Just pull out a win and you will still have 7 wins, which is great and many will be excited but some might remain skeptical, especially with BC's record.

Or if the Orange lose, while still bowl-eligible, many fans will start wondering if they can win another game with Cal, UConn and Miami remaining on the schedule (and Miami is currently the number 4 team in the country and the last game of the regular season, too/senior day).

Can they win and announce their presence with authority and get more of the fans behind them or will it be a case where they struggle and some fans who are teetering on the edge already are left wondering what lies ahead and if they should try to care?