Syracuse - South Florida Predictions

by Sean Keeley on Oct 2, 2009 2:07 PM EDT

The consensus seems to be that the Orange are going to play South Florida tough but eventually fall just short. Orange44's Brian has SU losing 30-24 while ESPN's Brian has the Orange losing 24-21.

I'd love to be the one to now predict that the Orange will be on the other side of those scores but I'm just not sure I can. If given time the SU offense can put points on the board. And the SU defense can certainly force USF to rely on redshirt freshman B.J. Daniels' ability to manage the game. However for me it all comes back to the USF defensive line matching up against the Syracuse offensive line. Will Greg Paulus have time to make throws? Will Delone Carter be able to do anything? Will Syracuse receivers be able to catch anything that isn't ten yards or less?

I'm going to go with USF 27 SU 20 but I hope I'm wrong, obviously. How bout you?

Poll

What will be the outcome of the Syracuse - South Florida game?

Syracuse will win by 10+ points

20 votes

Syracuse will win by 1-9 points

142 votes

USF will winn by 1-9 points

78 votes

USF will win by 10+ points

221 votes

461 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I'll go USF 31-20

I just don’t think we have the secondary to match up with USF’s passing attack, even with Daniels starting.

I think that we keep it close til the 4th though. Thinking 24-20 before a late USF TD seals it.

Hope I’m wrong.

by wildcatlh on Oct 2, 2009 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

What passing attack?

Daniels is 8 for 21 with two TDs and two picks. Eight completions does not a passing attack make.

by OrangeBB on Oct 2, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Enough already. SU Fans = Precious Snowflakes.

FSU needed two scores in the final 35 seconds to win their game against FCS team Jacksonville State, which lead 9-7 through three quarters of that game. That game was in Tallahassee. It’s possible that FSU’s 17-7 loss to USF says more about the state of Seminole football than it does the Bulls.

USF’s QB, BJ Daniels was 8/21 for 215 with 2 TDS and 2 picks. A good portion of that total (70 yards) was on an unforgivable busted coverage. He did the bulk of his damage on the ground running for 126.

Our run defense has been pretty good (No. 13 in country) and we’ve been pretty adept at forcing turnovers. If we can shut down Daniels’ scrambling, force him to make more passes than he’s comfortable attempting, that sets the stage for interceptions and sacks.

I realize that USF has owned us. But last year the only other BE team they beat was UCONN. The Bulls just defeated a crappy FSU team. So what? Heck Troy Nunes and Coach P nearly did that.

USF is a vulnerable team with a history of let downs after big wins. As Syracuse fans, we’ve been conditioned to expect the worst, but I really think that we all need to stop being such pussies, grow a sack, and start getting excited about the opportunity for a big conference win. USF is ripe for an upset and I think SU can do it.

In addition to FSU, here’s who the Bulls have played this season:

Wofford (40-7), Western Kentucky (35-13) and Charleston Southern (59-0). Wofford and Charleston Southern are FCS teams. And I didn’t know that Western Kentucky played football, let alone in the FBS.

FSU is not what FSU used to be and the rest are cupcake city — that’s where USF’s impressive stats have come from.

SU can and should beat this team.

by OrangeBB on Oct 2, 2009 2:56 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs