Syracuse vs. Boston College: TNIAAM predictions & poll

Neither of these teams are where they’d like to be, but a win would certainly help matters. For the Syracuse Orange, a victory means a 4-5 record and bowl hopes are still sort of alive. For the Boston College Eagles, it makes a tough end-of-season stretch all the more perilous, even if they’d possess the same 4-5 record as SU. Should the Orange lose, we’re all but screwed with regard to making a bowl, and the offseason hand-wringing likely starts early.

Before this home game gets going on Saturday at noon ET on ACC Network, the TNIAAM staff weighs in on what’s likely to happen:

Brandon Ross

Syracuse 35, BC 31

This is probably Syracuse’s best chance for another win. With SU taking on the 5th-worst defense in the country and the offense finally starting to show some life, I think it has the edge. I can definitely see the Eagles putting up a fight, but the Orange are in the rare spot where they are the better team.

Andy Pregler

Syracuse 20, BC 17

I’m slightly optimistic that the Eagles can’t run AJ Dillon the way that FSU rode Cam Akers, but not enough to say that the Orange win this one running away. I think we see two teams committed to running the ball very different ways, with turnovers being the key difference maker. I have just enough trust left in the Orange based off last week’s second half that there’s something in the offense working, and that the defense holds strong to get ’Cuse back in the win column.

Kevin Wall

Syracuse 31, BC 27

I’ve gone back and forth on this pick all week because my confidence in the Syracuse offense is pretty low. However if they can get out of their way in the first quarter and get a lead they can keep BC from simply running the ball all game. I think the Orange defense makes a couple of big plays in this one including getting a score themselves and that will be enough to sneak out a desperately needed win.

Steve Haller

Syracuse 27, BC 21

I’m worried about AJ Dillon, and what they BC offense can do if they ride him consistently. I’m not sure if he’s the “dual threat” that Cam Akers posed to us, but still, he’s one of the best running backs we’ve seen. I saw a spark in the offense a little last week that hopefully grows into something that puts points on the board and protects Tommy DeVito. Maybe we force them to pass and this is all a moot point?

John Cassillo

Syracuse 34, BC 30

Has this Syracuse team looked like one that could score 30 points in any of the last few games? No, certainly not. But BC’s defense isn’t what it used to be, and there were a couple wrinkles last week that I felt could work for this Orange offense. A.J. Dillon could be a handful against a shaky SU run defense, but without the threat of the pass, I think they can hold on enough to pull off the much-needed victory.

Now it’s your turn...