FSU vs. Syracuse preview, breakdown, prediction
No. 23 Florida State Seminoles football team is set to take on the Syracuse Orange this weekend. Florida is fresh off a 45-3 victory over Miami. Syracuse is on a three-game losing streak. Andy Pregler is an Absolute Magician. He gives us insight into where the Orange stand at this point of the season and the source of their losing.
Syracuse and FSU are playing each other in the prime-time match-up on Saturday. Syracuse is 6-3 but has been hit with injuries recently. The team is deep into the depth chart and it's hard to imagine them winning any game from here on out. The biggest one is Garrett Williams, who is a projected NFL cornerback. He's been injured recently and won't be able to play. It's unlikely he'll return. FFS has had a similar situation.
Syracuse's offense has improved since last year. Robert Anae has brought a modernized approach to the offense. The team is struggling with injuries and new personnel. It's a timing and emotion-based offense where guys are not used to this system. They are starting to struggle with that. This is because of the new offensive coordinator coming in with an entirely revamped system and introducing new players.
Sean Tucker was considered the top running back in the ACC. He has struggled recently, and injuries are a big part of this. Teams have caught on to how Syracuse uses running backs out of the backfield and the passing attack. FSU vs. Syracuse is a game to watch. It's a must-win game for the Seminoles.
Oronde Gadsden is the only player who can help Syracuse's receiving group. The team has a lot of young players and some veterans who fill in the roles of the players who were not good enough to play.
Syracuse's defense is still a strength despite injuries. The secondary is weak without the presence of NFL quality cornerback Garrett Williams. Syracuse's defensive line and the linebacking core have had enough injuries to neutralize quarterbacks. They create pressure and force them to throw the ball. In the last few weeks, the quarterbacks have been able to do whatever they want.
Mikel Jones and Marlowe Wax are the main strength of the Syracuse defense. The young group has shown some growing pains this season. They have shown mistakes in coverage and in pursuit of running plays. They are going to have to improve on that if they want to win on Saturday.
FSU and Syracuse are going to play each other on Saturday. Caleb Okechukwu and Kevin Darton are the players to watch out for. The defensive line for Syracuse is fast and excels at finding gaps, but they have been susceptible to the running game. They need to stay healthy to have the biggest impact.
Syracuse and Florida State are playing at the Carrier Dome on Saturday at 8 p.m. The game will be decided in the first quarter. Syracuse needs to start fast because they are at home. Florida state has the advantage of playing in a loud stadium. If Schrader plays and Syracuse loses, it will probably be because of the crowd noise. If he plays without the noise, Syracuse will lose. It will also be the case if he starts.
