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Syracuse failed its first Atlantic Coast Conference road test. The 40-7 trouncing to then-No. 14 North Carolina was the 13th loss of 30 points or more under head coach Dino Babers, moving his record against ACC teams to 19-41.

On Saturday, SU takes on No. 4 Florida State, who is on pace to make its first College Football Playoff since 2014. The Orange haven’t beaten the Seminoles since 2018 and have never beaten them in Tallahassee.

Led by quarterback Jordan Travis, the Seminoles have scored at least 31 points in each of their five wins this season. Babers said Monday that last year’s game against FSU, a 38-3 loss that marked SU’s worst game of the season, showed him the importance of name, image and likeness when it’s done right by a major program.

Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (4-2, 0-2 ACC) will fare against Florida State (5-0, 3-0 ACC) on Saturday:

Anthony Alandt (5-1)
Tomahawk Chopped
Florida State 48, Syracuse 9

Clearly this three-game stretch was going to be difficult for Syracuse. But after a somewhat disappointing end to last season, the question for 2023 was if the Orange had taken the next step to getting on par with top tier ACC teams. The last two games echo a resounding “no.” So, I think the narrative going into Saturday isn’t what SU needs to do to pick up a win against a national championship-caliber team, it’s what it needs to do to look competitive.

Although Garrett Shrader clarified Tuesday that he felt the offense had an identity, players and Babers have said after the last two losses that their individual gameplans simply didn’t work. Shrader played his worst game this season against Clemson. Trying to run the ball against North Carolina didn’t work, then that was nearly completely removed from the call sheet. I just don’t see the Orange creating a cohesive identity in a week and executing it against a National Championship contender.

Florida State is led by Travis and a defense with eight upperclassmen and three redshirt sophomores. Expect Travis to flame the defense, and unless Syracuse can play complete offensive football, FSU’s defense will stifle the Orange.

Wyatt Miller (6-0)
Seminoles skewer Oranges
Florida State 52, Syracuse 7

The Seminoles are building steam while the Orange are deflating. Babers acknowledged Syracuse’s lack of depth as a recurring issue down the stretch, citing the transfer portal as why. But, when asked about SU’s handling of NIL, he didn’t want to address it. Florida State has done more than address it, they’ve embraced it.

FSU is averaging the sixth-most points in all of college football (42.4) behind Travis, who owns the third-highest PFF passing grade in the ACC behind Drake Maye and Tyler Van Dyke. Next to him, running back Trey Benson is a bruiser with big-play abilities, scoring six touchdowns on a ridiculous 7.6 yards per carry (sixth in the nation). The two create a brutal 1-2 punch in the backfield at all times. Quite simply, Syracuse does not have the size or skill up front to contain those two playmakers all game long. Things could get ugly.

Maye beat the Orange defense at every level last weekend. For Syracuse, the depth is gone, as usual. Florida State, meanwhile, has a full offensive line and multiple players who just got off the injury report. This will be a mauling. Just like Maye did last week, Travis could have his best game of the season against a battered Syracuse secondary.

Henry O’Brien (5-1)
Just get to the bye
Florida State 38, Syracuse 10

The gauntlet is almost over. Syracuse just needs to get to the bye week without losing any more players to injuries. Against UNC, the Orange lost defensive end Denis Jaquez Jr. for the season. Forget about trying to win the game because No. 4 Florida State, in front of about 70,000 fans, will beat the brakes off the Orange. The lack of receiving production and a shaky offensive line will once again hurt SU against defensive playmakers like Renardo Green and Jared Verse.

To be fair, the Seminoles haven’t played like worldbeaters against some of the ACC’s mediocre teams. On the road against Boston College, probably the conference’s worst team, FSU won in a 31-29 nailbiter. Last week against Virginia Tech, the Seminoles allowed a 99-yard touchdown return and made the game much closer than the final score (39-17) indicated. Plus, their season-opening statement win against then-No. 5 LSU looks less impressive each week.

While Florida State may be weak on the road, it still has Travis, Benson and wide receiver Keon Coleman. With one of the better run blocking units in the conference, the Seminoles will run Benson down SU’s throat and have an efficient day on offense. Syracuse can rest up during the bye before playing mediocre teams like Virginia Tech and Boston College.

Published on October 12, 2023 at 12:12 am