It’s Go Time: The 4 Most Critical Opponents for Syracuse Football in 2012
D.A. | Aug 28, 2012 | Comments 29
With Syracuse football kicking off this weekend, it’s time to look at the most critical matchups for the Orange this season. What games will make or break 2012 for SU?
Doug Marrone faces a daunting schedule; its non-conference slate has been ranked by many as the toughest in the nation. Couple that with a much improved Big East and that makes for one heck of a ride for the boys on the Hill.
The good news is many Syracuse players are embracing the challenge. Safety Shamarko Thomas told The Fizz at Big East Media Day the more wins SU tacks up with this schedule means more of a chance the Orange will be “put on the map.” Here are the four most important matchups for the Orange.
- Northwestern, 9/1, Carrier Dome
With such a difficult schedule, SU needs to get the ball rolling early and pile up those September wins. SU only has one bye week this season - and it’s in September. The Orange plays eight straight games to finish the year, and that’s why success is necessary against the Wildcats. Northwestern is a team that Syracuse matches up well against. With the added offensive threat of WR Marcus Sales, coupled with returning vets like Alec Lemon and Jarrod West, Ryan Nassib will look to pick apart a relatively young and mostly unproven secondary. And SU’s quicker and more agile defensive line should keep speedy dual-threat QB Kain Colter in check, who is Northwestern’s top returning leader in passing, rushing AND receiving yards from 2011. And let’s not even mention USC the following week. These early games are crucial for a team that has stumbled down the stretch of each of the last two seasons. Syracuse needs to take advantage of winnable games especially early, and it needs to start with a victory inside the Dome this weekend.
- Rutgers, 10/13, High Point Solutions Stadium, Piscataway
Dare we even mention last season’s fiasco between these two teams inside the Carrier Dome? SU will look to avenge what was probably its sloppiest loss of 2011 down in Piscataway. Orange Nation always looked forward to beating up Greg Schiano’s bunch in the annual “rivalry” matchup, and will be just as psyched for this one. The upper echelon of the conference – which certainly includes RU – is vastly improved, even despite the loss of West Virginia to the Big 12. The Scarlet Knights are perhaps the most beatable, as they’ll be led by unproven sophomore QB Gary Nova this season. Nova passed for 122 yards and a touchdown against the Orange last October in that wacky 2OT affair.
- UConn, 10/19, Carrier Dome
This is the final game before Syracuse embarks on its ridiculous final five game stretch that includes 4 road games, one of those against powerful Missouri. The Orange needs to be at its best on a Friday night in the national spotlight. More importantly, it’ll look to capitalize off of what could be a tired Connecticut team. The Huskies play seven straight games to open up their season without a bye (the longest stretch amongst all Big East teams) and that seventh game will be at the Dome. The Syracuse faithful will also be looking forward to the return of former Paul Pasqualoni. He’ll be making his first trip back inside the Dome since 2004, his final season with SU.
- Louisville, 11/10, Carrier Dome
This is the last home game of the season, and will feature two hard nose defenses going at it for 60 brutal minutes. Louisville’s D blitzed the Orange last season down in Kentucky, but the added size and different options SU has on the defensive side of the ball will make for a better contest. This game against the Big East’s pre-season favorite is, again, smack dab in the center of Syracuse’s final five game stretch. A trip to Mizzou lingers the following week. SU has the Cardinals inside the Dome, and needs to take advantage of that home field cushion. If Syracuse wants to win 4 Big East games (which could be necessary to hit 6 wins) this game could decide it for SU. The only remaining conference game on SU’s schedule would be Temple a few weeks later. Knocking off the league’s finest does wonders for the confidence heading into a possible bowl season.
Posted: Kevin Fitzgerald
What do you think are the top 4 most important match ups for SU?
Bring it on boy’s!!BRING IT ON.
GO CUSE;
Fizz,R U kidding me?most beatable?Fella’s if we win this one we’ll have 1 helluva season.NW Minn would get BURIED by the Knights!!WE NEED this one!!Recruiting.braggin right’s esp downstate,Fizz underestimate at our DOOM!I thought u guys knew better,their home and LOADED!!they want to give us a going away party and they’ll refuse to lose!!I don’t like em but coming from Jersey NEVER underestimate em!Top 10 D,nationally im thinking!!Now I know its FB season..WAR!!”Go Cuse”
Ron,what was I just talking about?Boy if we win this ur prediction WILL happen!It would elevate us to top of the BE,Orange Bowl baby!!
I think the opener vs. Northwestern is the game that sets the tone for the whole season. We need this one for a few reasons. One being we need to forget the collapse of last season, two being gUSC is waiting there the following week and three I think this team needs to show they are for real. If Nassib can get this offense rolling I think the defense is going to hold its own. We need a RB to step up as well. The section 129 is ready to go and for those who expect us to be sitting down during the game, stay home because we are going to be loud and cheering the orange on.
Completely agree it starts with NW to erase a five game losing mentality. If they lose that game, then lose poorly to USC, it could be hard to ovecome. Fortunately, I think they’ll win the NW game and find some field leaders in the process. Louisville and RU have been games that were sloppy on all sides the past two years. Two wins there are big, especially to take back Jersey more.
@bgogo,I second that,seems I jumped the gun,we have to beat the NWs and Minnys to gain our confidence,jus sayin we can’t take anybody lightly esp as we just sneaked out a/win last time in Pis’way and these (RU,UCONN)games r the games that’ll show how far we’ve come!Also L’ville!!Must win two out of three!!
Anticipated antendance ??? Usually axe sheds the numbers on the radio, but im out of town this week. I Actually rented a car and drove 7 hours, just so i wouldn’t risk a cancelled flight on Friday. Ha – that is rediculous.., I know
Argh… Typing on a phone stinks.
I agree for these 4 for several reasons
Clearly the Northwestern game will set the tone and let us know really where the program is
Uconn and Rutgers have to be wins last year we slipped in both of them and that was devastating to our season
Lastly if we win those 3, with no West virginia Louisville is at the moment the top dog. If we take them down, you know this will be a fun year.
I have been counting down the days for the past 2-3 weeks, now its hours… lets go cuse
Yea guys, September is so critical. SU cant walk out of the first few games with a 1-3 record assuming Stoney Brook as the easiest matchup. Need a couple wins in Sept, and it starts against NW. Schedule just gets harder and harder, and Cuse needs to win the winnable games early. Agree w/ Bgogo & Smitty: can;t put yourself behind the eight ball after the first month of season.
I think four conference wins are a must this season to become bowl eligible. What do you guys think?
@CDL,HaHa..ur as bad as me…can’t wait!!
@Kev,I agree,4-3,necessary,5-2 better yet!!I’d like to see marked improvement and decent bowl!!
@smitty section 129; I know your gonna here us from Sec 307 smitty. You know all of the people who’ve told me to set down over the years, I just look at them and laugh and then I really upset them by getting even more loud. I just have a grand old time where ever I go to watch Syracuse Football.
Hell guys; I’ve even had my neighbors tell me that I was a little loud watching the game. I laugh and laugh hard when they tell me things like that.
The anticipation is killing me man,come on Saturday.
GO CUSE
@Ron-i cant stand when ppl tell u to sit down. It makes me so mad. If u wanted to sit on ur hands then stay home. Y waste the $$?
@Ron,Im a big fan of the “Smitty’s 129″ now too!!!LOL..keep cheering LOUD..
They have the right Fizzfam spirit!!!Go Smitty’s..
Love to hear other fans talk about cheering and getting loud even when the stuffy people around them just sit and barely clap. To truly get it back to the Loud House it falls on groups of individuals to change their surrounding area instead of just conforming to what has become the boring norm. Love the different fan zones(need more of them) like the folks up in 311 Heaven for example. I know there are more with names but they slip my mind right now. Too excited for this weekend! College football starts tomorrow with S Carolina and Vandy! Should be a good game too. Go ORANGE!
Hey Norma are you setting in 311? If you are then we’re close and ought to have a dome dog together and discuss some football.
I want to ask does your husband come to the games with you? Oh! damn I forgot you are a guy and I should have asked if the wife comes with you?
I’m soooooooooo sorry that I made that stupid mistake Norma. I promise to never ever make it again.
Good morning America; Norma a little humor there in my previous. Just having some fun.
GO CUSE
How dare you insult a lady Ron!!!! Oh wait I forgot for a second there too. Hahaha! Nah I don’t sit in 311 anymore Ron. I have friends still up that way though. I am a fortunate fan in that I have a pair of seats in the 100′s that my girlfriend and I use and then I also sometimes get a pair of seats at the 50 in the 300′s one row from the rail. The lower seats are nice, around the 30 yard line and right behind the CUSE bench. But the better viewing is actually in the 300′s. Like I said very fortunate but I started up in the 311 secton and I really still do love that section and the fans that usually cheer from there.
@NORMA;I’ve been a season ticket holder for approximately 23 years and have had our current tickets in 307 for the last 16 years. My son and I have set in the lower sections too and didn’t like any of the seats that we had. Great view from where we now set,wouldn’t change them for the world.
Enjoy the game Norma,I know that my son’s and I will.
Great response to the little bit of humor that I sent you earlier. I’m still laughing.
Give me the drunken, loud screamers in the cheaper seats over the ho-humming rich alumns in the lower level any day. Sitting is indeed for the couch, and even the couch should receive plenty of rest from our butts when we’re standing and cheering.
Hey Fella’s,anyone got a couch for a decrepid ol man to snore from?HaHa,Ron’s takin my job as site comedian,lol!!
Russell you have nothing to fear from me,your the KING OF THE ONE-LINERS.
Keep up the good work and enjoy the weekend watching college football with your godson.
GO CUSE
@Ron,godson will b enjoying more than me on his honeymoon,but I get ur drift lol!!
Russell, you never know,your godson might want to watch a little bit of a game with you knowing full well that he’s going to be in full mode for his game of tackle with his new bride.
Hope everything goes well for both of you on Saturday.
Ron,thanks but I think he’s a RU an Princeton fan,…a Jersey kid or they would’nt v scheduled it on opening day?Im not gonna ask him lol..notice the anticipation?I like our Tx friends enthusiasam in particular…very good fan!!Its contagious..
I will have my whole family in attendance for the game on Saturday,my 5 grandchildren and a friend,my 3 sons and their better halves,and of course the old guy. My wife will be working one of the stands and will join the tailgating party after the game.
This is hoe I see things shaping up for the game. We all know that if Syracuse wins the coin toss the defense will be on the field first. The defense will smother Northwesterns dual threat quarterback and stopping the opening drive. Syracuse receives the punt and returns it to their own 35 yard line. The offense comes on and Nassib throws down field to either Beckett Wales or Marcus Sales on the 1st or 2nd down for the first score of the game making it 7-0 Syracuse.
Syracuse never looks back (the rout is on) and goes on to win the game 43-13.
Weekend is setting up to be a special one for me.
What do you think Russell? Am I dreaming?
GO CUSE
Ron,everything except the part were someone in celebration streaks across the field in the buff and gets taken off the field by security in cuff’s…..meet Norma!!HaHaHa..if were lucky it’ll be Terry!!