Last week marked the first time our staff
had differing opinions on a game. Half of them moved to 3-0 while the others picked up a loss. Now, it’s back to unanimous decisions as Syracuse takes on UConn this Saturday.
Tyler Aki (3-0): Syracuse 62, UConn 17
This will be an Orange lead from wire to wire. UConn simply isn’t a good football team this year as Randy Edsall tries to rebuild the program from the rubble once again. The Huskies defense looked super vulnerable against the FCS’s Rhode Island, so what are they going to do against the Orange’s up-tempo offense under the command of Eric Dungey. And speaking of Dungey, I know he can’t be happy with how his last outing was going prior to leaving the game with an injury. Expect the senior to come out firing and using a diverse set of receivers. I also expect Jarveon Howard to follow up his 55 yard performance against the weak UConn defense. It should be a field day dominated by the Orange who will head into Clemson 4-0 and on the fringe of cracking the Top 25.
JD Raucci (2-1): Syracuse 54, UConn 17
This game really should not even be close. Syracuse is far and away a better football team than UConn and that has been evident through the first three weeks of the season. While SU has outscored its opponents by 88 points in three wins, the Huskies have been nearly the exact opposite, getting outscored by 87 in that same stretch. Connecticut quite literally has the single worst defense in the FBS, allowing an average of nearly 56 points and 673 yards a game in losses to UCF and Boise State and a win over FCS Rhode Island. A fully health Eric Dungey and the Orange offense should have an absolute field day against them. Honestly, only giving SU 54 in this game may be an underestimation. Defensively, Syracuse is coming off its best game of the season against FSU and although the UCONN attack may be averaging over 400 yards, a lot of that is on the ground where SU thrives defensively. This game is matchup heaven for SU and Dino Babers and company should have no problem moving to 4-0 for the first time since 1991.
Tim Leonard (2-1): Syracuse 43, UConn 21
Yeah UConn’s first two games were against ranked teams and it’s been a pretty tough schedule so far them. But, barely squeaking by Rhode Island last week while giving up 49 points in the process, tells you all you need to know. The Huskies‚Äô defense is historically bad. They actually might put up some points behind dual-threat QB David Pindell and a better offensive line than SU faced last week. By the second half, though, Syracuse is going to put it in cruise control and coast to the finish line.
Jonathon Hoppe (3-0): Syracuse 54, UConn 17
A loss to UConn would totally derail Syracuse’s strong start to the season. I don’t expect it to happen, but this does feel like a trap game with next week’s trip to Clemson on the horizon. With that said, I think SU passes the test with flying colors. Let’s face it, the Orange still have plenty to prove. A win over the Huskies would make them 4-0 and give them plenty of confidence heading into their toughest stretch of the season.  It’s hard to see a situation where SU loses this game.
David Edelstein (2-0): Syracuse 45, UConn 10
After playing‚Äîand defeating‚Äîits first ACC opponent of the year, Syracuse returns to inter-conference play with UConn making a trip to the Carrier Dome in Week 4. SU took big wins in its first two games of the season against non-ACC teams in Western Michigan and Wagner, and after a stellar performance by¬†the Orange against Florida State, Syracuse is primed to win its fourth straight. The Huskies¬†have been crushed by teams so far this season, and their only win came in a 56-49¬†shootout against a not-so-great Rhode Island team. UConn has a balanced rushing and passing attack on offense (averaging approximately 200 yards each per game)¬†and might get through here and there, but SU looks primed for the “W,” as long as it doesn’t take the win for granted after an impressive Week 3.
Harrison Singer (1-0): Syracuse 38, UConn 24
Eric Dungey is set to return against the Huskies, but truthfully, it shouldn’t matter. Tommy DeVito picked up that phone and answered the call against Florida State, and with the momentum that seems to be on Syarcuse’s side right now, it almost feels like the Orange can win this game with, well, an actual orange under center. Statistically, UConn comes in with the worst defense in the country and it’s not even close. The Huskies rank dead last in the FBS in both opponent yards and points per game. On the flip side, one thing SU will have to watch out for is quarterback David Pindell, who in addition to going off for over 300 yards and four touchdowns through the air last Saturday, ran for 137 and two scores as well. Despite his role as the team’s signal caller, Pindell leads the Huskies in rushing thus far. All in all, if the Orange don’t get cocky, it should win this game relatively handily.
