ETHAN (7-0): Syracuse 24, Notre Dame 20
It’s another sold out crowd in the Dome, and SU’s defense will be the best unit in this game. Drew Pyne has never played in an atmosphere like he will this weekend, and if Syracuse’s defense can force just one or two turnovers, they’ll have a very good chance to win the game. Garrett Shrader and Sean Tucker will both have big days, specifically Tucker, after his lack of carries against Clemson last week. Notre Dame’s defense is too talented to let the Orange score a lot of points and willfully keep this game close. It feels like a 14-0 SU start turns into a 14-10 halftime lead that should be bigger, but the Orange do just enough in the second half to get the job done against Notre Dame and improve to 7-1.
CAM (6-0): Syracuse 31, Notre Dame 13
Last week’s loss to Clemson was one of the worst losses in SU program history due to the implications it had on postseason play. But with that game in the rear view mirror, it’s back home for an Orange team that always finds a way to please the Dome crowd. The offense is raring to go after failing to score in the second half against the Tigers and Dino Babers’ “inexcusable” remark to Sean Tucker rushing a season-low five times should translate to a higher volume of carries by number 34. Add what’s been an unbelievable defense, even with a slew of backups, carrying the load on the other side of the ball, and expect an Orange rout from start to finish.
Now that’s not discrediting Notre Dame’s talent, but the Cuse matchup perfectly with the Irish. ND can’t score with its backup QB who looks questionable and no wide receiver weapons around him, so that’s a clear leg up to the Orange’s defense. Plus, Notre Dame’s defense is substantially worse at stopping the run than they are the pass, so watch out for Tucker and Garrett Shrader, who ran a season-best 21 times against Clemson, to have themselves field days on the ground.
Where Notre Dame could take advantage is in the trenches, the philosophy of its first-year head coach Marcus Freeman. If the Irish can force penalties on the Orange’s offensive line and get to Shrader, then expect a much closer, and low-scoring game.
But I don’t foresee that happening and instead, get ready for the country to see why the Cuse are the best home team in the conference and rival any other school as a top 10 team in the nation.
FRANCESCO (2-0): Syracuse 27, Notre Dame 24
This, once again, is a statement game for Syracuse. We’ve been saying this for three weeks now, and it remains true. The Orange, coming off a heartbreaking loss, will show fans a lot about the program based on how they play in this one. Notre Dame is not what it usually is, but don’t discount this Irish team. They went into North Carolina and beat a good Tar Heels team by two touchdowns. If SU comes out flat, it would be an indictment on the players and the coaching staff. However, a well-played game and a win over one of the biggest brands in college football would further legitimize the season Syracuse is having. It won’t be easy, but the Orange get it done in a close one.
JOHN (5-1): Syracuse 24, Notre Dame 20
This definitely looks like a defensive battle. ND’s offense is very sluggish and is predicated on the run game and getting the ball to its tight end. Conversely, the Fighting Irish have a lot of talent and speed on defense. Points will be hard to come by so new players need to emerge in the passing game. SU needs to a bounce back from Sean Tucker and for Garrett Shrader to work the chains with his legs like he did against Wake Forest last year. Still, the ‘Cuse defense is stingy with its 12th man. I expect a couple turnovers and 3rd down difficulty all day long from the Golden Domers. Give me Syracuse in a tight one.
CARTER (4-1): Syracuse 23, Notre Dame 21
Syracuse enters this game still hurting over last Saturday’s meltdown, and there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that SU hasn’t beaten Notre Dame at all since 2008 and usually takes its lumps against the Fighting Irish. The good news is that these Irish may be the worst squad of Golden Domers in a generation. Head coach Marcus Freeman’s brief tenure in South Bend has been marked by uncharacteristic losses and inconsistency. This season, ND has fallen to unranked teams like Marshall and Stanford and hasn’t looked especially good against anyone else. The big culprit for Notre Dame has been its stagnant offense. ND doesn’t turn the ball over much or draw many penalties, but the Irish still rank 82nd in the FBS in scoring, and quarterback Drew Pyne is averaging a measly 7.4 yards-per-attempt.
SU’s responsibility this week is to do a better job against Audric Estime and Logan Diggs in the Irish backfield than it did against Clemson’s Will Shipley. If the Orange can stifle the run and force Pyne to push the ball down the field, that’ll work to the ‘Cuse’s advantage. Look for Garrett Shrader to do just enough against a banged-up Irish defense (star linebacker Jack Kiser is working through a deep thigh bruise suffered last week) and for Sean Tucker to see far more action than he did down in Death Valley. If SU can get enough from its offense and keep things airtight on defense, Syracuse should prevail to move to 7-1.
IAN (3-1): Syracuse 24, Notre Dame 20
This game comes down to the ability of the Fighting Irish to move the ball… and I don’t think they’re going to put together drives against an SU defense that was stout against Clemson. RB Audric Estime is Notre Dame’s best skill player, and ND should utilize him as much as possible against the undersized Orange front. I think the Mob gets multiple red zone stops and holds ND to 3 field goals, which ultimately decides this game. If Sean Tucker doesn’t see his normal workload, things could get difficult for the Syracuse offense. However, Garrett Shrader and Oronde Gadsden will be enough to carry SU at home.
LIAM (5-2): Syracuse 34, Notre Dame 20
This is not the Notre Dame of yore we’re used to. The Fighting Irish have lost to noted 2022 powerhouses Marshall and Stanford in South Bend this year.
That being said, Marcus Freeman’s squad seems to have played better away from home this year. The Irish beat a then-ranked BYU team in a neutral site game, took down arguably the best team in the ACC Coastal in North Carolina on the road, and hung tough with Ohio State at The Shoe.
The negatives outweigh the positives though. Drew Pyne’s play at QB has been mediocre at best. Additionally, Dino Babers’ squad is going to come in with a fire lit after last weekend’s heartbreak. Lock in Syracuse’s first victory against Notre Dame since 2008.
