FRANCESCO (5-0) (EXEMPT FROM PREDICTION):
This is a chance for Syracuse to get back on track. Boston College comes in riding a four game winning streak, but it struggled with 1-7 UConn a week ago, only winning by a touchdown. The Eagles have a dynamic quarterback in Thomas Castellanos, but he got nicked up against the Huskies. Castellanos leads the nation’s quarterbacks with almost 700 rushing yards, but only had 45 vs UConn. That’s the key to the game for Syracuse. It starts and ends with containing Castellanos and a BC run game that has gone from nation’s worst, to one of its best.
Adam (6-1): Boston College 24, Syracuse 17
Over the past four weeks, Syracuse just hasn’t proven that it’s a team that is capable of beating another power five opponent. On both sides of the ball, the Orange have been dominated by great teams like Florida State and bad teams like Virginia Tech. If SU even wants a chance the offense has to figure it out. Ever since the Army game, Syracuse has been lifeless. It all starts with the quarterback and Garrett Shrader. During the losing streak, Shrader hasn’t had a game where he ran for more than 30 yards. QB1 has to run the ball more if the Orange are going to be successful today. But, with what we have seen from Jason Becks offense recently I don’t think it happens enough. SU will keep it close, but in the end, BC comes away with the win.
Liam (5-1) (EXEMPT FROM PREDICTION):
Two teams headed in opposite directions. SU comes in down in the doldrums on a four-game losing streak, while BC has won four straight. Bostonians were calling for Head Coach Jeff Hafley’s head after a loss to Northern Illinois in week 1, but all of a sudden the Eagles are one win away from bowl eligibility. Meanwhile, what looked like a lock for Syracuse just a few weeks ago is anything but. This is one of two true home games left for the Orange, and their first in over a month. Dino Babers is 6-20 in November since he got to the hill, including an abysmal 2-10 on the road. This year more than ever, that needs to change. For his own sake.
Ethan (6-1): Boston College 24, Syracuse 19
This team has given nobody any reason to believe it could beat a power conference football team at the moment. Not anyone in the ACC, not teams at the bottom of any other conference, no one. The Orange might get some more points in this game thanks to the fact that they’re playing at home, but a theme of the night will be settling for field goals and not scoring touchdowns, and the SU defense will have a hard time containing Thomas Castellanos when he is running around creating something out of nothing. I just don’t have enough faith in the Syracuse offense to get the ball all the way down the field and convert on the likely limited chances they’ll have in the redzone. Make it 5 in a row in the loss column for the Orange.
Tyler (4-2): Boston College 24, Syracuse 10
Syracuse offense has a lot to prove before anyone can expect it to score more than twice. Shrader hasn’t passed for 200 yards since the Army game, and the Orange had a net total of 0 rushing yards last week against Virginia Tech. SU’s main shot to win the game is causing turnovers. It did that well at the start of the year, and Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos makes risky plays. If Syracuse can take advantage when those plays happen, maybe the four-game losing skid will end. That’s a big if though, and SU’s offensive struggles make it impossible to predict a win for the Orange.
