Adam (3-1): UNLV 31, Syracuse 21
Over the last two weeks, Syracuse has done nothing to prove that it can compete with a top-25 team in the country. The ‘Cuse lost to one of the worst teams in the ACC and were underwhelming against Holy Cross. Before last week, I gave Fran Brown the benefit of the doubt but I just can’t anymore. The pessimism in me has returned and I just don’t see SU going across the country and picking up a ranked win in an NFL Stadium. The Orange struggled against the run multiple times this season and will have to contain one of the top rushing offenses in the country. I can’t picture the ‘Cuse defense slowing down the UNLV offense. The only way Syracuse wins is if Kyle McCord goes off for 400 yards and five touchdowns.
Tyler (2-0): EXEMPT FROM PREDICTION
Syracuse has a loss and has already played a higher-ranked team, yet UNLV is likely its toughest foe yet. First, it’s the first road game of the season, so that’s a challenge in and of itself. More than that, the Rebels boast one of the best rushing attacks in the country, even better than Georgia Tech. UNLV’s “Go-Go Offense” picks up 283 yards on the ground per gam, good for 6th in the country.
If SU pulls out a win, it’ll be in shootout fashion. Quarterback Kyle McCord needs to step up even more than he has through the first third of the season.
Nico (3-1): Syracuse 21, UNLV 17
The three-hour time change. Cross-country flight. 9:00 P.M. EST start. Friday instead of Saturday. NFL Stadium environment. 25th-ranked UNLV as the opponent. There’s a lot of factors going against Syracuse football in Vegas tonight, but let the odds roll in the favor of the Orange. With Hajj-Malik Williams as the QB replacing Matthew Sluka, this SU defense can limit UNLV and keep it on its toes. The outcome rides on the success of Kyle McCord and the offense if they can get out to a hot start. Syracuse 21, UNLV 17.
Dan S (2-2): UNLV 27, Syracuse 20
There’s simply too many question marks for Syracuse coming into this game for me to confidently say the Orange will win. I think that if Kyle McCord plays like he did the last two weeks, the UNLV defense will have a field day. Coming into tonight’s game, McCord has thrown at least two interceptions in the last two games. That makes me nervous knowing that Rebels will be the best defensive team the Orange have matched up against so far. On top of that, Syracuse cannot have McCord throwing 50 times for a second straight week. If SU wants to take some pressure off the New Jersey native and diversify the offense, it must run the ball. If all of those things happen offensively, Syracuse could easily get the dub in the sin city. It just seems like a tall order against an extremely talented UNLV side.
Alex (3-1): Syracuse 37, UNLV 30
A ranked team that has a dual-threat quarterback breaking onto the scene? Syracuse football might be having deja vu to its clash with Haynes King and Georgia Tech a few weeks ago. But SU needs a similar game-plan against the Rebels. UNLV QB Hajj- Malik Williams hasn’t faced elite pressure this year, so SU’s d-line will be the x-factor. As for the offense, Kyle McCord knows what he has to do. As long as he limits his picks against the #2 interception defense in the nation, the offense will be humming. It’s going to take a few lucky gambles for Fran Brown and co to get a win, but that’s what the Sin City is for.
Dan P (2-2): UNLV 34, Syracuse 24
This kinda feels like a trap game for Syracuse. Going all the way to Las Vegas for your first road game of the season might not be a recipe for success. Aside from that, UNLV’s secondary has the second most interceptions in the country this season. Kyle McCord needs to be smart with the ball if the Orange want a chance. At the end of the day, expect the Rebels to rush all over SU, unless Fran Brown dials up some motivation like he did against Georgia Tech.
Henry (1-1): Syracuse 31, UNLV 28
If the Orange are going to win this game, they’ll have to stop the run. That’s bad news for Syracuse, who have struggled against the run dating back to last season and will face a UNLV run game that is one of the best in the country at 283 rushing yards per game. After McCord and the offense hung 42 points on Holy Cross, they’ll need to build on that performance to keep the Orange in the game against a tough Rebels secondary, who have only allowed 147 passing yards per game. This game will be a good old-fashioned shootout but expect Kyle McCord’s proficiency through the air to give the Orange a slight advantage in the narrow victory.
