Adam (5-4): Cal 38 – Syracuse 28
If Syracuse can’t win at Boston College after its starting quarterback gets benched mid-game, then there’s just no way that I see the ‘Cuse traveling cross country and beating Cal. This is a very good Golden Bears team that’s record doesn’t tell the full story. Cal lost to Miami and Pittsburgh by a combined three points. Fernando Mendoza is probably the best quarterback that the Orange have faced yet this season and I expect the defense to struggle. On the other side of the ball, Cal is one of the best defenses in the country at forcing turnovers. Kyle McCod has been careless with the football this season and I expect that to continue this year. Also, Cal is 10 point favorites!!!.
Tyler (3-0): Syracuse 27 – Cal 26
This is the perfect game to test how much Kyle McCord has learned about risk management since the 5-interception disasterclass that was the first half of the Pitt game. Cal leads the country with 17 interceptions. That’s a little scary. However, if two of Oronde Gadsden, Jackson Meeks, and Trebor Pena are playing well, he has enough weapons to take the Bears.
Nico (6-3): Syracuse 31, Cal 17
Syracuse travels to my neck of the woods for a Saturday afternoon contest in the Bay Area. The Orange play the Golden Bears of California for the first time since 1967-1968. I don’t see the flight travel affecting SU in this case, and we experienced how things went in Vegas in an overtime win over UNLV. Cal does have a great passing defense, but outside of that, it’s a pretty meager opposition. Syracuse’s defense will be key in propelling the Orange to a win, based on the number of rushing yards given up last game.
Dan S (5-4): Syracuse 31 – Cal 24
I think this is a game that the Orange should win handily, although I could see it going wrong at points. Last week, Syracuse’s run defense was exploited. Knowing that, head coach Fran Brown and the staff probably made that a point of emphasis. While that’s great, I could actually see that back firing for Syracuse. Cal succeed through the air. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has thrown for 270+ yards in his last six games, including six touchdowns. Four of those scores have come in the last two games. I think that’s something Syracuse needs to be cautious of going in. Luckily, the Orange still have a gun slinger of their own in Kyle McCord. The Ohio State quarterback should have a field day with the Cal defense, which ranks near the bottom of the barrel in the ACC. On top of that, once again using LeQuint Allen will be key for SU just like it did against BC. With all of this outlined, I don’t see a world where Syracuse falls to Cal. Yet, I did say the same thing last week, so who knows.
Alex (6-3): Cal 35 – Syracuse 23
Last week I said Syracuse would win a game because of momentum. I’m not going to make that mistake again. Sure, California doesn’t have the same national recognition as it did after a 3-0 start. But the Golden Bears have dropped 44 and 46 points the last two games. And each time they’re rushed over 100 yards. SU has given no reason to believe the rush defense has improved since whatever last week is. Two other reasons: California didn’t have to travel cross country and the Golden Bears need just one win for bowl eligibility.
Dan P (4-5): Syracuse 31 – Cal 27
The Orange are headed to the Golden State for the first time since 2011, and this is a very interesting matchup on paper. Despite having just 200 yards this season, preseason first All-ACC running back Jadyn Ott might have a field day with this SU run defense. Despite that, I expect Kyle McCord to play with a little more of a chip on his shoulder after last week in Chestnut Hill. Give me the Orange in a confidence booster on the west coast.
Henry (4-3): Syracuse 31, California 14
Syracuse comes into this game in desperate need of a bounce-back. It was the first time this season that the Orange and its high-powered offense scored 30+ points in a game and lost, with the team’s defense allowing 313 rushing yards. Thankfully for Syracuse, this is the perfect spot to do it. The Golden Bears don’t have the same potency in the running game that Boston College did and do most of their damage through the air. The Orange secondary allowed just 65 passing yards against the Eagles, and if they can replicate that performance against California, this game will be fairly one-sided. Back Kyle McCord and Syracuse in this one.
