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Following its third loss of the 2024 season, Syracuse traveled across the country for an Atlantic Coast Conference bout with California. Against the Golden Bears, the Orange stymied any sense of a slow start, jumping out to a 27-7 halftime lead.

Two first-quarter interceptions from SU’s defense and LeQuint Allen Jr.’s two touchdowns led the way. Kyle McCord’s 323 passing yards pushed the Orange across the finish line, defeating Cal 33-25.

With just two games left to play, Syracuse now faces UConn in SU’s final nonconference clash of the campaign. The Huskies enter on a three-game winning streak, though they’ve dropped all three games against Power Four opponents.

Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (7-3, 4-3 ACC) will fare against UConn (7-3, Independent) on Saturday:

Aiden Stepansky (6-4)
On to the ’Canes
Syracuse 41, UConn 27

Last week’s win over Cal reaffirmed my final thoughts on this Syracuse team. The Orange will finish 8-4 and have a winning record in November. Keeping with the narrative, I see SU having little trouble taking care of the Huskies.

A nonconference bout with an independent school is a good break from the Orange’s chaos-filled ACC slate. While UConn is bowl-eligible, its legitimacy has largely lacked substance to back it. The Huskies have only allowed over 30 points once, but it was a 50-point explosion against Maryland.

No offense to my fellow scribe Timmy Wilcox, or any other Marylanders out there, but the Terrapins aren’t a team anyone should be allowing 50 points to. UConn did just that in its season-opener, which gives me no reason to believe SU’s offense can’t run wild against the same unit.

I see the Orange starting fast on offense, jumping out to a quick lead and not looking back. The Huskies may claw back into the game against Syracuse’s bench, but it won’t make this one very close. An eighth win of the season is a splendid way to ride into what is, without a doubt, the biggest game of the Fran Brown era versus Miami to end the regular season.

Cooper Andrews (5-5)
Paige Bueckers doesn’t play football
Syracuse 47, UConn 20

UConn is a basketball school. Much more than Syracuse has ever been. SU’s men’s basketball program doesn’t hold a candle to the dynasty Huskies’ head coach Dan Hurley has spawned. On the other hand, SU’s women’s team has suffered many of its most heart-wrenching losses in program history to the legendary Geno Auriemma, including in the 2016 NCAA title-game and last year’s round of 32.

Luckily for the Orange, Saturday’s game is on the gridiron — a place where it holds a noticeable edge over the Huskies. And UConn’s football program doesn’t have anyone close to making a similar in-game impact à la Paige Bueckers.

Syracuse will fare similarly to how it did against Ohio and Holy Cross. UConn isn’t good. Sure, Jim Mora’s program is 7-3. But the Huskies’ schedule has been laughable. Their best win of the season came over Buffalo of the Mid-Atlantic Conference. And they’re 0-3 versus Power Four competition, with the lowlight being a 43-point blowout loss to Maryland.

Saturday is arguably UConn’s toughest game of the year. Though the Orange’s pedigree far exceeds the Huskies’. They’ll prove that and then some. I expect McCord to cruise in the first half to lead SU’s offense to at least four touchdowns. Then, a couple of Allen Jr. garbage time scores will thrust the backups in before the clock strikes triple zeroes.

Justin Girshon (4-6)
Winners get washed
Syracuse 34, UConn 24

When picking Syracuse to lose against Cal last week, I told my fellow scribes Aiden, Cooper and Zak Wolf I’d buy a winner’s get washed shirt if the Orange won. An eight-point victory and $48.06 later, SU has won four ACC wins and Fran Brown and Co. can put the added Name Image and Likeness money I’ve put in their pockets to good use.

On a serious note, the Orange’s road win over the Golden Bears was crucial. Before a likely split against UConn and Miami, the game versus Cal will likely be the difference in Syracuse finishing Brown’s first season at the helm 8-4 and 7-5.

There’s no reason to believe SU will slow down against the Huskies. While UConn has exceeded expectations this season, all of its damage has come versus non-Power Four teams. In their three games against Power Four programs, the Huskies fell 50-7 to Maryland, 26-21 versus Duke and 23-20 against Wake Forest.

UConn’s biggest strength is in the running game, boasting a talented offensive line and running back trio. Despite SU’s run defense being porous, I see the Orange taking an early lead, and like last week, forcing the Huskies to throw the ball while trailing.

Published on November 21, 2024 at 12:20 am