Syracuse Football faces its first Top 25 opponent of the year on Saturday when No. 19 Wake Forest hits the Carrier Dome. The Orange (3-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) starts at 3:30 p.m. against the Demon Deacons (5-0, 3-0)
Considered a near touchdown underdog, SU will try to bounce back from a 33:30 loss in the state of Florida last weekend. A defense that has given up the most points this year against elusive quarterback Jordan Travis receives another tough test in Sam Hartman as the Syracuse Offensive tries to build on their most productive game of the year in a transition period.
Mississippi state transfer quarterback Garrett Shrader is set to launch for the third straight week and lead a high-speed assault that works to find balance through the air.
“I think we’re getting closer to what it needs to be,” said Orange head coach Dino Babers on Monday. “I think we need a few more shots in the throwing game. You saw in the second half how different the game looked – maybe a little different from how it looked for a while. And we have to continue to grow on that. “.”
Shrader showed a strong performance in Tallahassee, scoring four touchdowns – three of them on the ground – on the way to achieving the team’s highest individual mark in the Pro Football Focus in five competitions. However, he was vocal about the need for offense to refine the airstrike, both through improved accuracy on his part and cheaper game calls.
“Just spread things out and let’s make games,” Shrader said after the FSU game. “That is the greatest. If you condense the offensive and try to play basic things like you did in the first quarter, you see it – these basic things – they kind of shut us down. But once we started spreading things and playing a few games, it allowed different people to touch the ball. Different running schemes. All that stuff. We saw what this offense could be. “
Wake Forest had a 37:34 win over Louisville on Saturday before and has the chance to get into the mid-season unbeaten with a win in Central New York. EFU achieved its other four wins, including a 35-14 win over the Seminoles side that just outlasted Syracuse.
For those who won’t be in the dome to see the Orange and Demon Deacons, you can watch from home here:
TV: ESPN2
So look online: UhrESPN
Radio: Cuse.com, TK 99, WAER 88.3
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