Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/380743
GAME PREVIEW: SYRACUSE son and was 30-65 overall, including 1-10 in 2005, 2-10 in 2007 and 3-9 in 2008. A highlight during that time was a 24-23 victory on Notre Dame's 2008 Se- nior Day. It was the first time an eight- loss team defeated the Irish — and it came the week when Orange head coach Greg Robinson was fired. Remarkably, it was the third time in four meetings that Syracuse defeated the Irish. The Orange also won on Thanksgiving Day 1963 in Yankee Sta- dium (14-7) to end Notre Dame's mis- erable 2-7 season, and capped another awful 5-7 Irish season in 2003 with a 38-12 victory in the Carrier Dome. Notre Dame then won 34-10 in 2005. Syracuse has taken positive forward steps the past two seasons with 8-5 and 7-6 records, finishing with bowl vic- tories each time. However, last year it was pounded by the three ranked teams it faced: losing 48-27 at then- No. 20 Northwestern, which would finish 5-7; falling 49-14 at then-No. 4 Clemson; and getting crushed 59-3 by then-No. 2 Florida State. The Orange also was pasted 56-0 by Georgia Tech. A strong performance on national television against Notre Dame would help the Orange regain a little more credibility as a program on the rise, especially after barely surviving an overtime victory in the opener versus Football Championship Subdivision opponent Villanova. ✦ Predictions Douglas Farmer: Notre Dame 48, Syracuse 10 The last time Notre Dame played at MetLife Stadium, it lost to Navy 35-17. The last time the Irish played Syracuse, they lost 24-23 on Senior Day in 2008. Brian Kelly will likely reference both in preparation for the Orange. The bye week could lead to some restlessness, but the Irish will outclass Syracuse. Tom Loy: Notre Dame 44, Syracuse 10 Syracuse simply doesn't have the firepower to stick with the Irish on either side of the ball. Look for the Notre Dame passing attack to have a field day against an average Orange secondary. There are far too many offensive weapons on the Irish roster for Syracuse to keep this close. Andrew Owens: Notre Dame 44, Syracuse 17 One last tune-up before Stanford comes to town. Syracuse barely survived Villanova, a Football Champi- onship Subdivision squad, in its season opener Aug. 30, but is probably better than that with Terrel Hunt under center. Still, they're no match for Notre Dame right now, especially after a bye week. Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 37, Syracuse 13 The Orange has a veteran look on both sides of the ball, but has not demonstrated a capacity to excel against some of its better opponents. This will be only the third time in the past 21 years Notre Dame will exit September without a defeat, joining the 2002 and 2012 units in that classification.