For Syracuse football, the ball has started rolling down the hill. After starting out 3-0 for the first time since 1991, Syracuse has lost five in a row and has started to look more and more like last year’s team instead of a rejuvenated team half way to a bowl game. This week Syracuse has another tough one against Louisville, who after starting 0-3 has won four of its last five. Two teams trending in the opposite direction will meet on Saturday, and the Orange will try to shift the tide Saturday. To do it, Scott Shafer will have to take advantage of Louisville’s biggest weaknesses, which we’ll highlight in this week’s By The Numbers.
24.4 points per game (94th in country)
Offense is the weaker of the two sides of the ball for the Cardinals. That’s good, because defense is probably where the Orange struggles the most. Lamar Jackson is only completing 57.9 percent of his passes, but has been more efficient scoring the ball in the Cardinals’ winning streak, throwing for seven touchdowns to only three interceptions. Jackson has also run for four touchdowns during the stretch and has two games with over 100 yards rushing. Syracuse can win if it can bend and not break, but the offense might not be able to keep up if the defense can’t keep the Cardinals in check.
140 rushing yards per game (105th in the country)
One of the biggest keys to Syracuse keeping it close Saturday will be making Louisville one-dimensional. The Cardinals’ numbers running the ball have been miserable this year, despite having a dual-threat quarterback to pad the rushing numbers. Jackson lead the team in both passing and rushing, and it isn’t because he’s been having an outstanding year on the ground. After Jackson, Louisville’s next best rusher is averaging 33 yards per game. The Orange needs to make sure it stays that way.
41 yards per punt (76th in the country)
Special teams is one of the most underrated aspects in all of sports. Just think of how many points Syracuse would have scored over the past two years if it had just started 10 yards further up the field. Of course, there isn’t much Syracuse can do to impact how far Louisville kicks the ball, but it will really be about if the Orange can execute on its chances. Better field position means more scoring, or at least it should, and Syracuse will need it to pull of the upset this weekend.
The Orange is about two touchdown underdogs in this one, but have been 5-3 against the spread so far this season. If you don’t have faith in the Orange pulling out the win Saturday, maybe you could at least take them in the betting line.
Posted: Nathan Dickinson
One response to “By The Numbers: Syracuse versus Louisville”
Well , let’s leave the star QB in a BIG losing battle of what was supposed to be a competitive game , and get him injured (again to the head ) so he won’t be back next season .
I am losing faith in the coaching staff, by the week, now . It’s becoming very clear that it’s smoke & mirrors , as it was during the GRob era .
Yes they are a very young team , but you see other programs not using that for an excuse to continue on the downward spiral , as this program is doing , even with better recruits than we had during the Moron era . We have stepped up the recruiting since Moron left ( like Edsel did to his men ) but that alone doesn’t revive the program as a whole .
The play calling flat out sucks , and seems to get worse with every passing week . The defensive coordinator needs to be handed his hat ASAP , as that is a 100% failure this season , sans Rhode Island . And this is NOT due to lack of talent , by any means !
Tim Lester …………. well …. he is an improvement from where we were , but his play calling is so predictable , game in , and game out . that is why these teams know exactly how to play SU , because all is cookie cutter calls , on both sides of the ball . And prevent defense is terrible , especially when you think you have to play it almost every defensive down . How is the talent going to grow if you don’t show the trust in them ? That is exactly how players grow and become more talented , by allowing the individual the responsibility and accountability of his position . Not by using blanket coverage , with gaping holes all over the field , and then blaming all of them when it breaks down .
I feel bad for the players that bust their rears every week , and they do have a lot of talent , it’s just in the wrong hands at the moment .
Good luck guys !