These two teams didn’t wait for Halloween to enter Spooky season. Syracuse (3-5, 1-3) enters tonight’s game on a four-game losing streak as they welcome the North Carolina Tar Heels (2-5. 0-3) to the JMA
Dome. UNC has also lost four straight games, although the last two have been one score affairs. Kickoff is at 7:30 on ESPN and here’s what we’re predicting:
Kevin (6-2): Syracuse 23, UNC 20
I think that being home and mixing up the quarterback spot actually pays off for Syracuse in this one. Sometimes a change at that spot forces other players to lock in just a bit more to help their team find a way to win. This feels like the week the Orange get a score on defense/special teams and that a late scramble from Luke Carney sets up Tripp Woody for the game-winner.
Max (6-1): North Carolina 20, Syracuse 17
I had this matchup circled on my calendar the night of the schedule release in late January, imagining a tussle between two of the ACC’s best. I couldn’t have been more wrong: we have a team that’s been in the news for all the wrong reasons against a team that needs a quarterback. Until Syracuse gets consistent quarterback play, there’s no way I can feel confident in a win. Running the ball won’t be easy either, as the Tar Heels defense ranks in the top-25 in rush yards allowed per game (110.6). An ugly game ends with a walk-off field goal by the visitors.
Casey (5-2): Syracuse 20, North Carolina 17
As Max alluded to, most people didn’t expect this Bill Belichick vs. Fran Brown Halloween game on national TV to feature two teams sitting at 2–5 and 3–5 — yet here we are. Still, Syracuse finally looks ready to make a change at quarterback, and I think that’ll spark the team. The defense plays with energy, the offense stays a bit more consistent with the home crowd behind them, and the Orange pull off the win with a game-winning field goal.
Dom (6-2): Syracuse 21, North Carolina 13
The losing streak finally ends on Halloween. As much as Syracuse’s offense has been underwhelming over the winless stretch, North Carolina has struggled equally as much. UNC hasn’t topped 20 points in over a month (September 13th versus Richmond). A Syracuse defense that has had its moments shuts the lid on the Tar Heels’ offense, while the Orange does just enough to get over the hump.
************************************************************************************************
Now it’s your turn
