NC State Versus Syracuse | Week 12 | Preview and How to Watch

NC State Wolfpack vs. Syracuse Orange
Date: Saturday, November 20th
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Carter-Finley
TV: ACCN
Line: State -11.5

Syracuse Preview
The Orange have had a wild up and down year. Sitting at 5-5, they easily could be 8-2. In three consecutive weeks, they lost by three to FSU, Wake (OT) and Clemson. Brutal.

If you’d like to sum up this Syracuse offense in two words, it’d be ‘running team’. And not like State “running team” where you think they run and then never really do with much success. Sean Tucker has been on an absolute roll this year. The 5’ 10”, 210 pound “covid freshman”, is pushing 1,400 yards on the ground with 11 touchdowns. He’s also the Cuse’s second leading receiver. Garett Shrader is “fine” at QB, but where he’s productive is running. Completing on 51% of throws and a 2-1 TD-INT ratio, Shrader has ran the ball 140 times for 713 yards and 13 touchdowns. So in short, Syracuse has ran for 26 touchdowns and only thrown for 8 all year.

The Syracuse defense is steady and strong through the center of the line. They’ll get sacks and make things tough running the ball, but the secondary is where they struggle. Syracuse is just inside the top-100 pass defenses, somehow only getting three interceptions on the year. With that, their turnover margin is -5, floating with the UConn’s, Vandy’s and Rice’s of the world (not good). Strong linebacker crew holds things together long enough to give their offense a chance.

Keys to a Wolfpack Win

-Just start throwing it – Totally could picture State opening up the playbook, a week after they should have. This DB crew of Syracuse can keep up with BC’s WR, but not State’s. Attack the sidelines and deep throws. Get the running backs involved with quick screens to the outside. While Leary had some shaky moments last week, we’re back at home sweet home.

-Protect Carter-Finley – Speaking of which, can’t emphasize enough the need to win out these last two games at home. Hold steady in the conference standings, finish undefeated in one of the best atmospheres there is and beat a team you should beat and your biggest rival. Carter-Finley needs to be a win each and every time. Make it truly a place no school wants to travel to.

–Can State D produce stops – The tipping point is 22 carries for Sean Tucker. If he goes over that, Syracuse is finding success and getting their ground game going. If it’s less? Somehow State has stepped up again and showed how strong their rush defense can be.

-Dreaded Third Downs – Hello darkness my old friend…State needs to find a way to make plays defensively and get off the field. Syracuse ranks 107^th in offensive 3^rd down conversions. When you’re rush heavy and have unreliable QB play, these third downs of over five yards need to be State’s bread and butter. Make. The. Throw. This point also goes for State’s offense too, let’s limit the 3 and outs.

Prediction

If this is a close game, it means it was an ugly game. State has the receiving core to do damage and their running game has been fantastic for a better part of the year. Those two aspects alone, if they play to their standards, should be enough to give State the big win. Special teams, penalties and bad tackling can change that in a heartbeat, however. Keep it simple and move the chains.

State 33-24