The No. 16 Syracuse University Orange (6-1, 5-0 Home) host the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-3, 1-1 Away) at JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday. The Orange are 2.5-point favorites, and the total is 48. Notre Dame is coming off a one-sided 44-21 win over UNLV at Notre Dame Stadium last Saturday.
Drew Pyne was 14 of 28 for 205 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Logan Diggs ran 28 times for 130 yards. Michael Mayer caught six passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Syracuse lost 27-21 to No. 5 Clemson at Memorial Stadium last Saturday. Garrett Shrader threw for 167 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He added 71 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Oronde Gadsden II hauled in six receptions for 86 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The teams are meeting in the regular season for the first time since December 2020, a 45-21 win for the Fighting Irish. Ian Book threw three touchdowns for Notre Dame, as Javon McKinley added three receiving TDs.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Fighting Irish are averaging 26.6 points per game for the season, 81st in FBS, and they are facing an Orange defense that has surrendered 15.1 PPG (6th). Meanwhile, Syracuse has scored 33.9 points a game this season, 36th in the nation, and Notre Dame is allowing 21.9 PPG (35th).
The Fighting Irish rank 101st in the country in passing yards per game (207.9) and 47th in rushing (178.1). They can expect a tough test through the air, as the Orange are 10th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (171.4).
Against the run, Syracuse is 39th (123.3). Syracuse is 71st in the nation in passing yards per game (233.3) and 44th in rushing (179.3), while the Fighting Irish are allowing 202.0 passing yards (35th) and 138.3 rushing yards per game (58th).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through six games, Drew Pyne has thrown for 12 touchdowns (3 INT) and 179.5 yards per game to lead Notre Dame in passing. In one prior away game this season, he had three TDs and 289 yards passing. Audric Estime leads the team in rushing with an average of 62.1 yards a game over seven games. He has six touchdowns on the ground.
Michael Mayer is the Fighting Irish’s leading receiver with 75.1 yards a game and six TDs. Garrett Shrader has 13 passing touchdowns (4 INT) with 228.7 yards per game through seven games to lead Syracuse. In five home games this season, he has thrown for nine TDs (3 INT) and an average of 228.4 yards.
Sean Tucker has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 99.7 yards a game through seven games. He also has been valuable as a receiver, racking up 30.9 yards a game through the air. He has eight total touchdowns, six rushing and two receiving. Oronde Gadsden II has been a key target in the Orange’s aerial attack. He has five touchdowns and an 84.7 yard per game average through seven appearances.
HOME AND AWAY
Syracuse has yet to suffer defeat at home this season.
SportsTips’ College Football Pick:
Notre Dame (+105)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
