Finishing Strong: Notre Dame vs. Syracuse - IT Staff Picks

Liam Gaudet
3 hours ago
6 min read

Notre Dame has officially pedalled over the last big hump of the regular season after beating a pesky Pitt team last week, but that doesn't mean that they can afford to take their foot off the gas. The Irish will need to look every bit as impressive against a reeling Syracuse team tomorrow in order to maintain their standing with the CFP Committee. Let's jump into our staff picks for this week's game!

Liam Farrell - Editor/Senior Sports Writer: 49-7 Notre Dame

The biggest thing that Notre Dame wants to do is get this game extremely out of reach, while still having the opportunity to honor their seniors.

The number that Marcus Freeman is eyeing to top is probably 28 points, as Miami defeated the Orange 38-10 earlier this season. The committee has stated that common opponents are a barrier to comparing teams, and while Miami's last regular-season game against Pitt will garner the most attention, Notre Dame has an opportunity to do the same.

I'd expect CJ Carr and the Irish offense to be explosive early through the air while Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price excel in the 2nd quarter to honor their potential last game in Notre Dame Stadium.

If Chris Ash could make freshman phenom Mason Heintschel see ghosts last week, then walk-on Syracuse quarterback Joe Filardi is in for a long afternoon. The Irish defense will be everywhere, and Notre Dame covers one of their largest spreads against a power 4 opponent.

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Brenden Duffy - Editor/Sports Writer: 45-7 Notre Dame

It should be business as usual while Notre Dame hosts their Senior Day celebrations before a game with Syracuse. The Orange have struggled ever since former Irish transfer QB Steve Angeli suffered a torn Achilles tendon in late September.

Notre Dame should have their way offensively against a defense that has struggled all-around. CJ Carr should have a nice day throwing the ball against one of the worst pass defenses in the FBS; touchdowns to Seniors Eli Raridon and Malachi Fields would be fitting. Syracuse’s run defense has been a bit better than its coverage, but it is still below average. I expect Jeremiyah Love to surpass 150 yards on the ground with a score of his own in what is likely his final regular-season game at Notre Dame Stadium.

Syracuse’s offense under Head Coach Fran Brown has been one of the more fun watches in college football if you enjoy seeing QBs air the ball out. Unfortunately, the Orange have been unable to find the right QB for the job since Angeli’s injury this season. Walk-on Freshman Joe Filardi is expected to take the snaps for the Orange this week, marking the second start for the dual-sport lacrosse athlete. Assuming the Irish can create enough pressure and put the young QB under duress, it could be a big day for the stars of the secondary, including Leonard Moore, Christian Gray, and Adon Shuler. A defensive game plan similar to how the Irish attacked Pitt would work against this pass-heavy, yet less talented offense.

Clayton Stohler - Podcaster: 63-7 Notre Dame

Absolute decimation. For all the talk of Notre Dame being ahead of teams that are "more deserving", there's a feeling amongst the fanbase that is shadowed with rage.

Inside the building - quiet confidence. National pundits and fanbases that pledge their allegiance to teams nestled closely behind the Irish can ignore the data. But I will not.

This is a Syracuse team with a lot of fight, mirroring its head coach, Fran Brown. But it will be no match.

Jeremiyah Love with a career day statistically. Records may be broken. Far be it from me to predict the numbers.

CJ Carr and the offense begin to find the extra gear it'll need in the postseason. New Route concepts, and an offensive line that doesn't just bully you for 99 yards, but 100.

The defense takes advantage of walk-on QB Joe Filardi. And this game was never close.

Does ND belong in front of your favorite team? A win against Syracuse won't convince anyone of that fact. But how they win will only reinforce the metrics the committee has been evaluating against all season long.

It's a day that sends the seniors out in style. A day emblematic of the entire season. It wasn't even close. But the playoffs are.

Max Uretsky - Recruiting Analyst/Sports Writer: 55-13 Notre Dame

With a couple of teams (and fan bases) breathing down the Irish's neck for playoff seeding, Marcus Freeman knows full well that every snap is a data point for those who decide the long-term fate for his squad. This game, which will honor the seniors, feels like a spot where both Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price both go for 150+ yards on the ground with a couple of touchdowns each. The offense should find very little resistance in opposing their will in this matchup.

The defense will be facing a walk-on freshman at QB and should continue the upward ascension they have been on since Texas A&M came to South Bend and dropped 41 points back in September. Syracuse's offensive line has been leaky, giving up 10 sacks in the last two contests, and young QBs tend to hang on to the ball too long, so I think Notre Dame's defensive front will be partying in the backfield on more than one occasion this week.

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Bruce Straughan - Recruiting Insider/Sports Writer: 42-3 Notre Dame

Notre Dame is on an eight-game winning streak and continues to improve each and every game. Syracuse is a train wreck right now, losing six in a row. I just don't see there being any way that this team can compete with Notre Dame either offensively or defensively.

Syracuse won't be able to move the ball effectively on this Irish defense nor will they be able to stop the high-powered offense led by CJ Carr and (in my opinion, the best player in College Football) Jeremiyah Love.

Notre Dame will win this game easily! Watch out for a possible shutout for the Irish!

Noah Wehby - Sports Writer: 56-10 Notre Dame

With just a few weeks left in the season, Notre Dame will want to prove a point with their remaining games, and then will do just that on Saturday.

Without Angeli, Syracuse does not have a real passing threat to scare the Irish. Notre Dame's defense will have an easy time stopping this Syracuse offense and will give them the ball back with good field positioning. Don't be surprised if this ball-hawking Irish secondary comes up with multiple interceptions, even without Tae Johnson.

On the offensive side of the ball, it will be more of the same with Love and Price. The Irish will once again lean on their incredible running game to make quick work of this Syracuse defense. Carr will also have his fair share of chances to hit on big plays, especially to Malachi Fields, as he has done in the last few weeks.

Connor Regan - Editor/Sports Writer: 51-13 Notre Dame

Syracuse has lost six straight since upsetting Clemson early in the season, and things don’t look like they’re going to turn around for the Orange this game. Now without transfer quarterback and former ND backup Steve Angeli, Syracuse is offense is incredibly one dimensional.

The passing game has suffered greatly and is unsure at quarterback, and their rushing attack is average. The offense hasn’t mustered more than 18 points in a single game since the upset against Clemson and fellow ACC teams have been moving the ball with ease against the Orange defense all year.

The Irish are favored by 35+ points, so this one should absolutely be a blowout - the real question is, by how much? We’ve only seen the Irish put up crazy numbers once this year, against Arkansas, will they do it again? I think they’ll have a really nice day, but will take their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter and not make it too impressive of a blowout, but definitely a no-doubter.

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