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Syracuse Faces Challenge in #2 Florida State

WAER | By Jay Alter

Published November 15, 2013 at 1:26 PM EST

Syracuse (5-4, 3-2) football is just one win away from locking up a bowl game, but that victory will be hard to get this weekend as the Orange faces 2^nd ranked Florida State (9-0, 7-0).

While Florida State may be 38.5 point favorites in the game, ‘Cuse enters this weekend allowing only three points in its last two games. The Orange’s defense has been in great form as SU travels down to Tallahassee.

What makes Florida State unbeatable? Well it starts with the quarterback. The Seminoles are led by their quarterback, Jameis Winston. The redshirt freshman has over 2,661 passing yards with 26 passing touchdowns this season. Meanwhile, the SU Quarterback, Terrel Hunt, has only managed 946 passing yards and seven touchdowns (none of which have come in ACC play).

Winston and the Seminoles offense has been incredible all season long. Florida State averages 52 points a game, 2^nd highest in the nation, and 520 yards of total offense. However, defensive tackle and senior captain, Jay Bromley maintains that, “we ain’t afraid of nobody.”

Bromley and the Syracuse defense is coming off eight dominant quarters, forcing five turnovers and only allowing three points, the Orange has allowed 48 points or more in three games this season.

The Florida State defense is also in the midst of an incredible year, especially when playing in front of its home crowd. The Seminoles have held teams to just more than eight points a game when playing in Doak Campbell Stadium. The Florida State defense is fresh off a game where they were a turnover machine. The Seminoles forced six interceptions and a fumble last weekend at Wake Forest.

Florida State has already clinched a spot in the ACC Championship game and is just four wins away from claiming a spot in the National Championship. The spread for the game is 38.5 and Coach Shafer admits that the Syracuse is the overwhelming underdog, “We have no chance according to the stats. I still think we should play them though,” Shafer said at this weekly press conference.

The game will be played at 3:30 on Saturday and you can tune in at 3 when WAER’s coverage starts with Countdown to kickoff on 88.3FM or on www.waer.org