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With two statement victories under its belt, Syracuse is set to face its toughest test so far this season on Saturday against Purdue. The Boilermakers find themselves 1-1 heading into their Week 3 matchup after a four-point opening week loss to Penn State. Just like SU, who’s coming off a 34-point win over UConn, Purdue coasted to a 56-point shutout victory over Indiana State in Week 2. The Orange are on the brink of their first 3-0 start since 2018, the last time they were bowl-eligible.

Here’s how our beat writers predict Syracuse will match up against Purdue:

Alex Cirino (1-1)
Time to shine
Syracuse 32, Purdue 24

Like Syracuse, Purdue has scored over 30 points through its first two games this season, but the Orange should have the edge in Saturday’s game. Their offense has looked far more complete than it has at any point in the last two seasons, and against an inconsistent Boilermakers team that haven’t beaten an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent since 2018, SU will have the edge offensively and put the ball in the end zone.

Defensively, while Purdue’s defense ranks in the top-20 this season against the rush, its secondary has averaged just over 200 passing yards allowed through its first two games. Syracuse’s passing game is at its peak. Garrett Shrader finished eight passing yards short of 300 against UConn. With the Orange already established in the run game, it’s the passing game that will both run up Saturday’s score and earn SU a 3-0 start to the season.

Connor Smith (1-1)
A barn burner
Syracuse 41, Purdue 35

Both of these teams can put up some points, but I expect SU’s offense to ultimately outduel Purdue and improve to 3-0. Shrader and Sean Tucker have been unstoppable through two games, and Shrader’s completion percentage ranks third in the nation, showing the efficiency the Orange’s passing attack has had so far this year. On the other side of the ball, Syracuse has been getting enough pressure even with a totally new defensive line and without linebacker Stefon Thompson (one of its best pass rushers last season).

Purdue’s defense didn’t perform as well in their only true test to this point — a 35-31 home loss to Penn State — and I expect the Orange to ultimately outlast the Boilermakers in a shootout by getting enough pressure on quarterback Aidan O’Connell and recording some impressive plays in the secondary via Duce Chestnut and Garrett Williams. A 2-0 start will become 3-0 for SU heading into ACC game number two against Virginia.

Anthony Alandt (1-1)
‘The best is yet to come’
Syracuse 38, Purdue 37

Hold your breath on this one, Syracuse. The Orange enter as anywhere from one to three-point underdogs against Purdue, who comes to town after tagging Indiana State and falling in a heartbreaker to Penn State. There’s no question this is the best team SU has faced thus far — the combination of O’Connell and running back King Doerue is stellar for the Boilermakers. So the question becomes, can Shrader, PFF’s back-to-back best FBS quarterback, and Tucker find enough success over the top to beat Purdue?

It’ll be close, but Shrader and his carousel of receivers showed me enough through two games to pick SU over a tough Purdue team. Don’t expect the prettiest performance from the defense, but you can be sure the “mob” will do just enough to disrupt O’Connell, and, hopefully help out a growing defensive line through stacking the box. Three wins heading into the Orange’s second conference game, you say? Shrader’s going to be riding high— just hope Syracuse can iron out some semblance of a top receiving option.

Published on September 14, 2022 at 9:12 pm