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Syracuse is coming off a much-needed bye week, where head coach Dino Babers said his players rested and went home to their families for the only time during the season. Yet, it won’t provide the same advantage as most byes. The Orange travel to Blacksburg, Va., to play Virginia Tech on Thursday, not Saturday. The Hokies also had a bye last week.

SU is coming off a three-game stretch where it was outscored by a combined 88 points against Clemson, North Carolina and Florida State. Now, the competition dips back down a bit, with five Atlantic Coast Conference opponents who are all currently 4-3 or worse.

Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (4-3, 0-3 ACC) will fare against Virginia Tech (3-4, 2-1 ACC):

Anthony Alandt (6-1)
Hokies gobble Oranges
Virginia Tech 24, Syracuse 16

Good programs beat the schools at or below their prestige and compete with opponents that have more talent. Syracuse handled its first four opponents in that manner, taking care of Purdue and three schools it should have beaten. Then, it got walloped by the top of the ACC in three straight weeks, losing by a combined 112-24 score. Babers said after the bye week that the Orange are still going to be without Trebor Pena and Kalan Ellis, and will have a limited Isaiah Jones. The fear of SU becoming a one-dimensional squad has been realized, and the rest-up week didn’t seem to do its job.

Now, the Orange hit the road against Virginia Tech, a team that started slow but has hit its stride in recent weeks following a stunning upset to Marshall. Baylor transfer Kyron Drones has helmed the Hokies and hasn’t thrown an interception since a Week 3 loss to Rutgers.

Babers is 6-24 on the road against ACC teams since taking over Syracuse, and Lane Stadium isn’t exactly a welcoming environment for the Orange. Quarterback Garrett Shrader said the Orange noticed through watching film that their offense is dynamic when he uses his legs to extend plays. But, a puzzling Hokies defense has allowed over 30 points to just Rutgers and Florida State, and I’m sure they’ve game planned against Shrader’s scrambling. SU isn’t a complete team, nor is it deep enough, to lead me to believe it pulls off a win.

Wyatt Miller (7-0)
It’s all about the line
Syracuse 17, Virginia Tech 20

Virginia Tech is a hostile environment. The Orange are going into it with zero momentum and no rest advantage after the bye. Plus, this Virginia Tech defense could pose some familiar problems up front. After the FSU loss, Babers said the declining competition on defense will bring the offense back to life. Yet, the Hokies have the No. 8 pass rush in the nation, according to PFF, and rank 11th nationally in sacks per game. They also allow the least amount of passing yards per game in the ACC.

Babers’ comments after the FSU loss seem to indicate that SU’s remaining matchups won’t be as tough as the gauntlet it just endured. In Virginia Tech’s case, that’s incorrect. This team is not only capable, but likely to bulldoze a battered Syracuse offensive line. The SU offense has crumbled under pressure these past three weeks, and I expect it to be similarly sluggish against the Hokies. This game is all about the line of scrimmage. If the receivers do step up, I don’t think the Orange offense will overcome losing the line.

Statistically, the Hokies’ offense has been stuck at the bottom of the ACC this season, but they’ve shown spurts of excellence against Pittsburgh and Wake Forest. The Orange are the only ACC team without a conference win, and I expect they’ll have to wait a while longer to get one.

Henry O’Brien (6-1)
Another miracle in Blacksburg
Syracuse 17, Virginia Tech 16

Syracuse’s offense has rightfully been criticized for its performance in the last three games. Babers can talk all he wants about how Florida State has NFL talent on its defense. At some point, you have to score some touchdowns to at least show a pulse. Babers seemed relaxed and confident after the loss to the Seminoles, believing the offense will return to its early-season form. But I still have doubts about whether it will look the exact same as it did.

Having said that, Virginia Tech’s offense might not be much better. The Hokies are averaging fewer points than a Pitt team whose Week 1 quarterback is now its tight end. Drones has put together some good performances, particularly in a 38-21 win over the Panthers. But he’s also had some clunkers against Florida State, Rutgers and Marshall. He can keep VT in games but in a tight game, he won’t truly elevate his team.

Shrader’s day won’t be the easiest either. Virginia Tech has one of the conference’s better pass rushers in Antwaun Powell-Ryland. Enrique Cruz Jr. and Mark Petry will both have to step up. With the Orange having to play in an intense environment, the game will probably be tight like in 2021. Expect it to be low scoring and to come down to the heroics of one of the two teams’ kickers. I’m predicting that Brady Denaburg will be the hero on Thursday.

Published on October 26, 2023 at 1:10 am