Louisville @ Syracuse preview
Carrier Dome
Last Meeting ( Nov 14, 2009 ) Syracuse 9, Louisville 10
After a pair of strong road wins, Syracuse returns to the scene of its weakest performance of the season.
The surprising Orange look to continue their resurgence Saturday when they host Louisville in a Big East Conference matchup.
Syracuse (6-2, 3-1 Big East) has won two straight on the road after absorbing a 45-14 pounding at the hands of Big East leading Pittsburgh. The Orange rebounded with a surprising win in Morgantown over a ranked West Virginia squad and then posted a 31-13 win at Cincinnati last week.
For most of the season, Syracuse has been doing it with a stout defense, solid running game and steady if not spectacular play from quarterback Ryan Nassib.
Syracuse ranks 13th in total defense, allowing 298.5 yards per game, and is 14th in scoring defense at 17.5 points per game. The Orange defense has been particularly stingy in the second half, shutting out five of its opponents over the final two quarters, including West Virginia and Cincinnati.
But the defense is not the only reason that Syracuse is 6-2 for the first time since 2001, which is also the last time the Orange were 7-2. Syracuse has been getting balance from its offense as well.
Senior running back Delone Carter rushed for 109 yards on 19 carries against Cincinnati and his 93.2 rushing yards per game is fourth in the Big East and 29th in the nation.
Carter helps open things up for Nassib, who has thrown at least one touchdown pass in each of Syracuse’s eight games and has 14 for the season.
Louisville (4-4, 1-2) is coming off a 20-3 loss at Pitt last Saturday and has now dropped its last 11 Big East Conference road games. Louisville hasn’t won a conference game on the road since a 28-24 win over Cincinnati in 2007.
It might be hard for the Cardinals to keep their conference losing skid from reaching a dozen considering how banged up they are on offense.
Running back Bilal Powell was held to a season low 64 yards on 11 carries against Pitt before leaving with a knee injury. Powell, who had four straight 100-yard rushing games before last week, is questionable for the matchup with the Orange.
Starting quarterback Adam Froman came out of the Pittsburgh game with a thigh bruise and Justin Burke would get the start in his place while running back Victor Anderson has not played since injuring his shoulder Oct. 9 against Memphis.
Anderson dressed last week but did not play and redshirt freshman Jeremy Wright would have to step in at running back if Powell and Anderson are unable to go.
Syracuse leads the series 5-4. Louisville won last season’s meeting, 10-9 at Papa John’s Stadium.