Game 6: Syracuse

What makes a rivalry? Is it geography? When you're school is close to another school, you are often competing for the same recruits, and things can get ugly on the recruiting trail. Is it series history? A bunch of close, hard fought games could bring upon hatred for that particular opponent. Or is a rivalry formed just because you plain hate the other side's guts? With Syracuse and Rutgers, it seems to be a little bit of the first but mostly the third. What ever the cause of the contempt between Syracuse and Rutgers is, this rivalry will come to an end for the foreseeable future today, with Syracuse moving on to the ACC next year.


Get to Know Syracuse
Syracuse is the self proclaimed best 2-3 team in the country after narrowly beating Stony Brook and Pitt at home, losing a neutral site affair to USC, and dropping a pair of games to Big 10 foes Northwestern and Minnesota. 

The Orange are led by Doug Marrone, who is in his fourth season coaching his alma mater, and he has a 19-23 record so far. The former NFL offensive line coach wants his team to be physical on offense and blitz the crap out of you on defense. He has won 2 of 3 games against Rutgers at Cuse, but he has some sort of inferiority complex with Rutgers, as he tells recruits and boosters about how Rutgers is some how conspiring against him. He's also a control freak who has had constant roster turnover and an extremely poor relationship with the media, so he's a pretty reprehensible character.

Ryan Nassib has for some reason been mentioned as a really good quarterback and an NFL prospect, but he really hasn't been that impressive lately, after putting up gaudy numbers against Northwestern and USC. He doesn't have a great arm, but he's very accurate as a dink and dunker. Nassib is a middle of the road QB, but Syracuse can be a dangerous passing team thanks to their receivers. Marcus Sales has been the best receiver in the Big East this year, hauling in 33 passes for 445 yards and 5 TDs. Jerrod West and pre season All Big East receiver Alec Lemon both have 21 catches a piece, and while West has been solid, Lemon has been some what of a disappointment (0 TD).

Syracuse is 84th in rushing and 87th in yards per carry, and they've had to over rely on the pass this year to compensate for not being able to run the ball. They have not been able to find a lead back, and their offensive line has been banged up. All Big East right tackle Justin Pugh returned to the line up last week after missing the first 4 games of the year following shoulder surgery, so they might be better running the ball than the numbers indicate.

Syracuse's run defense ranks in the middle of the pack nationally, but they are coming off a game in which they totally shut down Ray Graham (Pitt's o-line is horrible). They have not done very well against the pass either, allowing opponents to throw for 10 touch downs while only intercepting 3 passes. They lost Chandler Jones to the NFL Draft, but Brandon Share has been a solid pass rusher for them.

Rutgers on Offense
Rutgers needs to keep doing what they're doing, running the ball well, not turning it over, and set up Gary Nova for some play action passes to his big receivers. Syracuse is going to blitz like crazy out of a bunch of exotic looks, so the offensive line needs to be prepared to know what's coming, and always remember their pass protection rules.

Rutgers on Defense
Again, just jeep doing what they're doing. They should be able to stop Syracuse's run game altogether, but they need to pick it up a little (like they did last week) against the pass. The front 4 needs to do a better job getting pressure, so they can drop more guys in to underneath coverage to prevent the dinking and dunking. If they must keep blitzing, they need to make sure they get there and at least cause a poor throw or throw away from Nassib.

STOP THE PENALTIES TOO!

Injuries
Kyle Federico is questionable with a hip injury. I would bet against him playing, and Nick DeLouise would likely take over place kicking duties. Hopefully they just go for it on 4th down situations in FG range.

Prediction-Syracuse 17 Rutgers 27
Rutgers just needs to keep on keeping on and not have a hiccup that this program has grown accustom to. The offense should have a good day, hopefully they open it up more than last week, but the Nassib and his receivers' dink and dunking concerns me against a blitz happy Rutgers' D. The secondary needs to play well. Syracuse isn't great, but they are pretty solid and won't be a push over.

I DON'T NOT WANT TO LOSE THIS GAME AND HAVE TO HEAR FROM THEIR STUPID FANS WHO THINK IT'S STILL THE '90'S AND RECRUITS WANT TO GO TO PLAY IN UPSTATE NEW YORK FOR ALL OF ETERNITY!