College Football Pick: Syracuse Orange at Florida State Seminoles

FSU and Syracuse in ACC Contest at 12:20 p.m.

pmroczka

November 4, 2017

It is true that in the contest between the ACC’s Syracuse Orange (4-4 Overall, 2-2 ACC) and Florida State Seminoles (2-5 Overall, 2-5 ACC) that the Seminoles are favored. But it’s hard to believe that the Orange, who are performing much better than expected, will lose to the struggling Seminoles or will, at the very least, not cover the spread.

Our Syracuse plays Florida State 2017 college football pick has the Seminoles at -9.5 and the over/under at 50.0. here’s our analysis and pick.

Syracuse- Pluses and Minuses

The Orange are scoring 29.8 PPG. They could certainly put that many points up against FSU today. Junior QB Eric Dungey (60.2 COMP%, 12 TDs, 8 INTs) has had his ups and downs. He’s been sacked a total of 23 times, but he’s also rushed for eight TDs, averaging 4.0 YPA. Plus, two wideouts, Steve Ishmael (66 REC, 12.8 YPC, 4 TDs) and Ervin Phillips (61 REC, 10.3 YPC, 3 TDS), are go-to receivers. Junior RB Dontae Strickland has 107 carries and three scores while averaging 3.7 YPA. The Orange defense has done well versus the rush and they have some able pass defenders.

Orange Summary

Good offense
Dungey susceptible to the sack
Solid versus run

Florida State- Pluses and Minuses

While the Syracuse offense has been good for close to 30 PPG, the Seminole offense is averaging only 17.4 PPG. That’s a problem especially because FSU and Syracuse defenses are giving up 24.3 and 24.6 point per game respectively. Freshman Qb James Blackman (58,6 COMP%, 7 TDs, 7 INTs) has struggled. Junior WR Auden Tate (26 REC, 14,8 AVG, 5 TDs) is his primary receiver. The FSU running game is weak. The Seminole D has done well versus the run, but their secondary is porous. Syracuse could pick them apart in the air today.

Seminoles Summary

Major QB issues
Secondary weak
Run D is sound

Three Major Takeaways

Our Syracuse plays Florida State 2017 college football pick sees these three factors being important today.

QBs, Syracuse has the edge
Defense, a slight edge for the Orange
Rush attack, we like Syracuse

Our Orange at Seminoles Free Pick

Syracuse plays Florida State 2017 college football pick sees the Orange scoring about 34 points and the Seminoles putting about 20 0n the scoreboard. That makes the over a good pick at 50.5. We also like the Syracuse Orange at +9.5. Even with a worst-case scenario where PSU wins, we don’t think they will do so by more than six points. In other words, we see this as either being a big win for the Orange or a close game where both teams score plenty of points.