Final score predictions for Notre Dame vs. Syracuse: Can the Irish avoid a letdown performance with the CFB playoffs on the line?
Final score predictions for the Notre Dame vs. Syracuse matchup.
Notre Dame football is set to host the Syracuse Orange this weekend for Senior Day. Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish head into the game with an 8-2 overall record, which has earned them the No. 9 overall rating in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The mission for the Irish remains the same as it has for weeks: Win out, and you are most likely in the playoffs. That is all that matters for this team.
For the Notre Dame offense, there should be the intention to get superstar running back Jeremiyah Love the football early and often. The junior is firmly in the Heisman Trophy conversation right now, but he will need to put up some gaudy stat lines during the last couple of games to get that invite to New York City. It also wouldn’t be shocking to see Mike Denbrock try to get Jadarian Price back on track as well, after rushing for just 80 yards on 27 carries the last three games.
The Chris Ash defense has been very good following some early-season struggles, and they are on quite a seven-game stretch. This feels like a game where that unit continues to grab onto the momentum. Irish fans should want to see star pass rusher Boubacar Traore get back on track. After a strong start to the season, Traore hasn’t recorded a sack in three games. When Traore is playing well, this Notre Dame defensive line really gets a huge bump. The entire defense is a unit that is playing on a very high level.
Notre Dame vs. Syracuse series history
- Notre Dame and Syracuse have played 11 times in their series history; the Irish lead the series 8-3
- Between the two programs, they have won eight total Heisman Trophies
- Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman holds a 41-12 overall record with the program
- Syracuse HC Fran Brown holds a 13-10 overall record with the Orange
Notre Dame-Syracuse game prediction
One of the biggest bummers for Notre Dame fans is that Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli was lost earlier this season against Clemson with an Achilles injury. With Angeli in the game, that would have been a fun storyline with his return to South Bend. Since Angeli was injured, this Syracuse offense has gone completely downhill. The team has some good weapons, including Johntay Cook, but the revolving door at quarterback has hurt the passing game production. With how bad this unit has been, it is hard to envision the Orange scoring much on Saturday.
As bad as the Syracuse offense is, the defense is just as poor. Whether it is Love and Price in the run game, or CJ Carr throwing the football, it feels like a “get right game” for the Notre Dame offense. This is a game that I don’t see being very competitive for very long.
Notre Dame 42, Syracuse 7
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