Syracuse’s latest stumble has them staring at another tough number on the betting board. FanDuel opened the Orange as 9.5-point underdogs for their trip to face North Carolina, a line that matches the rough shape of this season and the injuries hanging over the quarterback room.
The Orange are coming off a 34-26 loss to Louisville, their 11th straight ACC defeat. Umari Hatcher turned in a huge day with 224 receiving yards, but it still wasn’t enough to rescue Syracuse. Three second-half turnovers wrecked drives that had a chance to shift the game.
Quarterback remains the biggest question for Syracuse heading into this one. Steve Angeli and Amari Odom were out against Louisville because of injury.
Malachi Nelson started, but for the second week in a row he was unable to finish due to injury. Danny Lauter then got a shot at a two-minute comeback drive, and that also came up short.
North Carolina, meanwhile, is coming off a rivalry win at Duke. The Tar Heels took the Victory Bell after scoring with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter to edge the Blue Devils 24-20.
The recent history between these teams leans heavily toward UNC. Syracuse has lost three straight to the Tar Heels and has not scored more than 10 points in any of those games. Their last meeting came last year at the JMA Wireless Dome, when Joseph Filardi made a surprise start at quarterback and the Orange managed just 152 total yards in a 27-10 loss.
Overall, Syracuse is 3-5 against North Carolina. Two of the Orange’s wins in the series required multiple overtimes.
The most recent Syracuse victory came in 2018 in Syracuse, when Tommy DeVito replaced Eric Dungey and threw three touchdowns in a 40-37 double-overtime win. The last Orange win in Chapel Hill came in 2003, when Walter Reyes scored his third touchdown of the day in triple overtime to seal a 49-47 Syracuse win.
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Kiyan Anthony's Early Syracuse Role Just Became A Real Question
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For now, the staff appears intent on using the preseason to sort through the new faces and figure out how the rotation should take shape. Anthony will get another chance to push his case in the next preseason game against Niagara, and his role there may say plenty about how quickly Syracuse wants to ramp him back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Fans Have Two Big Reasons To Watch This Exhibition
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The matchup also brings McNamara against his former school, with Siena now coached by Nevada Smith. Syracuse, meanwhile, will be without Aiden Tobiason because of injury, which slightly alters the mix for a game that is more about evaluation than the final score, but still carries enough storylines to make it worth following closely. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Heads Into UNC Week With A Quarterback Problem Again
Syracuse is heading into its North Carolina prep with the quarterback picture once again up in the air, a frustrating familiar spot for a team trying to steady itself late in the season. Fran Brown gave the latest health update on Malachi Nelson, Steve Angeli and Amari Odom, and the uncertainty at the most important position leaves the Orange trying to piece together a plan while the weeks work begins.
Brown also said wide receiver Elijah Moore is being moved to safety, another sign that Syracuse is searching for answers wherever it can find them. There was at least one encouraging note on the injury front, with linebacker Antoine Deslauriers expected to practice after missing the previous game, but the bigger question still hangs over the offense as the Orange get ready for a trip into ACC play without a confirmed starter under center. [Read more 🡒]