NoleGameday Staff Score Predictions: Florida State Seminoles vs. Syracuse Orange
A three-game homestand continues for No. 4 Florida State (5-0, 3-0 ACC) on Saturday afternoon against a gritty Syracuse team (4-2, 0-2 ACC) that is currently on a two-game losing streak. The Seminoles are looking to win their 12th consecutive game dating back to last year inside of a sold-out Doak Campbell Stadium.
READ MORE: Florida State Seminoles vs. Syracuse Orange Game Preview
The last time Syracuse traveled to Tallahassee was in 2021 when the Seminoles were sitting at 0-4 and in the middle of a rough losing streak after a shocking loss to Jacksonville State. Tied at 30 with just over a minute to play, quarterback Jordan Travis led the offense downfield with a 33-yard and 25-yard run to set up a game-winning field by kicker Ryan Fitzgerald.
Since that moment, Florida State has won 20 of its last 26 games and is quickly regaining its status on the national stage under head coach Mike Norvell. A win against Syracuse would continue the program's best start since 2015.
Our staff provides their analysis and predictions as the Seminoles prepare to take on the Orange.
Dustin Lewis (@DustinLewisNG)
The running game finally came to life for Florida State last weekend as running back Trey Benson had a career performance after hitting 200 yards on the ground. I don't think it was a coincidence that the Seminoles found their spark with Robert Scott returning to the lineup and Darius Washington sticking in the starting five.
The offense will need to continue opening things up on the ground in a game against a gritty Syracuse team. The Orange have come up short in each of the last two weeks against Clemson and North Carolina but this is an opponent that Florida State can't afford to overlook.
Syracuse sports a veteran quarterback, a productive running back, and a solid defense that can provide a variety of looks under first-year coordinator Rocky Long. Florida State needs to start quickly for the second consecutive week and shut down a team that is already struggling.
I think Trey Benson, Keon Coleman, and Jared Verse will all make their presence felt during the contest as the Seminoles honor the 1993 National Championship team. FSU rolls over the Orange during the second half.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-0
Seminoles 37, Orange 13
Logan Robinson (@LogansTwitty)
If FSU can start as fast as they did in the first quarter last week against Virginia Tech but do the same for two full quarters in the first half against Syracuse this one shouldn’t last long.
We’ll see a lot of Trey Benson and Lawrance Toafili on Saturday but looking forward to potentially seeing more out of Caziah Holmes in the running back room. The Seminoles put the game away in the third quarter.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-0
Seminoles 44, Orange 17
Austin Veazey (@EasyVeazeyNG)
Syracuse hasn't shown anything on film in the last few weeks to suggest they can keep this game close. So barring some kind of epic noon game collapse from FSU's defense, or the offense getting complacent and allowing Syracuse to climb back in the game, this really shouldn't be close.
I think Florida State comes out with energy for the 1993 National Championship team makes their return to Tallahassee, and stays on the gas early and often.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-0
Seminoles 44, Orange 9
Dillon Riera (@13d_riera)
FSU's lofty goals still remain within reach for the time being. However, the road ahead remains a difficult one, and Saturday's matchup isn't necessarily a walk in the park. The Syracuse Orange started off the year hot, winning their first four games. Since then, however, they've experienced a two-game skid at the hands of UNC and Clemson. Now, they travel to Doak Campbell Stadium hoping to right the ship and pull off an upset against the surging Seminoles.
Statistically speaking, the Orange and the Seminoles are nearly identical across the board. Granted, they haven't played nearly the same level of competition, but head coach Dino Babers has his team playing some high levels of football. Veteran quarterback Garrett Shrader is at his best when he's using his legs and improvising; something the 'Noles have struggled to contain in prior weeks. Outside of the quarterback's running ability, the Syracuse offense is proficient at hitting explosive plays and taking the top off of defenses as well. It's a killer combo that, if gone unchecked, could spell trouble for Adam Fuller's group. Long story short, they possess the weapons to definitely give FSU fits. The 'Noles will have to get pressure in the backfield and find ways to bring Shrader down for losses.
Florida State's saving grace, unsurprisingly, comes in the form of their offense. The Orange defense likes to blitz...a lot. However, high-level quarterbacks are more than capable of exploring the weaknesses the blitz poses, and Florida State possesses a high-level quarterback at the helm. According to Dino Babers, Jordan Travis will be "the best quarterback that we play." That's high praise coming from a man who just faced a potential first-rounder in UNC's Drake Maye, but the numbers may support his hypothesis. Florida State's leading man has statistically thrived when under pressure. (See my "Three Players to Watch" article for this week on more about Travis) Ultimately, the combination of Travis and the myriad of weapons (Benson, Coleman, Toafili, etc.) around him could prove to be too much for Syracuse to contain for all four quarters.
ESPN's FPI (yes, I hear your collective groans about this model) has given Florida State a favorable 82% chance at victory while the Vegas oddsmakers have set the line at (-17.5) in FSU's favor. On paper, the 'Noles have the talent to beat Syracuse handily, but I tend to believe that Dino Babers' group should be afforded more respect than an 18-point margin. Certain aspects of Syracuse's game are potentially kryptonite for FSU (I'm looking at you, Garrett Shrader), and I think 'Cuse will be able to keep this game close for a considerable amount of time. With that being said, I believe FSU will find ways to mimic the performances of UNC and Clemson before them, disrupt the Syracuse offense, overpower their defense, and pull off a victory over a solid Orange squad. The sheer level of talent on the Seminole roster (and the support of a sold-out home crowd) will once again be enough to carry them across the finish line.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-0
Seminoles 35, Orange 24
Tommy Mire (@TommyM3III)
It will be interesting to see how well FSU’s offensive line performs under pressure from the Orange’s front. Trey Benson is coming off a monster 200-yard game in their win over Virginia Tech last week but I expect a balanced attack from Florida State's offense this week until they find a weakness to exploit.
Syracuse's quarterback, Garret Shrader, has struggled against tougher competition. In their 40-7 loss to UNC, he threw for 124 yards and an interception. His stats on the season (1,272 yards, eight touchdowns, five interceptions) seem padded with wins over Army, Purdue, and WMU. While Syracuse probably won’t lay down, they might not have a choice.
Still, FSU must remain aggressive. A home loss to Syracuse would derail their playoff hopes and, although unlikely, getting caught in a trap game would put them behind in a playoff race where optics are everything.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-0
Seminoles 38, Orange 10
Kade Kimble (@kadekimble)
Florida State is pursuing a College Football Playoff spot as the No. 4 team in the AP Poll. A big part of building a worthy resume is taking down lesser opponents, and the Seminoles took down Virginia Tech handily a week ago. The Seminoles should be able to control this game.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-0
Seminoles 41, Orange 14
Robert Malcom (@kwrobertm)
I have a good feeling this game will be a repeat of last year's matchup where FSU was able to defeat the Orange 38-3 in Syracuse. While the Seminoles have shown signs of inconsistency in the past few games, penalties have been a major common denominator, if they can limit the number of penalties on themselves, the team will look even better than they have been.
As for Syracuse, they have only been able to put up 21 points in their last two games against Clemson and UNC, and I'm not sure the FSU defense will allow them to score more than two touchdowns.
With Trey Benson finally having his breakout game against Virginia Tech, and Jordan Travis continuing to put up big numbers in each game, the offense just looks too explosive for Syracuse to stop. Additionally, the home atmosphere will surely be a major advantage for the 'Noles as they have struggled on the road this season.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-0
Seminoles 45, Orange 10
CONSENSUS: Florida State (7-0)
READ MORE: FSU Star Jared Verse Praises Mike Norvell: 'He Inspires You To Be Your Best'
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