It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the Syracuse Orange. With an explosive Western Michigan team coming to town Saturday, getting back on the winning side of things doesn’t figure to be easy.
After opening with a 24-0 win at Liberty, SU was blasted at Maryland 63-20. The Orange finally . . .
In some circles, Western Michigan will enter Saturday’s game as road favorites.
Certainly, the Broncos flexed their muscle in last week’s 57-10 demolishing of Georgia State. Perhaps the most impressive thing about that performance was that a team ranked second (MAC) in pass offense showed just how lethal its ground game could be.
Saturday, Sept. 21 -- Noon. ET
Carrier Dome -- Syracuse, NY
ACC Network
Series: First Syracuse leads 1-0
Two plays into the contest, Bellamy ripped off a 60-yard touchdown run. He later added TD runs of 36 yards and 73 yards. David Tucker scored on a 19-yarder, while QB Jon Wassink took one in from 16 yards. Sean Tyler ripped off scoring runs of 30 and 61 yards.
Here’s more on the two teams:
ABOUT SYRACUSE
➤➤ Before taking the Syracuse job, Dino Babers was head coach at BowlingGreen. His teams there went 18-9 overall and 12-4 in conference play over the 2014-15 seasons. The Falcons finished first in the MAC East both years.
➤➤ After a pair of 4-8 seasons under Babers, Syracuse jumped to 10-3 (6-2 ACC), with a win in the Camping World bowl. The Orange were 15th in the TSN/AP and Coaches polls.
➤➤ Quarterback Tommy DeVito has completed 60 of 101 passes, good for 678 yards with three TDs and four interceptions. He has been sacked 14 times over three games.
➤➤ Three ‘Cuse players have double-digit catches: WR Trishton Jackson (12 catches, 194 yards, 2 TDs), RB Moe Neal (11 catches, 161 yards) and WR Sean Riley (12 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD).
➤➤ Moe Neal (35/158/1) and Abdul Adams (35/120/1) key the Syracuse ground game.
➤➤ Kicker Andre Szmyl has converted all three field goal tries, with a long of 45.
ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN
➤➤ The seven run scores by WMU against Georgia State were a school record.
➤➤ Western Michigan is the MAC’s top scoring team, averaging 40.7 ppg. It is third in scoring defense (24.7 ppg).
➤➤ Through three games, the Broncos are plus-2 in turnover margin.
➤➤ Bellamy leads the league in rushing, averaging 96.3 rushing yards per game. Jon Wassink is second in passiong (288.7 ypg) and first in pass efficiency.
➤➤ Keith Mixon leads the MAC kin kick returns, averaging 38.3 yards per return with a long of 65.
➤➤ There is balance in the Broncos receiving corps. DaShon Bussell, Giovanni Ricci and Skyy Moore all have 12 receptions, combining for 564 yards and five touchdowns.
➤➤ Linebacker Treshaun Hayward has 32 tackles, just one off the MAC lead.