Can Syracuse Keep its Winning Streak Going Against the Blue Devils?
Tomorrow at 12 p.m. EST, Duke will face off against Syracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York. This is one of those matchups that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Duke’s offense is strong; they just won their last game against NC State. They are entering this game with the hope of securing a win. Syracuse enters this game 3-1, hoping to maintain its three-game winning streak.
After a 45-33 victory over NC State, Duke is continuing to improve their offense. Their quarterback, Darian Mensah, has elevated the passing attack with over 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns just through the last four games. Cooper Barkate and Shamir Hagans are turning limited targets into big yardage. Barkate averages nearly 20 yards per catch, while Hagan has 17 receptions for 265 yards. If Duke manages to sharpen its offensive identity, it could turn setbacks into fuel for a more dynamic, high-efficiency attack. Despite a slowly improving offense, Duke's defense faces many challenges. They allow 260.5 passing yards per game, 153.3 rushing yards per game, and 21.8 first downs per game, showing vulnerability through the air and also allowing a 69.9% completion rate, which gives opponents space to manage four yards per carry. If Duke pulls all the stops on its defense and continues to improve its offense, this could be a win for the Blue Devils.
Pulling wins left and right under their new coach, Fran Brown, Syracuse is entering this game with high expectations. Unfortunately, Syracuse's defense is vulnerable, especially against the pass. They allow 296.3 yards per game,158.8 rushing yards, and 24 first downs. They gave opponents the field space to complete 57.8% of passes and average nearly 300 yards through the air. While Syracuse's defense is inconsistent, its offense is lighting up the scoreboards.
Syracuse's offense is strong under offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon. Quarterback Rickie Collins, who is taking over for QB Steve Angeli, who is out for the remainder of the season with a torn Achilles Tendon, and Running Back Yasin Willis anchor Syracuse's offense with a potent mix of aerial precision and ground power. Angeli obtained a total of 1,136 passing yards and 10 touchdowns this season, while RB Yasin Willis has achieved 233 rushing yards, four touchdowns, and 52 carries. With Collins now commanding the pocket, the Orange will rely on Willis grinding out yards on the ground. Syracuse's offense enters this matchup with confidence and the firepower to keep its winning streak alive.
This ACC matchup is going to be an ultimate showdown if Syracuse's defense shows up and its offense stays strong throughout the game. The odds are short for Duke to win, despite standout players and a consistently improving offense. Although Duke could win this game if their offense and defense don’t just show flashes of brilliance but dominate the field. Syracuse has a higher chance of winning this game because of their strong offense, an improving defense, and remarkable players. In this gritty ACC content, I’m taking Syracuse over Duke, and it won't be close.
