Over at the Carrier Dome on Saturday, September 17, the South Florida Bulls will face off against the Syracuse Orange in Week 3 college football action.
The Bulls come into this one at 2-0 after wins over Towson (56-20) and Northern Illinois (48-17) in the first two games. In Week 2, South Florida QB Quinton Flowers bagged a 21-of-33 line for 350 yards and four touchdowns. His main beneficiaries on in the air were Ryeshene Bronson (three receptions; 113 yards; TD) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (five catches; 72 yards). On the ground for South Florida, Darius Tice was the main man with 19 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown. In the Bulls’ season so far, Flowers has a nice 29-of-51 line for 528 yards and six touchdowns. Valdez-Scantling is the leading receiver with his eight catches for 151 yards and a score.
Syracuse comes into Week 3 with a 1-1 record, following a blowout opening win over Colgate 33-7 and an embarrassment against Louisville last week 62-28. The Orange kept things relatively close in their loss, tailing by 14 heading into the final quarter. Syracuse QB Eric Dungey emerged from the catch-up game with a 25-51 line for 255 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Amba Etta-Tawo was the lead receiver with eight grabs for 103 yards and two scores. The Orange couldn’t get much going on the ground, as Moe Neal led the way 12 carries and 40 yards. That gives Neal 108 yards and a TD on 21 carries. Etta-Tawo is faring much better with 313 yards on 20 catches with three scores for the Orange. Dungey sits on 610 yards and five touchdowns total in the passing game.
The Bulls are 6-1 ATS in their last seven September games, and 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. South Florida is also 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight-up win, and 6-2 ATS in their last eight non-conference games.
As for the Orange, they’re 5-1 ATS in their last six home games, and 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall. Syracuse is 5-2 ATS in their last seven games following a straight-up loss, and 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a straight-up loss of more than 20 points.
The Orange probably won’t win this game, but they’ve got more than enough juice on offense to keep up with the Bulls. I’ll take Syracuse to cover.