Top-ranked Florida State will look to become bowl-eligible for the 33rd straight season on Saturday as the 5-0 Seminoles visit Syracuse in an ACC Atlantic showdown.
Florida State is coming off its largest margin of victory of the season on Saturday as the ‘Noles blew past Wake Forest 43-3. Syracuse on the other hand, endured it worst loss of the season Friday in its ACC opener against Louisville.
While the Seminoles look to stay perfect and the Orange look to get to .500, injuries could play a major factor in Saturday’s contest.
Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston will be under center for the Seminoles, but Florida State could be without its leading rusher and leading receiver as seniors Karlos Williams and Rashad Greene are each nursing injuries suffered in the victory over Wake Forest.
Should Williams be unable to go, that would likely mean the first career start for redshirt sophomore running back Mario Pender. Pender has three rushing touchdowns this season and led FSU with a career-high 70 yards rushing on just five carries in last week’s home victory over the Demon Deacons.
Leading receiver Rashad Greene is fighting a concussion which could have him out for Saturday’s trip to the Carrier Dome. After Greene led the Seminoles in receiving in each of their first four games this season, it was a pair of freshman that stepped up against Wake Forest.
True freshmen Ermon Lane and Travis Rudolph combined for six catches for 136 yards and a touchdown in Florida State’s victory and could be called upon to have big weeks again versus the Orange. Should Greene be unable to go, that may also mean more touches for sophomore Jesus Wilson.
With younger players beginning to emerge for the Florida State offense, the FSU defense is coming off its best game of the season, allowing just 126 yards and three points to Wake Forest.
Defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. returned from a concussion to finish with three tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble while Eddie Goldman continued to be a force on the interior of the defensive front. Freshman defensive end Lorenzo Featherston also shined in his first career start.
Cornerback P.J. Williams’ third quarter interception against the Demon Deacons was the first pick for the Seminoles since the first half of the season-opener against Oklahoma State when Nate Andrews returned a J.W. Walsh pass nine yards for a score. Reggie Northrup’s fumble return for a touchdown also resulted in Florida State’s first non-offensive touchdown since that play.
The improving Florida State defense this week, will be facing a Syracuse team without its quarterback.
Senior Terrel Hunt is out for at least a month with a broken leg which means that the Orange will likely turn to redshirt freshman Austin Wilson against the Seminoles.
Hunt is 9-7 in his career as a starter at Syracuse and is also the team’s leading rusher to this point in the season.
With Hunt out, the Orange will likely have to rely heavily on Prince-Tyson Gulley. Gulley is averaging better than six yards-per-carry and has broken the 100-yard rushing plateau twice in five games this season.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior linebacker Cameron Lynch has been very good for the Orange. Lynch leads Syracuse in tackles and ranks third in the ACC with five sacks. Fellow senior Dyshawn Davis has also played very well at the linebacker position.
For Florida State, Saturday’s road contest will mark the Seminoles’ first trip to the Carrier Dome since 2004. That year, Florida State rallied from a 10-3 second half deficit to hold off the Orange 17-13 on a late interception by Sam McGrew. FSU easily defeated Syracuse in Tallahassee last season, 59-3.
Florida State is 6-1 all-time against Syracuse with the lone Orange victory coming in the first meeting between the schools in 1966. Florida State will not only look to make it seven straight over Syracuse on Saturday, but the ‘Noles aim to win their 22nd straight game overall. Saturday’s game is set to begin at noon eastern time and will be shown nationally on ESPN.
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