That Florida State game changed in one sequence. The Seminoles led 14-0 and looked in control. Then defensive back Kaleb Beasley stopped Jasen Lopez at the Louisville 3 on 4th-and-goal, and Brown went the length of the field on the next snap. The Cards scored 44 of the last 50 points. Before that, they lost 3-point games to Wake Forest and at NC State in back-to-back weeks. This team has been close in every game. It just finally broke one open.
Villanova59-13
New Hampshire66-3Syracuse's season has gone the other way. The 66-3 opener against New Hampshire is the only easy win. Since then: a 3-point home loss to Cal, a 14-point loss at Pitt, a 42-41 escape at UConn, and then Virginia. The Orange led at Scott Stadium and gave up 21 unanswered second-half points in a 28-25 loss, their 3rd ACC loss in 3 tries. Close games keep slipping away from them late, and that's the issue heading into the Dome.
The injury report adds to Syracuse's problems. Kicker T. Woody was ruled out before Virginia with an undisclosed injury, which matters for a team that keeps playing 3-point games. Running back J. Johnson has been listed questionable with a hand injury. Louisville has its own holes: corner A. Watts and receiver K. Hughes are both expected to miss the rest of the season. Losing Watts thins a secondary that gave up 31 points in each of its 2 losses. If Nelson or Angeli can get the ball out on time, that's where Syracuse has an opening.
The matchup comes down to this: Louisville wants to run the ball, and Syracuse needs to finish a game for once. If Brown gets going early, the home crowd won't matter much. If the Orange get stable quarterback play and keep it close into the 4th quarter, they finally get the late-game test they've been failing all year, this time at home.