Connecticut Huskies vs. Syracuse Orange Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 23rd 2024
Preview and Prediction
Less than a month ago, Syracuse's quarterback Kyle McCord threw five interceptions in a lopsided defeat against Pittsburgh.
McCord and the Orange seem to have regained their footing, but they will face a challenging test on Saturday when they host Connecticut for a nonconference showdown.
In their October 24th loss to Pitt, McCord threw three pick-sixes in the first half alone. He failed to score a touchdown against the Panthers, but since then he has thrown five touchdowns and only one interception, while the Orange (7-3) have won two out of their last three games.
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According to Syracuse coach Fran Brown, "I'm biased, but Kyle McCord is one of the top five quarterbacks in the country. He doesn't let it get to him, he doesn't complain, he just moves on to the next thing. Without him, our program wouldn't be where it is today."
In their last game against Cal, McCord threw for 323 yards and one touchdown, helping the Orange secure a 33-25 victory. Running back LeQuint Allen also had a strong performance, rushing for 109 yards and two touchdowns, while the Orange defense intercepted the ball twice, leading to a 27-7 halftime lead.
Brown expressed his pride in the team's performance, saying, "I'm proud that they came together and played as a cohesive unit in our last game - playing complementary football."
The Huskies (7-3) are also coming off a strong game, rallying with 21 points in the fourth quarter to defeat UAB 31-23. Running back Cam Edwards' 48-yard touchdown run with 2:39 left in the game proved to be the game-winning score, as UConn secured their sixth win in seven games.
However, the Huskies had a bye week last weekend, so head coach Jim Mora Jr. does not expect the team to carry much momentum from their win over UAB.
Mora stated, "That game was 12 days ago, so it's not at the forefront of our minds. But the team is confident because they had a good practice today. That's how we approach it...that's where we're at."
These former Big East Conference rivals have faced each other 12 times in the past. Most recently, Syracuse dominated with a 48-14 victory over UConn on September 10th, 2022.
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Connecticut Huskies vs. Syracuse Orange Recap NOV 23TH 2024
Kyle McCord threw for 470 yards and accounted for three touchdowns as Syracuse topped visiting UCon 31-24 on Saturday afternoon.
A graduate transfer from Ohio State, McCord broke the Syracuse record for passing yards in a season (3,946) and tied the Orange's single-season record for touchdown passes (26). He also nearly topped the school mark for passing yards in a game, thanks in large part to Oronde Gadsden II, who had 11 catches for 103 yards with a touchdown and Darrell Gill Jr., who had nine catches for 177 yards.
The Huskies (7-4) saw their three-game win streak end despite Joe Fagnano's two touchdown passes and a long rushing score from Cam Edwards. Fagnano threw for 228 yards, while Skyler Bell had 10 receptions for 113 yards.
Syracuse (8-3) held a 24-17 lead entering the fourth quarter before McCord orchestrated a drive that he punctuated with a 1-yard keeper. The Orange forced a turnover on downs on the next Huskies possession, but UConn eventually got into the end zone with 1:29 remaining - on a 2-yard pass from Fagnano to TJ Sheffield - to get within 31-24.
Syracuse recovered the onside kick to seal the win.
The Orange wasted no time getting in sync offensively, as McCord found Gill for 53 yards on the first play of the game and then hooked up with Gadsden for a 22-yard TD on the ensuing snap.
The Orange missed a 36-yard field goal on their next trip - and it proved costly as the Huskies promptly tied the game at 7-7 on Edwards' 71-yard TD sprint on fourth-and-1.
Syracuse answered right back as McCord guided a 12-play, 71-yard drive that he capped with a 5-yard TD pass to Trebor Pena.
Later in the half, Syracuse unleashed a 14-play, 68-yard drive to extend the lead to 21-7. LeQuint Allen plunged in from 1 yard out for the score.
Following a touchdown pass from Fagnano to Louis Hansen, the Orange had a chance to extend their lead at halftime, but Kennedy missed from 52 yards out.
The teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, leaving Syracuse ahead by a touchdown entering the fourth.