No. 12 Syracuse (8-2, 6-2 Atlantic Coast) plays it’s first Top 15 matchup in 21 years on Saturday against No. 3 Notre Dame (10-0). The Orange and Irish are set for kickoff at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

Our beat writers predict their winner in Saturday’s matchup below.

Andrew Graham (8-2)

Notre Dame’s uniforms

Notre Dame 38, Syracuse 27

No. 12 Syracuse has exceeded, I think, every realistic expectation to be had. A blemish at Pittsburgh is the difference from a Top 10 spot, currently. So Dino Babers is right that this weekend’s game is a “freebie.” No one had any realistic expectation that SU could beat No. 3 Notre Dame before the season, so the fact that there’s a chance now speaks to something. But it’s a good thing this one is a freebie, because the undefeated Irish, save for a bad first half against Pitt, have played near-perfect football this season. With quarterback Ian Book back in the lineup, UND’s offense will hum along and the defense will make few, if any, mistakes. That’s what playoff teams do, and that’ll be too much for Syracuse to overcome.

Matt Liberman (8-2)

Happy New Years

Syracuse 31, Notre Dame 28

As Andrew mentioned, Syracuse would be a Top 10 team if it weren’t for one blip against Pittsburgh, a team that I think would probably be ranked seventh in the nation. This Syracuse team is good, but not that good. That said, under Dino Babers, Syracuse typically plays to the level of its opponent, as it did earlier this season in Death Valley against Clemson. Plus in recent years, Notre Dame has always had one game every season where the wheels fall off. I think this could be that game. I think if Syracuse can come out and defend the run well on the first three possessions and looks to spread the ball out on offense, this is certainly a winnable game. SU gets the job done and catapults into the Top 10.

Josh Schafer (9-1)

Close only counts in horseshoes

Notre Dame 41, Syracuse 31

Syracuse enters Saturday’s matchup against No. 3 Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium 8-2 and ranked 12th in the College Football Playoff. In August, that statement would’ve seemed laughable. But make no mistake about Syracuse’s Top 10 offense, special teams and top-tier pass rush have legitimized the Orange. Syracuse hasn’t slipped since Week 6 at Pittsburgh and this weekend will be no different. Notre Dame is simply a better, more well-rounded and battle-tested team than Syracuse. The Orange can battle with the Irish for most of the game but if Notre Dame’s defense gets the few stops the number says it should, Syracuse’s defense will likely struggle to answer. In year’s past and earlier this season, when Syracuse has played higher ranked opponents close on the road, the fourth quarter has done in the Orange. Notre Dame, like those other highly ranked opponents, is deeper and can cycle in more players than Syracuse. In a war of attrition, that’s what wins the Irish the game in the fourth quarter.

Published on November 16, 2018 at 12:00 pm