Syracuse vs. Florida State Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Jordan Travis, Seminoles Continue to Roll?
The Syracuse Orange traveling to Tallahassee to face the Florida State Seminoles for an ACC matchup. Can Jordan Travis and the Seminoles continue to roll? NCAAF handicapper Matthew MacKay answers.
Matt MacKay - October 9, 2023, 5:26 PM EDT
7 minSyracuse vs. Florida State Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Jordan Travis, Seminoles Continue to Roll?
An ACC matchup during the Week 7 noon slate features the Syracuse Orange traveling to Tallahassee, Florida, to face the Florida State Seminoles. Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis was a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy after dazzling in prime time against LSU in Week 1. Then, a couple of close calls against Boston College and Clemson tempered expectations a bit, but Travis is still an elite signal-caller and probably the top quarterback in the conference.
Syracuse just got demolished by Drake Maye and UNC in Week 6, losing 40-7, easily their worst loss of the season, making it two in a row for the Orange. This follows a 4-0 start to the year, with Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader handling over 70 rushing attempts as the de facto RB2 in the Orange offense.
Oddsmakers don't expect much of a fight from Syracuse in this game, giving them +17.5 ATS on the road against a Florida State team that ranks sixth in points per game (42.4) and 44th in points allowed per game (21.4) through six weeks. The point total line is set to 56.5, which makes sense for Florida State's offense, but Syracuse has cashed the under in five of its six games played. Whether it's due to a good run defense, or a bad offense, doesn't matter when the end result is the same.
Florida State allowed Virginia Tech to average 6.0 YPC in its last game played, while holding opponents to an average completion rate of 54.1 percent, allowing just three passing touchdowns on the season. Syracuse struggles to throw the football anyways, finishing with under 200 passing yards in three of its past four games.
NCAAF handicapper Matt MacKay is back to share his latest prediction and pick for Syracuse vs. Florida State.
Syracuse vs. Florida State Start Time, Where To Watch, Odds
- Date: Saturday, October 14, 2023
- Game Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- Where To Watch: ABC
Syracuse vs. Florida State Odds
- Spread: Syracuse +17.5 (-110), Florida State -17.5 (-110)
- Total Odds: Under 56.5 (-110), Over 56.5 (-110)
- Moneyline Odds: Syracuse (+640), Florida State (-1000)
Syracuse vs. Florida State Injury Report
Syracuse
Questionable: N/A
Out: N/A
Florida State
Questionable: WR Johnny Wilson (Undisclosed)
Out: N/A
Syracuse vs. Florida State Prediction
It's been all Florida State in this matchup in recent history. The Seminoles won 38-3 on the road at Syracuse in 2022, while winning 33-30 down in Tallahassee back in 2021. Travis has been at the helm of Florida State's offense for all of these matchups and he's surrounded by talented personnel, starting with running back Trey Benson.
Benson is a machine, averaging 7.6 YPC and six rushing touchdowns, while a pair of quality wideouts, including the 6-7 Johnny Wilson, each have 20 receptions and at least 278 receiving yards for Florida State's offense. Syracuse specializes in run defense, holding everyone except for UNC to 3.7 YPC or less. The Orange do give up chunk plays in the passing game, increasingly surrendering two and three touchdowns through the air against Clemson and UNC.
Florida State is in the same tier as both of these other programs that excelled against Syracuse, while the Orange rely on their rushing attack to pick up first downs. It worked early in the season against lesser competition, but now, it's looking like a recipe for losses instead of wins.
Florida State's run defense is fairly stout, but is better against the pass, which the Orange will likely try to avoid as much as possible. All in all, it feels like a game where the Seminoles win by at least 18 points, as they did against the Hokies in Week 6. Let's throw a couple of units on Florida State and Jordan Travis to cruise to another conference win at home in Week 7.
Syracuse vs. Florida State Pick
- Florida State -17.5 -110 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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