Purdue Boilermakers vs. Syracuse Orange: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 9/17/2022

Game time: Noon ET

Venue: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY

Where to watch: ESPN2

DraftKings: Syracuse -1.5

FanDuel: Syracuse -1.5

BetMGM: Syracuse -1.5

Caesars: Syracuse -1.5

Purdue: 1-1

Syracuse: 2-0

Purdue: won 56-0 vs. Indiana State

Syracuse: won 48-14 at Connecticut

The Syracuse Orange are doing that thing where you like what they’re doing to begin the season, only to fall back to earth once conference play rolls around. Even though ACC play hasn’t hit just yet, they have a tough matchup coming in against the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday.

Syracuse, off to a 2-0 start, is favored by 1.5 in most books with some closing in on 1 point in most books. Even though from a talent standpoint Purdue is much better than Syracuse, and the extra point is tempting from the opening odds, I like Syracuse to pull this one off.

Something that always throws me off with Syracuse is the lack of firepower on the offensive side of the ball. We’re still a ways away from that happening, but Garrett Shrader is off to a strong start with 528 yards and five touchdown passes. He hasn’t been shy by giving the ball to star running back Sean Tucker a ton. He’s at less than 4 yards a carry, but 212 yards and two touchdowns is a definition of a workhorse through two weeks.

Tucker has also caught 10 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in the first two weeks.

While it’s fun when Syracuse is off to a hot start, we have to remember that they’ve beaten UConn and Louisville at home. The Cardinals can be an acceptable victory due to the Malik Cunningham factor. UConn, being the laughing stock of college football last year, shouldn’t really be observed.

Shrader absolutely did his part by throwing for 292 yards and three touchdowns, while Tucker ran for 112 and a score. Tucker has 2,334 career rushing yards, becoming the 13th player in program history to reach 2,300 yards. He’ll pass Ernie Davis likely this weekend.

"I think right now they've given themselves an opportunity to be something," coach Dino Babers said of his team. "They don't know what that something is yet. But right now they don't have a blemish on their record."

Syracuse had 465 total yards of offense last time out, which again, doesn’t take much to do against UConn, but they’ve been able to win both at home and on the road to start. 

"I wanted to throw the ball more, especially going into the second half," Shrader said. "I like our group, we're doing a lot of good things. I've got to give a lot of credit to the O-line holding up. (UConn) hit home on a couple stunts, but we're trending the right way."

The one thing that’s going to show if Syracuse is legit is their defense. The defense ranks 17th in the nation in scoring defense at just 10.5 points per game. Trying to slow down Aidan O’Connell’s air attack will be a tough task, considering the QB hasn’t thrown a pick yet. Going into the Carrier Dome is another environment entirely when Syracuse is playing well.

Purdue has not been great as a road underdog on a spread of at least a touchdown, just 9-21 ATS since 1992. Historically, this has been a rough spot for them. If the Orange dictate this game with defense, it’s going to be close enough for Syracuse to have a chance. I think they get it done. Syracuse by 6

The under is 7-1 when Purdue allows six points or less last game in its last eight.

Purdue is 10-11 ATS in its last 21 games overall.

Syracus is 16-9 ATS in its last 25 overall.

Under is 19-6 in Syracuse's last 25 after a cover as a double-digit favorite.

Passing: Aidan O'Connell -- 576 yards, 5 TD

Rushing: Devin Mockobee -- 78 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Charlie Jones -- 286 yards, 4 TD

Passing: Garrett Shrader -- 528 yards, 5 TD

Rushing: Sean Tucker -- 212 yards, 2 TD

Receiving: Sean Tucker -- 101 yards, 1 TD