Orange Face Similar Foe in NC State

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse (3-2, 0-1 ACC) returns to the field on Thursday to play NC State (3-2, 0-1 ACC) in its second conference game of the season. Kickoff at Carter-Finley Stadium is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN. It's a pivotal matchup for both teams in a crowded ACC Atlantic Division.

Both squads had byes last Saturday. Syracuse used the time to get healthy, perform a detailed self-scout, and begin to get ready for the Wolfpack. Effectively utilizing that extra time has served the Orange well over the past decade. Since 2009, Syracuse is 11-6 (including bowl games) when it has an additional week to prepare.

"Any time you get a bye week there are two things you have to do: You have to get healthy and you have to try and get better," Babers said Monday at his weekly press conference. "We're working on all the positions to get better. We're trying to see if there is someone locked into the two-deep that should have the opportunity to be in the one or in the 1.5 as we talk about it. Somebody that has to have more repetitions in the game to see if they can help us this year instead of helping us next year."

This week's game is unique in that it takes place on a Thursday. The Orange last played a Thursday night game in 2011 when they opened the season with a 36-29 overtime victory against Wake Forest. Serving as college football's featured midweek game is something Babers is looking forward to.

"It's always fun when we play in front of the entire country," Babers said. "NC State is a football team that is a little bit in the same state we are. They're a good team that is going through some changes, and I think they needed the bye week as much as we did."

Aside from their mirrored win-loss records, the Orange and the Wolfpack are close in multiple statistical categories, including:

Total Points (Avg./Game): SU 143 (28.6), NC State 149 (29.8)
Touchdowns Scored: SU 18, NC State 17
Passing Yards (Avg./Game): SU 1,251 (250.2), NC State 1,237 (247.4)
Sacks (No.-Yards Lost): SU 17-105, NC State 18-118

While the two teams are similar in many ways, NC State has the benefit of playing at home. The Wolfpack are 3-0 this season at Carter-Finley Stadium and have averaged 57,005 fans per home game. The building seats 57,600.

"The home-field advantage is going to be big this year and we have to try to find a way to make up that advantage," Babers said. "You look at where they are, I think we are probably in a better quarterback situation than they are. But when you add up their defense, they have some high-quality defensive players. They've got some running backs who can make some plays. They're playing at home and they're a hard team to beat at home."

One of those defensive standouts is tackle Larrell Murchison. He ranks third in the ACC in sacks per game (1.0) and leads an NC State defense that is sixth nationally against the run (71.8 ypg).

Babers said one of the primary focal points for the offense during the bye was to get faster. The Orange have improved their pace of play over the last two games and operated at their fastest tempo yet this season versus Holy Cross. Syracuse averaged one play for every 19.7 seconds of possession time against the Crusaders.

"We're only as fast as our slowest guy on offense, and getting them up to speed is something we have really been working on. Hopefully it's something we can put behind us in the rearview mirror and continue to accelerate that pace."

Should the Orange improve in that regard, they'll have an opportunity to start this next stretch of games off on the right foot.

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