Mountaineer Monday: Breakdown, Prediction For Syracuse-West Virginia

As these two programs reached the midway point of the 2010 season, the Mountaineers and Orange meet in Morgantown this Saturday as West Virginia looks to notch its second conference win in their quest for their sixth Big East title.

West Virginia will look to continue their great play since their letdown against LSU in late September as Geno Smith is emerging as one of the better quarterbacks that have stepped into Mountaineer Field over the rich program history.

The rebuilding Syracuse will look to knock off the current flag carrier of the Big East in addition to obscuring the top of the league as conference play continues deep into the fall.

With that being said, lets get to the breakdown of the Mountaineers and the Orange…

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History

First Meeting: 10-12-1945

Overall Series Record: 30-27-0 Syracuse

Biggest Syracuse Win: 44-0 – October 24, 1965

Biggest WVU Win: 55-14 - October 6, 2007

WVU National Rankings

Total Offense: 376 Yards per game for 64th in the nation

Rushing Offense: 149 Yards per game for 66th in the nation

Passing Offense:  227 Yards per game for 57th in the nation

Total Defense: 245 yards per game for Fifth in the nation

Rushing Defense: 83 Yards per game for Fourth in the nation

Passing Defense:  162 Yards per game for 11th in the nation

Syracuse National Rankings

Total Offense: 359 Yards per game for 73rd in the nation

Rushing Offense: 149 Yards per game for 65th in the nation

Passing Offense: 210 Yards per game for 68th in the nation

Total Defense: 302 Yards per game for 18th in the nation

Rushing Defense: 124 Yards per game for 35th in the nation

Passing Defense: 178 Yards per game for 23rd in the nation

Quarterbacks

Geno Smith –  121-177 Attempts, 1358 Yards, 14 Touchdowns, Three Interceptions

Ryan Nassib – 98-173 Attempts, 1220 Yards, 11 Touchdowns, Four Interceptions

EDGE: WVU

Running Backs

Noel Devine – 103 Carries, 504 Yards, Four Touchdowns

Delone Carter – 112 Carries, 562 Yards, Six Touchdowns

EDGE: Syracuse

Wide Receivers & Tight Ends

Tavon Austin – 32 Catches, 413 Yards, Two Touchdowns

Van Chew – 28 Catches, 452 Yards, Three Touchdowns

EDGE: WVU

Offensive Line

Experience of West Virginia Offensive Line: Four Seniors, Six Juniors

Experience of Syracuse Offensive Line: Four Seniors, Four Juniors, Three Sophomores, Two Freshman

EDGE: WVU

Defensive Line

Scooter Berry –  Eight Tackles, Two Sacks

Chandler Jones – 17 Tackles, Two Sacks

EDGE: Syracuse

Linebackers

Anthony Leonard – Sack, 17 Tackles, Forced Fumble

Derrell Smith – 34 Tackles, Two Forced Fumbles

EDGE: WVU

Defensive Backs

Keith Tandy – 11 Tackles, Four Interceptions, 11 Tackles, Forced Fumble

Jeremi Wilkes – Nine Tackles, Interception

EDGE: WVU

Special Teams

Tyler Bitancurt – 7-10 Field Goal Attempts, 20-20 PAT Attempts

Ross Krautman –  6-7 Field Goal Attempts, 18-19 PAT Attempts

EDGE: WVU

Gameday Prediction

Score: West Virginia over Syracuse 31-17

Next Game for WVU: vs. Connecticut on October 29th

Next Game for Syracuse: at Cincinnati on October 30th