The Syracuse Orange welcome their first top-25 opponent of the 2024 season tomorrow at the JMA Wireless Dome. It airs at 12pm on the ACC Network and here’s what we predict:

Christian: Georgia Tech Institute 28, Syracuse 27

I think we all realize that Marlowe Wax is a big loss for the defense. I think we’ll soon learn just how big of a difference Wax makes. Syracuse’s offense looks great and should keep the Orange in the game in this game. But when you have a defense with two linebackers and one of them is down, it takes a mountain of effort to replace that production and presence. With Syracuse’s run defense issues showing up early in Week 1, Georgia Tech will have no problem sticking to their guns and pulling out a win.

Kevin: Georgia Tech 38, Syracuse 34

I expect both offenses to move the ball behind experienced quarterbacks in this game. Syracuse will have a challenge with Haynes King’s ability to make plays with his arms and legs. Much of the focus will be on the run game, but King has hit 77.8% of his attempts in the first two games and the Yellow Jackets have a game-winning player in Malik Rutherford. I think Syracuse can compete, but a few stalled red zone drives ultimately make the difference in this game.

Carson: Syracuse 34, Georgia Tech 28

Yes, I’m optimistic, but for good reason. First, I think Georgia Tech is a little overrated. GT is 2-0 against a winless Florida State team and a Georgia State team that was tipped to be last in the Sun Belt East Division. What about those two wins makes this game unwinnable? **whispers** Overrated. And second, this is the Yellow Jackets’ first “real” road game, which is saying something. Syracuse should have a packed dome with over 40,000 screaming fans, and I don’t know if Haynes King and Co. are prepared for that kind of atmosphere. I’m rooting for the Orange to pull off an upset win on Saturday.

Cathedral: Syracuse 31, Georgia Tech 27

Like Kevin, I expect it to be a goal-scoring match between both sides. Whichever team shoots itself in the foot with turnovers or costly mistakes will ultimately lose, as I can’t imagine either team being able to stop the other. The Dome should shake and the things that went wrong against Ohio (namely poor tackling) should return to average. It’s a close call, but I’m backing the home team this time. If Syracuse’s offense can stay this good, the defense just has to be decent enough.

Microphone: Georgia Tech 35, Syracuse 31

I don’t think you can fix a run defense that The bad in just one week…especially when your best defender is suddenly out of the game. Sure, the Orange’s offense should keep up with the Yellow Jackets — especially pass blocking, which was excellent in the opening game compared to last year — but I imagine there will be parts of the Dome turf that will literally be torn up by the opponent’s very strong running game. If the front line can’t fill in its gaps, it’s going to be a long afternoon of attrition in the trenches.

Max: Syracuse 33, Georgia Tech 30

The Yellow Jackets shocked the world in Week 0 by beating what seemed like a top-10 Florida State team. After the Seminoles got trampled on their home turf by Boston College earlier this week, that “surprise win” might mean nothing after all. GT seems a bit overrated, and while Haynes King should still have some success on the floor, a Wax-less Orange D comes up big in the fourth and pulls out a win in the Dome.

Steve: Syracuse 34, Georgia Tech 31

Shootouts Shootouts everywhere Everyone seems to want to predict this as an offensive game and… so do I. However, I think the Orange should be able to move the ball enough and keep this game close. GT comes back down to earth and the Orange show that the problems on the defensive line are not nearly as bad as we feared.

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Now it’s your turn: