Beat writers predict No. 8 Syracuse’s matchup with No. 12 Notre Dame

No. 8 Syracuse (5-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast), in the top-10 for the first time this year, plays it’s first road game of the season Saturday against No. 12 Notre Dame (4-3, 0-1). The Orange are coming off a come-from-behind win over then-No. 2 Duke and look to extend its winning streak to four.

Here’s what the beat writers expect for the outcome of the game.

Andrew Graham (5-2)
The state of Indiana
Syracuse 13, Notre Dame 10

I’m confident that Syracuse is better than Notre Dame, but I just don’t know how much so. On paper, SU has the offense to crack the Fighting Irish’s stout defense and get to goalie Matt Schmidt and the defense necessary to stymie the likes of Brendan Gleason and Bryan Costabile. Syracuse’s two biggest advantages in this matchup are the two most specialized positions: goalie and faceoff specialist. At the faceoff X, Jakob Phaup is one of the best in the country, winning 66 percent of draws he takes. UND’s Charles Leonard is comparable (55.4 percent) but not close. In net, Drake Porter’s saving more than half the shots he faces while Schmidt is saving less. Ultimately, Syracuse gets this one done, hopefully with no overtime, and moves closer to getting a Thursday bye in the ACC tournament.

Michael McCleary (5-2)
Dismiss me, I’m Irish
Syracuse 14, Notre Dame 10

Here’s how I think this will go: Notre Dame will score the first three goals of the match, and every one of us will immediately say, “Darn. Was it a good idea to count on Syracuse to stay hot?” But it might happen in the second, it might happen in the third, it might happen in the fourth — Syracuse is going to come back, it’s going to push away, and it’s going to jump ahead. The Orange all said last week that they need to do something about the slow starts they’ve been having. While it won’t complain about a come-from-behind win over then-No. 2 Duke, SU doesn’t want to fall behind early in the game. This may be the game where Syracuse leads the entire time. It doesn’t matter, though. The Orange will end this game with the higher score.

Nick Alvarez (3-4)
Parks and wrecked
Syracuse 15, Notre Dame 9

I should probably start picking Syracuse. right? Whatever preseason expectations you had for this team probably lurched forward after last Sunday’s upset over then-No. 2 Duke. The Orange are dangerous because they’ve shown that a comeback can overcome any talent disparity. It’s happened three weekends in a row. This Saturday, though, SU is going to jump ahead early and control the game. Think the course-correcting win against Albany. Tyson Bomberry and Nick Mellen have locked in and Notre Dame can’t rely on the “big-little” strategy that most teams have tried against Syracuse since the Virginia game one month ago. Stephen Rehfuss is trending upward and Brendan Curry played hero-ball a week ago. Give me the Orange in an easy showcase.