FSU football: 3 keys to defeating Syracuse Orange

Avoid Turnovers and Capitalize on Scoring Opportunities

Turnovers have been common in the three losses for the Noles this season. It’s something that keeps occurring in each game, but luckily the offense and defense have been able to absorb and overcome them.

FSU has two early fumbles against Georgia Tech and an interception against Miami last week. The Orange has had an opportunistic defense and has a +7 turnover margin this season. That’s good for No. 17 nationally.

If Shrader plays, their offense is better than what Georgia Tech and Miami trot out each week, and their defense is still probably better.

They are not a team you can continue to provide multiple opportunities to and expect to mow them down like FSU did Georgia Tech and Miami.

Plus, the game will be on the road, and it’s their last home game this season, which means their fans will likely show up even though they’ve lost three straight games.

Syracuse plays hard on both sides of the ball and won’t quit like Miami. In the lone game (Boston College), FSU didn’t turn the ball over this year.

The game was over in the first quarter. They have to avoid those and continue to score in the red zone like they have in the past two games. FSU has scored touchdowns 64 percent of their trips inside the red zone since the bye week.

The Orange defense has allowed touchdowns 60 percent of the time in the red zone over the last two weeks.