The season previews begin in earnest at CuseOrange.com where the tag team of Reyes39 and LvilleOrange are back to bring you up to speed on everything you need to know for each game this season.  So let’s get right to it!  It’s time to kick off the Doug Marrone at Syracuse!

When: Saturday September 5th, 2009 - 12:00 PM Eastern

Where: Syracuse, New York in the Carrier Dome

Capacity: 50,000

Television: ESPN2

Tailgating information: http://www.texanmarktailgate.blogspot.com/

Minnesota Reading Material (via pacusefan): http://www.cuseorange.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10064

The Spread: 6.5 The Over/Under is 47.

Rivalry info: This will be the third meeting between these schools.  Each team has a victory on its home field.  The Orangemen won 27-17 in 1995 and the Gophers won 35-33 in 1996.  Syracuse is 674-472-39 all time. Minnesota is 635-457-44 all time.

Coaches: Minnesota – Tim Brewster – 3rd season at Minnesota (8-17 overall.) Syracuse- Doug Marrone – 1st season at Syracuse (0-0 overall.)

Syracuse Offense vs Minnesota Defense: We finally have the Quarterback we’ve wanted since the departure of McNabb. All the accolades are there. Big offers from national powerhouses. Hometown kid…you name it. Only problem is – QB Greg Paulus hasn’t played a meaningful down in almost five years. What can we really expect from Paulus? If he can knock off the rust early he has a lot of options to turn to. First team Big East AA Mike Williams returns after academic woes in 2008 and has said multiple times that he feels better than he did in 2007. Obviously if Williams is even as good as he was in 07 the Orange are in business. Aside him will be Freshman  WR Alec Lemon and Marcus Sales. Marrone has talked up Lemon more than any other incoming freshman on the team – praising him for his consistency and his physicality. The Orange receivers should be able to have some success against a Minnesota secondary that yielded 250ypg in the air and lost their top DB to academics in Tramaine Brock. The Minnesota secondary was able to pick off an impressive 15 passes last season (albeit against shabby QB’s) so it’s pivotal that Paulus rely on his PG days and be smart with the ball.

At running back the Orange are loaded. Delone Carter was recently named the starter and said to be 100% healthy after hip surgery in 2007 and a nagging hammy in 2008. Antwon Bailey also looks to be worked into the mix after averaging close to 7 yards per touch last year. Obviously – all of the Orange’s talent at the skill positions is null if the Offensive Line doesn’t hold their end of the bargain. Last year was a welcoming surprise after Mitch Browning came in and turned the Offensive Line into something serviceable. Sacks were cut in half and the Orange were able to run the ball successfully. With Marrone being a OL guys his entire life and with the addition of OL coach Adkins – I would be surprised if this group didn’t improve even more over the offseason. Good thing is the Orange OL won’t have to worry about former DE Willie VanDeSteeg who had 10 sacks and 18 TFL last year. Problem is – the Gophers return a lot of talent at the DL. Garret Brown is the monster in the middle and was able to rack up 3 sacks and 7 TFL last season and is expected to shine at NT/DT. On the outside is giant 6’5” 286lb DE Cedric Mckinley who was able to pick up two sacks against Kansas in their bowl last year.

Minnesota Offense vs Syracuse Defense: The Minnesota offense last season revolved heavily on the arm of Adam Weber and the hands of Eric Decker.  Most assuredly these two will be pivotal cogs in this season’s offense as well.  Decker is a potential AA candidate who also was drafted to play baseball by the Minnesota Twins.  Last year Decker hauled in 84 catches for 1074 yards and 7 scores.  Expect him to be the go to guy on third down.  Decker isn’t the only receiver to keep an eye on though.  Slot receiver Troy Stoudermire excelled last year in kickoffs and punt returns.  He looks like a great candidate to get into space and test our LBing coverages.  The Gophers also expect to get some production out of JUCO Hayo Carpenter.  New Offensive Coordinator Jedd Fisch has scrapped the fashionable spread offense to install a multiple set, pro style attack.  Part of that multiple option could involve backup QB MarQueis Gray.  Gray has a very good arm and legs to match.  Expect a wrinkle or two with him involved.  I’m thinking some Matt Grothe style keepers, but we shall see.  The kid has incredible size at 6′ 4″ and 225.  On the ground, the Gophers need to improve on their 104th rated running game.  Duane Bennett returns a year removed from an ACL injury.  He could still be limited this season.  DeLeon Eskridge was serviceable as a replacement, he should see the bulk of the carries this week.  Although Minnesota also has Kevin Whaley who can will get some touches too, but he is a bit undersized to carry a full load.

For Syracuse, the secondary comprising of the Scotts, Suter and Holmes need to pay attention to Decker at all times as he will be the first option on many plays.  If Art Jones and company can keep the running game neutralized at the point of attack that will give Scott Shafer’s defense a chance to apply pressure and limit the amount of time Weber has to make decisions surveying the field.  Last year the Orange was awful against the run, giving up 189 yards per game.  That stat has got to get better.  It will be interesting to see how the new LB core of Derrell Smith, Doug Hogue and Ryan Gillum perform.  Taking correct angles and wrapping up ball carriers will be the key to keeping this game close.  When the Gophers have to pass, applying pressure without blitzing will be key.  Can the Orange get to Weber and force him into rushed throws that could lead to turnovers?  We haven’t seen an aggressive scheme in several years on the Hill.  And with depth at all positions admitted to be lacking, can this team maintain intensity for 4 quarters of play in what could be stifling conditions in the dome?

Why Syracuse will win: The Dome sells out and the Orange ride the adrenaline of Marrones debut to a W. Greg Paulus looks to be the Gatorade POY from five years ago and is able to establish a solid game in the air due to the return of Mike Williams. The Offensive Line is better than last year and Carter is healthy and runs rampant. Minnesota has trouble with their new system and still can’t establish a solid ground game. Weber and Deker put up decent numbers but Suter and Holmes make it hard for Deker to be useful in the redzone.

Why Minnesota will win: The combination of Adam Weber to Eric Decker proves to be too much to overcome as the duo are able to keep the chains moving.  The Gophers are also able to keep the Orange off balance and control both lines of scrimmage.  Greg Paulus makes the types of mistakes that you would expect someone to have that hasn’t played a competitive down of football in 5 years.  The lack of a pass rush causes breakdowns in the secondary and the LB core experiences growing pain.

Syracuse player to watch: All eyes will be on Greg Paulus as he makes his debut in Orange.  How will he respond to his first competitive football game in 5 years?  How will he respond to his first real hit?  His ability to read the field and deliver is going to be essential for SU to have any success.

Another person to watch is not a player but the Head Coach.  We know Coach Marrone is a pretty passionate guy.  What type of demeanor will he have on the sideline?  What can we expect from his gameplanning and in-game adjustments.

Minnesota player to watch: Eric Decker.  Have we made it clear yet that this kid could be the best WR we face all season?  With him last year, the Gophers easily put up 30+ points.  Without him the offense stalled worse than your first auto.  Last season the Cuse could have beaten Pitt if they were only able to contain Derek Kinder on third down.  Stopping or containing Decker will be absolutely essential this week.

Reyes39 Prediction: Minnesota 34 Syracuse 28 (sticking to my prediction I made last Friday.)

LVO Prediction: Minnesota 34 Syracuse 24

-Stats thanks to ncaa.org and cfbdatawarehouse.com