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Syracuse-West Virginia Preview

Oct 20, 2010 - 3:10 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Syracuse (4-2) at No. 20 West Virginia (5-1), 12:00 p.m. EDT

West Virginia's defense ranks among the best in the nation, a major reason why the team hasn't lost in Morgantown in nearly two years. The running game might be important to extending that streak.

The 20th-ranked Mountaineers will try to show some improvement on the ground as they attempt to beat Syracuse for a ninth consecutive time Saturday.

West Virginia (5-1, 1-0 Big East) is the only ranked team in the conference, and its defense is a big reason for that. The unit is fifth in the nation, allowing an average of 245.8 total yards while giving up seven offensive touchdowns to tie Missouri for the fewest in the country.

The Mountaineers have also given up a total of 16 points in the last two games, and an average of 12.3 per contest to tie second-ranked Boise State for third overall.

"We've got speed, we've got disguise, we've got corners, we've got linemen and backers to blitz, and with guys like (defensive backs Robert) Sands and (Sidney) Glover - we're fast," coach Bill Stewart said. "That's what has happened to our defense - we're fast.

"Once we get ahead, they (opponents) start passing, and our defense has responded well."

The Mountaineers' suffocating defense was on display last Thursday, allowing 202 yards and forcing three turnovers in a 20-6 win over South Florida to extend their home winning streak to 12. They last lost there to Cincinnati on Nov. 8, 2008, giving up an average of 13.3 points since.

"We score 20 or 21 points, I know that that's a victory in the book," receiver Jock Sanders said.

With the defense turning in superb efforts, West Virginia would like to see more from its running game, which averages 149.0 yards to rank only better than Rutgers (111.0) in the Big East.

The team has been held to less than 100 yards rushing in two of the past three games, including 79 against the Bulls. Those struggles are partly due to a month-old toe injury to senior running back Noel Devine, who leads the club with 545 yards and a 4.9 average per carry.

Devine, though, ran for a team-high 29 yards on 13 carries last week.

"I'd love to run for 400-500 yards a game," Stewart said. "It is what it is. We can always do better in every phase, not just the rushing."

The Mountaineers might be in store for a better effort on the ground against the Orange (4-2, 1-1), who give up 124.0 rushing yards per game.

West Virginia ran for 127 yards, with Devine gaining 91 and scoring a touchdown, in a 34-13 win over Syracuse on Oct. 10, 2009. The victory was the Mountaineers' eighth straight over their conference rival, but Stewart expects a stiffer challenge.

"These guys have my attention and they have a good football team," he said. "Syracuse is knocking on the door, they're on their way back. I just hope they don't get back this Saturday."

Second-year coach Doug Marrone isn't panicking, but he apologized for the Orange's 45-14 home loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday, ending their three-game winning streak. Marrone's goal of reaching a bowl is still intact.

"Everyone knows that Pitt beat us soundly, but our kids have played extremely hard," Marrone said "But we understand that we need to get better every day. We're not looking at it as, 'Things are bad. The sky is falling down.' I don't feel that way, and I don't think the players do."

Syracuse could use a more balanced offensive performance, after gaining 231 passing yards compared to 77 rushing against the Panthers.

Running back Delone Carter had a season-low 38 yards with a score on 13 carries after totaling 277 yards and four TDs on 40 rushes over the previous two games.

If Carter's role increases, quarterback Ryan Nassib will likely find himself throwing the ball much less. He had a season-high 46 attempts last week, completing 25 passes for 231 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, including one returned for a TD.

Carter and Nassib struggled against West Virginia last year. Carter had 33 yards on 12 carries, while Nassib completed 7 of 16 passes for 120 yards and two scores.