Orange needs perfection to knock down Bearcats

SYRACUSE — Cincinnati is ranked fifth in the nation. The Bearcats are undefeated and also sit atop the Big East.

Syracuse hasn't been ranked since the 2001 season. The Orange hasn't won a Big East game this year.

"Cincinnati is one of the best teams in the country, if not the best team in the country," Syracuse coach Doug Marrone said. "You're talking about a team that's putting close to 200 (cumulative season) points in the first half. They get on you."

The Bearcats rank second in points per game (40.7), sixth in yards per game (458.6) and the defense is 11th in points allowed per game (13.7). All that will be against Syracuse, which has a defensive ranking north of 100.

"Everyone has to play their best game," Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones said. "We have to eliminate errors."

Errors is where Syracuse has cost itself one game and took itself out of another. Against Minnesota to start the year, the Orange gave up two third-down completions on Minnesota's final drive that tied the game. Quarterback Greg Paulus then threw an interception in overtime, and Minnesota won on a field goal.

Against South Florida, Paulus threw five interceptions as the Bulls ran away with a 34-20 victory.

Syracuse rebounded last weekend against Akron, and Paulus seemed to have righted his disastrous stretch of six interceptions in six quarters.

"He didn't do anything for us to lose the game," Marrone said. "It'll be game-by-game with him."

Cincinnati is Paulus's toughest test. Its fast defense and high-octane offense will force Syracuse to either keep up in a shootout, which they're unlikely to win, or have prolonged drives and control the clock.

That's how Fresno State nearly upset the then-14th ranked Bearcats on Sept. 27.

"They slowed the game down," Marrone said. "They ran the ball. It was down 24-17 and had a chance to tie it up. I think they did (show how to beat Cincinnati)."

Syracuse may as well tell Cincinnati that running back Delone Carter will get a bunch of carries. He had 30 last week and said then that he wasn't tired and wanted the ball more.

He'll need to have another career-type performance against Cincinnati in order to give Syracuse long, scoring drives and keep the Bearcats' offense off the field.

"I think it's Delone Carter who really, to me, is their offensive weapon," Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly said. "He's an outstanding back."

Syracuse also returns wide receiver Mike Williams from suspension, which adds a second element to the attack.

"Really, it's two big-play weapons on the offensive side of the ball," Kelly said.

But getting them the yards they'll need to put Syracuse in front will be difficult.

"Defensively, we continue to do very, very good things," Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly said. "We're minimizing big plays."

Cincinnati's offense hasn't had any trouble getting big plays or scoring. There's wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, who has eight touchdowns and averages 96 yards per game. In the backfield it's Isaiah Pead and Jacob Ramsey. They've combined for eight touchdowns this season.

"They do a great job up there," Marrone said. "They have great skill athletes and they have very quick decision makers at quarterback, no matter who the quarterback is."

Tony Pike was the everyday starter, but he broke his arm two weeks ago, and Zach Collaros filled in and earned two wins. Either could start against Syracuse, and it will be a game-time decision. Kickoff is slated for noon at the Carrier Dome.