.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Syracuse coach Doug Marrone was reserved as usual when asked about his team's impressive run.
''I don't know where we're going. I don't know how the season's going to be,'' Marrone said. ''I don't know if we'll win all of them, win one, not win any. I have no idea. I know what our goal is, but it's important to send this class out as winners.''
The Orange (6-2, 3-1 Big East) have four remaining games, and one more victory will accomplish a winning season for the seniors and achieve the holy grail the team is chasing: bowl eligibility. Syracuse hasn't played in the postseason in six years.
''It would be nice,'' quarterback Ryan Nassib said. ''We can accomplish our season goals, but we'll worry about that when it comes.''
The first obstacle is Louisville (4-4, 1-2) on Saturday in the Carrier Dome, where Syracuse has lost the only game it's played so far against an FBS team. The Cardinals are coming off a 20-3 loss to Pittsburgh and have dropped 11 straight conference games away from home.
''I am very disappointed with our loss (to Pitt),'' coach Charlie Strong said. ''Offensively, we never got in rhythm and could not sustain drives. The offense was backed up in the hole all day and had to take the ball and drive it. We just did not play well and then lost one of our key players.
''There was no reason for us to not still go out and compete,'' Strong said. ''We have to learn how to play on the road, and we still have not done that.''
That key player was running back Bilal Powell, who suffered an injury to his right knee on a carry early in the second half and did not return. Powell, who was fourth in the nation in rushing before he was hurt, has averaged 7 yards a carry and still ranks second in the Big East at 133.4 yards per game.
''If Bilal cannot go, we just need people to step up,'' tight end Cameron Graham said. ''Part of football is injuries. Everybody in the country experiences it and it is part of the game. We need people to step up.''
Though Powell has had swelling in the knee and is listed as day-to-day, the Orange were preparing as if he would play. He won't. Powell and senior quarterback Adam Froman were listed as out on the Big East injury report posted Thursday night.
Both teams were picked to finish at the bottom of the league, and both so far have defied the odds. The Cardinals have two shutouts, including 26-0 over Connecticut, and the Orange have won four times on the road - three of those in the Big East.
''When you watch them on film, they play hard,'' Graham said. ''When a team plays hard and plays a full game, those teams tend to win.''
The game might come down to one of those yellow flags thrown by the officials. Remarkably, Louisville has been penalized 61 times for 500 yards and Syracuse, which lost to Pitt at home 45-14 three weeks ago, has 60 for the same yardage.
''Basically, drive-stopping penalties have held us back,'' Graham said. ''We need to stop doing that.''
Despite its penchant for penalties, Syracuse has thrived even as its roster also has been hit hard by injuries. Marrone is down to two healthy tailbacks with experience - Delone Carter and Antwon Bailey - because the third back, freshman Prince-Tyson Gulley, will miss his second straight game with mononucleosis. Marrone said at mid-week that he hadn't given any other player reps at the position.
Right tackle Michael Hay also was listed as out for the game and likely will be replaced by redshirt freshman Andrew Phillips.
''We're a pretty banged-up football team,'' Marrone said.
---
AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Louisville, Ky., contributed to this report.
