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Whenever West Virginia needs a happy ending, it can usually count on Syracuse.
The No. 20 Mountaineers (5-1, 1-0 Big East) will be going after their ninth-straight win over the Orange (4-2, 1-1) on Saturday, all but one of them by double digits.
It's a one-sided affair that's especially pleasing to Mountaineers defensive lineman Scooter Berry, one of two West Virginia players from New York.
''We just played better over the last eight years against Syracuse,'' said Berry, a native of North Babylon, N.Y. ''Don't get me wrong, Syracuse is a good team. It's going to be a battle and everyone knows it.''
Since 2002, West Virginia has outscored the Orange 257-93, including last year's 34-13 win at the Carrier Dome.
Those blowouts aside, West Virginia coach Bill Stewart will always trumpet the good in any opponent. This week he repeated his lasting image of Syracuse players steamrolling the Mountaineers on West Virginia's final extra point.
''The Syracuse Orange about knocked half our line into the kicker-holder,'' Stewart said. ''They didn't back up an inch. These guys have my attention.''
The Orange actually own a 30-27 edge in this series and won six times over a seven-year span in the 1990s. But West Virginia quarterbacks have had their way with the Orange in Morgantown, and first-year starter Geno Smith has been solid this season, throwing for 14 touchdowns with just two interceptions.
''He's way ahead of schedule,'' Stewart said. ''His game is improving quickly, and you'll be surprised how much better he'll be at the end of the season than he is now. He just gets it and he's in the flow. The other guys are getting it because of that.''
Noel Devine will get his final look at the Orange after rushing for 188 yards against Syracuse two years ago. Half of them came on a 92-yard touchdown run with 4:16 left in the game and West Virginia trailing 17-6.
Devine hurt his right big toe a month ago and has been held to 150 yards combined over his last three games, although he scored from 11 yards out last week against South Florida.
''You always approach backs with that kind of speed that he can break one at any time,'' said Syracuse linebacker Derrell Smith. ''We won't take him lightly.''
Syracuse's Delone Carter, the league's fifth-best rusher at 93 yards per game, is looking to outduel Devine, who is sixth in the Big East.
Carter was limited to 33 yards on 12 carries against the Mountaineers last year and his prospects for improvement don't look bright. West Virginia has allowed one rushing touchdown all season and opponents are averaging only 2.6 yards per carry.
Syracuse coach Doug Marrone has made it one of his priorities to beat a ranked team, with the belief that will help validate his program. Heavily favored West Virginia could be the Orange's only chance to do that this season.
Syracuse's best start in 11 years was rocked by last week's 45-14 loss to Pittsburgh at the Carrier Dome, but Marrone insists there's plenty of time to turn things around.
Win, and Syracuse is in the thick of the Big East race. Another loss will have the Orange two games behind and headed in a familiar direction - toward the bottom of the standings, where Syracuse has finished the past five seasons.
Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib has thrown for nine TDs with one interception when the Orange have won - and two TDs with three interceptions in their two losses.
''Obviously Pitt executed very well,'' Marrone said. ''We have to go back to our fundamentals and basics ... to help put our players in better situations. We're going to need to do that quickly with a team like West Virginia. With the way they're playing right now, it's quite a challenge. We have our work cut out for us.''
Getting off to a better start would help. Syracuse was shut out in the first half against the Mountaineers in their two previous meetings.
''We'll definitely stress to the young guys that this is an important game, a Big East game,'' Derrell Smith said. ''It's kind of like a playoff game every week.''
