Western Michigan at Syracuse
When: Saturday, September 21 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Where: Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY
TV: ACC Network
Rather than picking the biggest matchups this weekend, I wanted to show some love to those who are hoping just to make a bowl game. Sure, the powerhouses provide a ton of NFL talent, but the other guys do too. This matchup has a few players on both sides that have caught my attention, but I want to focus on two guys in particular.
Western Michigan
Western Michigan is home to one of my favorite senior running backs in the country. LeVante Bellamy took over as the lead back last season and became a star. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry throughout the season and finished with 1,228 yards and six touchdowns.
So far in 2019, Bellamy has 289 yards and four touchdowns. He carried 15 times for 192 yards and three scores last week against Georgia State. Bellamy is a one-cut back with great speed through the hole. He can turn any carry into a chunk play with his speed, vision, and burst.
Bellamy ran 11 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns against Syracuse in 2018. If he can do that again this time around, the Broncos have a chance to pull off a bit of an upset.
Syracuse
The Syracuse Orange have an elite pass rusher on their hands in Alton Robinson. Robinson may not be as highly-touted as Chase Young or A.J. Epenesa, but he is a legit stud. He is a long 6-foot-4 with a plethora of rush moves. Robinson uses his hands well, utilizes a great swim move, and his speed off the snap is dangerous.
He also does a great job of switching up his point of attack between full-man and half-man on the tackle. The NFL tools and traits are abundant for Alton Robinson, and a strong 2019 should usher him into the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He recorded 10.0 sacks and 17.0 TFL last season.
Robinson has the talent to limit LeVante Bellamy on the other side. If he disrupts the backfield, Syracuse will roll easily.