Garrett Shrader Stats: Syracuse Quarterback Shines in Week 1
Shrader's four touchdown passes marked a career-high
After undergoing elbow surgery in the offseason, Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader was quick to ease concerns about his health. The senior starred in the Orange’s 65-0 rout of FCS school Colgate in Week 1.
The 65 points were the most scored during Dino Babers’ eight-year run as head coach, passing the previous mark of 62 against Wagner in 2018 and Albany in 2021.
What stood out about the season-opening victory? Look no further than Garrett Shrader’s stats. Here’s a breakdown.
Uncharted Territory
Garrett Shrader’s stats helped Syracuse cover the 37.5-point spread with ease. Shrader completed 18-of-24 attempts for 257 yards, four touchdowns, and just one interception. The senior also ran for 40 yards on eight carries.
The Orange opened a 37-0 halftime lead, and Shrader capped his day with a third-quarter touchdown pass to Umari Hatcher to extend the league to 44. He was soon replaced by Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, who helped the Orange cash in the projected Over of 49.5 points with three touchdowns of his own.
Syracuse finished with 677 total yards, including 466 through the air. The only obvious mistake from Shrader came on the last play of the first half, an interception in the end zone.
How rare was this performance from Shrader? Very. It was the first four-touchdown performance of his collegiate career. Last season, he had two games in which he threw for three touchdowns, non-conference wins over UConn and Purdue on the college football schedule. He also threw three against Texas A&M during his freshman season at Mississippi State in 2019.
Sharing the Wealth
Shrader and Rio-Wilson spread the ball around in their blowout victory. Ten different players caught at least one pass, led by Hatcher, who had four receptions for 105 yards. Hatcher was also one of six players to haul in a touchdown. Isaiah Jones paced the Orange with two touchdowns, one each from Shrader and Rio-Wilson.
Tight end Oronde Gadsden II — the son of former NFL receiver Oronde Gadsden and the Orange’s leading pass-catcher in 2022 — had six receptions for 57 yards and a score. His 14-yard touchdown from Shrader capped the scoring in the first half.
What’s Next
After making quick work of Colgate, Syracuse will shift its attention to Western Michigan. The Broncos visit JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Syracuse opened as an 18.5-point favorite. The point spread has since ballooned to -24.5 (-110), as bettors are bullish on the Orange. The projected total has also jumped from 52.5 to 57 (-110 Over, -110 Under).
Western Michigan is coming off a 35-17 victory over FCS product St. Francis (Pa.), in which it covered the 14.5-point spread. Keep that in mind when making your NCAA football picks.
Odds Outlook
On the heels of a 7-6 finish, which culminated with an appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl, expectations are modest for Syracuse. The Orange are projected for 6.5 wins (+105 Over, -125 Under), surpassing their total from three of the previous four seasons. But they remain a longshot in the ACC, with +8000 odds to win the conference. That’s nearly double the opening price of +4800. It’s likely a product of Florida State, which proved it’s the conference team to beat by thumping LSU 45-24 per college football scores. The No. 4 Seminoles are now an even-money favorite in the ACC. Clemson is next in line at +450, followed by North Carolina (+800).
Despite Shrader’s big Week 1 performance, he’s not in the mix for any major awards, including the Heisman Trophy. At the moment, he’s off the board. Can that change? Sure. But will it? Don’t count on it.
For Garrett Shrader stats, odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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