Ole Miss decided to get back into the win column with a heavy dose of Havoc against South Carolina last week.
Bouncing back from a loss to Kentucky, the Rebels answered the Gamecocks' ground attack with plenty of pressure. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers and running back Raheim Sanders were limited to less than 100 rushing yards, while the Ole Miss defense executed 10 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Sellers has now seen 47 pressures on the season, with 20 of them coming from Ole Miss in Week 6.
Our Havoc Rankings take a weekly look at defenses that have a high percentage chance of creating chaos. Ole Miss is the best tackles-for-loss defense in the nation, a bullet point in any handicap against an opposing offense line.
The Rebels have a stranglehold on the top spot in Defensive Havoc, thanks to an additional 34 passes defensed.
Meanwhile, the safest offense to trust continues to be Navy, which allows Havoc on just 3.9% of offensive snaps.
There are a number of variables that build our Havoc Rankings. Tackles for loss, interceptions, pass breakups and fumbles are a few of the data points used against the total number of plays on the offensive and defensive side.
The best offenses in FBS rarely allow a quarterback to be pressured, while defenses can turn the field position around on any given snap.
Here's a look at our updated Havoc Rankings for Week 7, including each individual head-to-head game.
Syracuse vs. NC State
Syracuse: 50th in Havoc · NC State: 128th in Havoc Allowed
The 2024 season gave another bad data point to NC State with a recent loss to Wake Forest. The Wolfpack now sit at 0-2 in ACC play.
An injury to starting quarterback Grayson McCall led to a successful showing for backup CJ Bailey.
However, Havoc played a part in Wake Forest's victory, as NC State fumbled at the 2-yard line on the opening drive of the game. The Demon Deacons easily converted a touchdown, going on to beat the Wolfpack by four as underdogs.
NC State head coach Dave Doeren’s offense has dealt with mistakes all season, ranking 128th in Havoc Allowed. Only Houston has allowed more tackles for loss, as the Wolfpack have given up 48 through six games.
Wolfpack quarterbacks have seen 66 pressures in 218 dropbacks thus far. That aspect will be under the microscope against a Syracuse team that ranks top-20 in PFF pass-rush grading.
Living in your backfield rent free 📍🏡@fadil_diggs
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) September 8, 2024
Syracuse's heavy passing attack offense will be worth watching in this head-to-head ACC clash.
The Orange have seen Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord morph into a gunslinger. The former Buckeye has 17 touchdowns and 12 turnover-worthy plays.
The Wolfpack have sunk in coverage grading this season, unable to keep opponents from creating methodical drives. The Orange rank ninth in Quality Drives, while the Pack sit at 112th defensively, so expect Syracuse to get into scoring position often.
Pick: Syracuse -4.5
