Syracuse hosts Louisville in a key matchup for the Orange, who have lost 2 straight

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2014, file photo, Notre Dame defensive lineman Sheldon Day, right, applies pressure on Syracuse quarterback Terrel Hunt (10) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in East Rutherford, N.J. Day doesn’t want to be an “almost guy.” Day said that’s the phrase defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder uses for players who get a quarterback pressure but don’t get the sacks or almost tackles someone in the backfield. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) (The Associated Press)

Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, right, talks with freshman quarterback Reggie Bonnafon (7) during a timeout late in the NCAA college football game against Wake Forest in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Louisville beat Wake Forest 20-10. (AP Photo/Garry Jones) (The Associated Press)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – More than a month into the season, Syracuse finally gets a taste of Atlantic Coast Conference action, and there might be no better opponent for the Orange to face than Louisville.

Riding a two-game losing streak and with a grueling schedule ahead, Syracuse (2-2) begins ACC play on Friday night at home against the Cardinals (4-1, 2-1 ACC), who have been knocked for a loop more than once by the Orange in the past seven years.

The series is tied 6-6, but the Orange have dominated of late. In Louisville's last trip to the Carrier Dome two years ago, Ryan Nassib passed for 246 yards and three TDs in a 45-26 Syracuse victory over the Teddy Bridgewater-led Cardinals. It was the first loss of the season after nine wins for 11th-ranked Louisville.