MORGANTOWN - Syracuse's run defense, which ranks 15th in the nation, will be severely tested by a West Virginia University rushing attack that is led by the country's third best runner.

Syracuse, 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the Big East Conference, is allowing an average of 83 yards per game on the ground. West Virginia, 3-1 and

playing its first conference game, will counter with junior running back Noel Devine, who is averaging 135 yards per game and already has 540

yards and six touchdowns on the season.

"Noel definitely brings something to our team because he's quick, shifty and always gets out of trouble when nobody thinks he can," said WVU wide receiver Bradley Starks

.Devine is coming off a 220-yard effort in a win against Colorado, which included a 77-yard touchdown run on the game's second play.

It was the second time Devine has topped the 200-yard standard, the first coming against Auburn last year.

Devine had a 92-yard scoring run last year at Mountaineer Field to help his team secure a 17-6 victory over the Orange.

WVU coach Bill Stewart said this is not the same Syracuse defense as last year.

He said the game will be "a chess match" as his team will have to provide top-notch protection in order to push the ball down the field.

"They are coming from everywhere," he said. "When you are restarting a program, you have two schools of thought: You can go base and try to get better, or you do what they are doing right now.

Their coordinator's thought is to be helter-skelter. I hope their defensive staff gets in a fight," Stewart continued. "I want people to know when they play the Mountaineers, they have to defend 100 yards of turf."

Syracuse's defense is led by junior safety Max Suter, who averages 7.6 tackles a game and is among the conference leaders in that category.

"He's the leader on our team, and he does a tremendous job of communicating," said SU coach Doug Marrone. "He's one I rely on to get the pulse of this football team."

Stewart, likewise, has been impressed with Suter, and he had tried to lure the player to West Virginia from his home in nearby Greensburg, Pa., when Suter was coming out of high school."He just makes plays," Stewart said. "They rally around him."