The Syracuse Orange had a nice 7-6 season last year, which ended with a 21-17 win over Minnesota in the Texas Bowl. The Orange are now in the second year of Shafer’s systems and have plenty of returning talent to make a run at a 3rd straight bowl game. Schedule & prediction below.
The Orange averaged just 22.7 ppg last year, but now that they have settled on dual threat QB Terrel Hunt the prospects of an improved offense are there. Hunt ran for 500 yards in 10 games last and has a solid arm as well. He is the leading returning rusher, but there is a young an talented stable of backs ready to show what they can do. The WR corps saw no more than 500 yards receiving form anyone, but still this is an experienced group with 6 of the top 7 pass catchers back from last year. The offensive line has all 5 starters back, led by 1st team all-ACC OT Sean Hickey. Overall this will be one of the better OLs in the league. The defense had its moments last year, but also struggled at times, allowing 48+ points 4 times on the year. 7 starters are back to this group, which includes 5 of their top 6 tacklers from last year. The secondary looks to be a problem as they are a bit thin back there, but the front 7 for the Orange are rated middle of the pack in the ACC. The special teams return all the key players from a year ago and should be a very solid group.
The Orange have made it to a bowl game in 3 of the last 4 years, winning all 3 times and I see another bowl invite this year, The are the most experienced team in the ACC and are improved on both sides of the ball. Road games vs Pittsburgh and Clemson are rough as is home games vs Louisville and Florida State, but the rest of the schedule is pretty manageable. I see the Orange going 7-5 this year. KEY TREND: 12-1 ATS as home favorites off a double digit SU Win.
2014 Syracuse Orange Football Schedule
Fri, Aug 29th, 2014 Villanova
Sat, Sep 13th, 2014 at Central Michigan
Sat, Sep 20th, 2014 Maryland
Sat, Sep 27th, 2014 Notre Dame
Fri, Oct 3rd, 2014 Louisville
Sat, Oct 11th, 2014 Florida State
Sat, Oct 18th, 2014 at Wake Forest
Sat, Oct 25th, 2014 at Clemson
Sat, Nov 1st, 2014 NC State
Sat, Nov 8th, 2014 Duke
Sat, Nov 22nd, 2014 at Pittsburgh
Sat, Nov 29th, 2014 at Boston College
Info gathered From Phil Steele's CFB Preview and Athlon Sports
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