NCAAF Team totals plays
Syracuse Under 4.5 Wins (-105):
Last Year: 4-8
Returning starters: 12 (7 on offense, 5 on defense) (fewest returning starters in the Big East)
Avg points per game: 17.4
Avg points allowed per game: 24.6
Coach: Greg Robinson (3rd year at Syracuse, 5-18 in the last two seasons)
Offense:
They lose their starting QB Perry Patterson. Sophomore Andrew Robinson will take the reins, and he has only 8 career collegiate passes. They do return their top two RBs, Delone Carter and Curtis Brinkley. They combined for 1284 yards and 6 TDs last year. They also return their top 4 receivers, but they are still weak in this area. Their leading receiver last year was Mike Williams, but he only had 461 yards. They also return 3 of their 5 OLineman. Overall though, they should struggle with a new QB.
Defense:
This is where they will really struggle. This unit kept them in some games last season, but that may not be the case this year. They lose 3 of their 6 leading tacklers, including leading tackler Kelvin Smith (115 tackles). They do return their leading sack man in Jameel McClain (9.5 sacks). However, they lose all three starting linebackers and both starting cornerbacks, which leaves the defense to make a huge amount of adjustments in the front seven and in the secondary.
Special Teams:
They do have one of the best kickers in the nation in Patrick Shayle, as he hit 16-18 FGs last season. Freshman Rob Long will get the job at punter after averaging 40 yards per punt in high school. Don't expect too much out of him in terms of consistency.
Schedule:
Date Opponent Time/Result
Aug 31 Washington 12:00pm
Sep 22 @Louisville TBA
Sep 29 @Miami (Ohio) TBA
Oct 6 West Virginia TBA
Oct 13 Rutgers TBA
Oct 20 Buffalo TBA
Nov 3 @Pittsburgh TBA
Nov 10 South Florida TBA
Nov 17 @Connecticut TBA
Nov 24 Cincinnati TBA
Games they will win (90-100%): Buffalo
Games they should win (60-85%): @Miami OH
Toss-ups (Spread should be 4 or lower): Illinois (lean toward a loss), Washington (lean toward a win), Cincinnati (lean toward a loss)
Games they should lose (10-30%): @Pittsburgh, @UConn
Games they will lose (<10%): South Florida, Rutgers, West Va., @Iowa, @Louisville
Let's say they beat Washington, Illinois, @Miami OH, and Buffalo (and this is a big assumption). That's four wins. I think it will be a very tough go for them in conference. They play Rutgers, WVU, and SF at home in games that they do not have much of a chance in either way. Of the teams expected to finish 5th-7th in the conference (Cincy, Pitt, and UConn), Cincy is the only one they get at home. Also, they get Cincy as their last game of the season, which is a bad time to play them. First, Cincy could be fighting for a bowl bid/bowl and division position. Second, Cincy should have adjusted to Coach Brian Kelly's spread offense scheme by this time. It wouldn't shock me to see this team go winless in conference.
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