ACC Sports Journal Predicts 4-8 season...

[orange_in_VA]

So apparently the ACC Sports Journal thinks we get off to a fast start based on their prediction. It seems that they think we start 4-1, and then lose 7 in a row.

I don't know how you all feel about that, but I just don't see that happening. I strongly believe this years squad, baring injuries, is a bowl team.

What say you Cuse fans!?

 

[Scooch]

It's SU so nothing surprises me, but I have the feeling that IF we open 4-1 then we're showing that we're decent enough to grab at least a couple acc wins. Barring injuries losing 7 straight after a 4-1 start seems unlikely.

 

[orange_in_VA]

ACC Sports Journal predicts: 4-8 overall, 1-7 conference
Athlon Sports predicts: 3-9 overall, 1-7 conference
Bleacher Report predicts: 4-8 overall, 2-6 conference

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

I expect to beat Rhode Island, Wake, and CMU. After that? I have no idea what's going to happen.

 

[qdawgg]

It's SU so nothing surprises me, but I have the feeling that IF we open 4-1 then we're showing that we're decent enough to grab at least a couple acc wins. Barring injuries losing 7 straight after a 4-1 start seems unlikely.

Completely agree with this. Out of those 7 though, I have no clue what to expect. I could see going on a big losing streak and then winning one of the last 2 and I could see winning 3 - 4 of the 7.

 

[orange_in_VA]

It's SU so nothing surprises me, but I have the feeling that IF we open 4-1 then we're showing that we're decent enough to grab at least a couple acc wins. Barring injuries losing 7 straight after a 4-1 start seems unlikely.

I agree Scooch, which was my main point. They had us as 1-7 in conference and ranked ahead of Wake so they are saying that is our one conference win, which implies they think we lose 7 in a row. I don't see that.

Bleacher Report has us at 4-8, 2-6. They think we lose a non-con besides LSU apparently (USF maybe?), and win two conference games (Wake and UVA?)

 

[CuseLegacy]

ACC Sports Journals reporting is North Carolina biased. They are clueless.

 

[orange_in_VA]

I expect to beat Rhode Island, Wake, and CMU. After that? I have no idea what's going to happen.

That's fair enough based on last seasons complete implosion. But we can't forget that Shafer got arguably a less talented team to a bowl win two years ago. I expect/wish/hope Hunt is better than he was two years ago, and our weapons on offense are starting to stack up. I haven't worried about our D since Shafer has been here, and our whole defensive staff is top notch, imo.

 

[Finwad32]

Completely agree with this. Out of those 7 though, I have no clue what to expect. I could see going on a big losing streak and then winning one of the last 2 and I could see winning 3 - 4 of the 7.

I think this is fair. I think this team could win anywhere from 4 to 9 regular season games. That's my absolute cellar vs. highest ceiling.

 

[orange_in_VA]

I think this is fair. I think this team could win anywhere from 4 to 9 regular season games. That's my absolute cellar vs. highest ceiling.

I agree with this range. Will depend on staying healthy, and getting some better production out of the offense. I think both things happen and we make a bowl game. I think we beat Rhode Island, CMU, USF, Wake, UVA, and BC. We have shots at Pitt and NCState, with NCState being the tougher of the two. They played a weak schedule last year, but they have some talent returning.

 

[Alsacs]

I think we win 3 of 4 OOC games. Beat Wake and BC at home and hope can find another win. When we do the prediction contest I leaning 5-7 if I study Pitt and NC State and see they suck their is the potential 6th win.

 

[orange_in_VA]

I think we win 3 of 4 OOC games. Beat Wake and BC at home and hope can find another win. When we do the prediction contest I leaning 5-7 if I study Pitt and NC State and see they suck their is the potential 6th win.

It might actually be easier to beat Pitt then NCState or BC because the team should have some confidence going in and wont be beat up. After the Pitt game, it's a gauntlet.

 

[SUFan44]

I think this is fair. I think this team could win anywhere from 4 to 9 regular season games. That's my absolute cellar vs. highest ceiling.

I think your cellar needs to be adjusted, unfortunately. After Rhode Island and (one would think) Central Michigan at home, I don't see how anyone - after last year's performances and seeing who we have returning on both sides of the ball - can say 4 is the cellar. I'd say 2 is the absolute cellar, and if that were to happen I would expect to have a new head coach.

 

[orange_in_VA]

I think we win 3 of 4 OOC games. Beat Wake and BC at home and hope can find another win. When we do the prediction contest I leaning 5-7 if I study Pitt and NC State and see they suck their is the potential 6th win.

I think the sixth win in your scenario is UVA. They play a hell of a schedule leading up to our game. They might have 1 win coming in. Also, they aren't a good offense. QB is unproven, lost their star RB to graduation. Their strength last year was the defense, and they lost a lot of guys to the NFL/graduation.

 

[orange_in_VA]

I think your cellar needs to be adjusted, unfortunately. After Rhode Island and (one would think) Central Michigan at home, I don't see how anyone - after last year's performances and seeing who we have returning on both sides of the ball - can say 4 is the cellar. I'd say 2 is the absolute cellar, and if that were to happen I would expect to have a new head coach.

As much as I love Shafer, and want him to be given a chance to build this team and succeed, I have to agree with you there. A 2 win season would be the end of him, especially with a new AD.

 

[SU68]

I see a 5-7 record. After that, we have to rely on a team having a What? game against us.

 

[orange_in_VA]

I think your cellar needs to be adjusted, unfortunately. After Rhode Island and (one would think) Central Michigan at home, I don't see how anyone - after last year's performances and seeing who we have returning on both sides of the ball - can say 4 is the cellar. I'd say 2 is the absolute cellar, and if that were to happen I would expect to have a new head coach.

We blew the doors off a more talented CMU team at their stadium last year. Rhode Island is awful. I hope we destroy every team we are supposed to beat, would hopefully get the fans excited enough to show up for the big games on the schedule.

If we take care of business against RI, CMU, Wake, USF while showing that the offense is for real, I will feel really good about the rest of the season. The first half of the year should tell the story about how the second half could/should play out.

I do believe this is a bowl team. I think the offense will improve (hard not to after last years numbers), and I expect the defense to be a lot better than the pundits/some fans are expecting.

 

[orange_in_VA]

I see a 5-7 record. After that, we have to rely on a team having a What? game against us.

Out of curiosity, what games do you see us winning/losing?

 

[Finwad32]

I think your cellar needs to be adjusted, unfortunately. After Rhode Island and (one would think) Central Michigan at home, I don't see how anyone - after last year's performances and seeing who we have returning on both sides of the ball - can say 4 is the cellar. I'd say 2 is the absolute cellar, and if that were to happen I would expect to have a new head coach.

Although, realistically, you have a point. I will never put that number as a cellar, because, we should never be there.

I love this staff, I think everybody here knows that I do. I want them to succeed in the worst way, but, if we finish below 4 wins against this schedule hard looks need to be taken. And, honestly, each one of these coaches would tell you the same thing.

Typically, this would be a drop down year, we lost a lot of talented upperclassmen last season, we're installing a new offense and there's a new coordinator. Unfortunately, due to injuries and such last year, I think we struggled more than we would've under ideal circumstances. Last season should've been a bowl season. It wasn't, so you've got to win with younger kids and you've got to do it now. The OL, QB, WR's & H's are experienced. Your offense should be able to produce in a typical scenario. Working within a new offense, makes it more difficult. They do not have the luxury of a season to get going, they need to do it now.

7 wins this season would be a good accomplishment in my mind. Alot of variables, new personnel and systems. Make the case that somebody should be able to step in and produce all you want, I'd wager a guess that more often than not that doesn't happen.

I'm one of the guys that believes it takes time to develop a system, not everybody agrees with me. But, this staff is going to have to beat that thought process, they're going to have to succeed now.

Week 1: Rhode Island - W
Week 2: WF - W
Week 3: C. Mich - W
Week 4: LSU - L
Week 6: USF - W
Week 7: Virginia - 50/50
Week 8: Pittsburgh - 50/50
Week 9: FSU - L
Week 10: Louisville - Winnable
Week 11: Clemson - Slappin' Capri Suns
Week 12: NC State - Should be a W
Week 13: BC - Winnable (this could blossom into a nice rivalry again) I could see this being a crucial game for both squads, and it's our turn to Win.

 

[texascpa]

12-0.

 

[ImperialOrange]

ACC Sports Journal predicts: 4-8 overall, 1-7 conference
Athlon Sports predicts: 3-9 overall, 1-7 conference
Bleacher Report predicts: 4-8 overall, 2-6 conference

ImperialOrange predicts 9-3, 5-2 conference

 

[orange_in_VA]

ImperialOrange predicts 9-3, 5-2 conference

Losses to LSU, Clemson, FSU?

 

[TheCusian]

I will say this - I think all of the media outlets typically underrate us a bit, but this year I don't have a problem with any of them.

Not that I think they are right - but that going off of last year and the offensive numbers? It's an easy call to assume we'll be in the bottom of the ACC.

My prediction is 5-1, or 4-2 to start - then grabbing two of the three of Pitt/BC/NC State.

I also would not put Clemson or Louisville in the "loss" column automatically. Clemson's QB is awesome - but injury prone. Their defense will take a step back. Louisville's defense is stepping back too - and while I think Petrino's O can be very good, they might still be building...

 

[SUFan44]

Although, realistically, you have a point. I will never put that number as a cellar, because, we should never be there.

I love this staff, I think everybody here knows that I do. I want them to succeed in the worst way, but, if we finish below 4 wins against this schedule hard looks need to be taken. And, honestly, each one of these coaches would tell you the same thing.

Typically, this would be a drop down year, we lost a lot of talented upperclassmen last season, we're installing a new offense and there's a new coordinator. Unfortunately, due to injuries and such last year, I think we struggled more than we would've under ideal circumstances. Last season should've been a bowl season. It wasn't, so you've got to win with younger kids and you've got to do it now. The OL, QB, WR's & H's are experienced. Your offense should be able to produce in a typical scenario. Working within a new offense, makes it more difficult. They do not have the luxury of a season to get going, they need to do it now.

7 wins this season would be a good accomplishment in my mind. Alot of variables, new personnel and systems. Make the case that somebody should be able to step in and produce all you want, I'd wager a guess that more often than not that doesn't happen.

I'm one of the guys that believes it takes time to develop a system, not everybody agrees with me. But, this staff is going to have to beat that thought process, they're going to have to succeed now.

Week 1: Rhode Island - W
Week 2: WF - W
Week 3: C. Mich - W
Week 4: LSU - L
Week 6: USF - W
Week 7: Virginia - 50/50
Week 8: Pittsburgh - 50/50
Week 9: FSU - L
Week 10: Louisville - Winnable
Week 11: Clemson - Slappin' Capri Suns
Week 12: NC State - Should be a W
Week 13: BC - Winnable (this could blossom into a nice rivalry again) I could see this being a crucial game for both squads, and it's our turn to Win.

I agree with everything you said. I think/hope we will be better than 2 wins, and agree with you that there's no way any Syracuse team should ever have two wins.

But with all of the variables with this team, I just have a hard time saying we are definitely going to win more than that total. Wake Forest is going to be better. USF on the road is not going to be easy, regardless of how good they are. And then every other ACC game is a toss up at best.

The way I see it - the offense is going to have to produce in a big, big way. Especially early. Otherwise, 2 is much more likely than 6 or 7 in my opinion.

 

[MSOrange]

If we are where I think we should be at as a program, we need to beat Rhode Island, Wake Forest, Central Michigan and at least split USF and Virginia. If we do that, I would like to think we can beat at least one of Pitt, NC State and Boston College especially with two of them at home. So at a minimum, I'd like to see 5 wins this year.

Obviously we need to stay free of the dang injury bug. I'd like to see Terrell improve his passing touch. Hopefully his time with George Whitfield will help in that regard. There were just too many missed times that it seemed like he could have connected particularly with Estime last year when they were both healthy. I really think Cornelius will step up to complement Ishmeal, but if he doesn't, somebody needs to. Despite his drops, I really like Ben Lewis' potential. Not sure if I like his position change, but hopefully he can still be a good threat.