Brett McMurphy

[BVille44]

On Friday it was great to hear a national college football analyst (Brett McMurphy) actually provide some positive insight into the SU football program on ESPN radio. McMurphy see's the Cuse as a bowl team based upon its early season schedule which should result in a 3-0 start. McMurphy even noted that SU could not have asked for a better date to play LSU with them coming off back to back games against Mississippi State and Auburn prior to heading to the Carrier Dome.

In my personal opinion (which does not mean much) I see this team getting off to a 5-1 start before playing Pitt in the dome before a big crowd on homecoming weekend.

 

[jekelish]

You know, it's crazy...6-1 is absolutely a realistic possibility. I don't think it's likely to happen, but wins over URI, Wake, Central Michigan, USF, Virginia, and Pitt are certainly possible. It's kinda nuts to think about the season on those terms.

Of course, I'd settle for 5-2 in those first seven games. That way, we'd likely be 5-5 heading into the final two games of the season with a bowl berth resting on how we do against NC State and BC.

 

[florange44]

In spite of national perception and 15 years of mostly futility, we are not crazy to think we will be 4-1 after LSU. In fact, I believe we will be favored in those 4 ( at worst pick-em against USF). I believe there is good money to be made in Vegas betting on 4-1.

After that, we could also be favored against UVA on the road and Pitt at home.

Now depth beings what it is, Shafer being what he is, I'm thinking 5-2 after 7. Anything less and I'm really wondering if Shafer is the right guy. I hope he is, but W's matter. Might depend on how we've won or lost.

There's some logic that says if he gets to even 5 wins, extend him 2 years, bring in the solid class, then cut him loose after 2016 if there isn't a jump to 7 wins that year. By that time the roster will be full and the new coach will not have a rebuild on his hands but a retool.

I'm expecting 6 this year and Shafer to get an extension.

Florange44

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

Louisville is limited on offense and IMO therefore beatable.

 

[dasher]

Louisville is limited on offense and IMO therefore beatable.

How do you know that? Have you seen them play?

 

[Alsacs]

If you have confidence in our program Vegas is giving an O/U of 4.5 win. If you think we are going to 5 games for sure there is money to be made.

 

[dasher]

If you have confidence in our program Vegas is giving an O/U of 4.5 win. If you think we are going to 5 games for sure there is money to be made.

I would jump all over that.

 

[jekelish]

I would jump all over that.

Me too. I don't have a lot of money to gamble but may at least drop a few bucks on that wager. I think we'll get the over for sure.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

If you rewatch the 'Cuse-USC game in 2012, by the end, the analyst is saying that it's impossible to see how Syracuse could possibly finish 7th in the Big East that year. We didn't. We won 7 games and co-won the Big East. And could have won it (Damn you Cincy and Rutters). This could be the same kind of year.

 

[money3189]

Im at a point where I dont feel comfortable predicting. last year I thought Maryland, NC State were guaranteed home wins. Im just hoping we win all the games we are favorited with a couple of surprised wins.

 

[kcsu]

Everything hinges on us staying healthy at QB, DT, Franklin, and Center. Those positions have zero depth and we simply cant afford injuries to those guys. If they stay healthy i think we go bowling and watch out for next year

 

[upperdeck]

record wise we stunk. scheme wise we stunk, we had to play the 4th qb and an oline that was battered..

still maryland we destroyed and somehow lost
ND should have been 14-10 at the half
UL was really a 1 score game at the half
clemson was there for the taking
nc state we had the game won until the INT return
duke was 10-10 in the 4th
BC was 14-7 in the 3rd

how much better on O do we need to be to turn just a few of those around?

if you put the 3rd or 4th qb in for most of the game how many of those teams would have competed? clemson struggled with the backup. BC would have without Murphy, Duke could they have survived?

 

[Acuse]

record wise we stunk. scheme wise we stunk, we had to play the 4th qb and an oline that was battered..

still maryland we destroyed and somehow lost
ND should have been 14-10 at the half
UL was really a 1 score game at the half
clemson was there for the taking
nc state we had the game won until the INT return
duke was 10-10 in the 4th
BC was 14-7 in the 3rd

how much better on O do we need to be to turn just a few of those around?

if you put the 3rd or 4th qb in for most of the game how many of those teams would have competed? clemson struggled with the backup. BC would have without Murphy, Duke could they have survived?

Great post

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

How do you know that? Have you seen them play?

Has anyone played a game a yet? I thought this was a thread about predictions.

Edit: I went back and checked Louisville scored a lot more points last season then I thought. My bad.

 

[CanadianSU]

record wise we stunk. scheme wise we stunk, we had to play the 4th qb and an oline that was battered..

still maryland we destroyed and somehow lost
ND should have been 14-10 at the half
UL was really a 1 score game at the half
clemson was there for the taking
nc state we had the game won until the INT return
duke was 10-10 in the 4th
BC was 14-7 in the 3rd

how much better on O do we need to be to turn just a few of those around?

if you put the 3rd or 4th qb in for most of the game how many of those teams would have competed? clemson struggled with the backup. BC would have without Murphy, Duke could they have survived?

This post >

Start the season already! I'm feeling at least 10-2 right now. But seriously everything you mention is 100% accurate. Let's Goooo!

 

[JrodCuse]

Fellas I know this has been mentioned before but if you place a bet in Vegas, but it comes to fruition and you aren't there, how do you redeem your winnings? Will the casino mail it to you?

 

[anomander]

We are due. We have one of the longest streaks of a P5 program of not cracking the top 25, and there are some pretty bad P5 programs. Just out of sheer odds we are due for a lightning in the bottle season. If we can get to LSU 3-1 and play them some what competitive, and the win the next game bringing us to 4-1, then anything can happen because we will obviously have a ton of confidence. Just can't afford a trip up to Wake Forest.

 

[Upstate]

I really do think that the RI game is going to be a big measuring stick. It's a game SU should win 49-0, or something like the Tulane game a few years back. We need to control the LOS the entire game and give up fewer than 200 yards. If that game is even remotely close, we'll really need to readjust expectations. Too often have these SU teams faltered and played down to 1AAs in the last 6 years. Here's to hoping it's a blowout with some meaningful time for some of the younger guys.

 

[florange44]

I agree. Too often in the past we have let the 1aa team hang with us. I believe the reason was our talent level wasn't that much better. Clearly better than them, but not head and shoulders better.

Now our talent is head and shoulders above, especially in the 1st and 2nd year guys. We should blow them out this year, assuming our scheme is serviceable. The talent in those 2 classes and the one coming is the reason why I believe we are almost to the tipping point. I hope it happens this year, if not, with stability, it will happen next year.

LGO

Florange44

 

[Ozcuse]

Has anyone played a game a yet? I thought this was a thread about predictions.

Edit: I went back and checked Louisville scored a lot more points last season then I thought. My bad.

Petrino is one of the best offensive minds around too. Last year he had little time with a new coaching staff getting his offense set up with Coach Strong's players. This year they should see a step up on offense (and a step back on D). This hinges on him not quitting halfway through the season or coed motorcycle fantasies part 2.

 

[SoBristol]

Everything hinges on us staying healthy at QB, DT, Franklin, and Center. Those positions have zero depth and we simply cant afford injuries to those guys. If they stay healthy i think we go bowling and watch out for next year

Good point, and expand that list to Ishmael, Phillps, Estime, Thompson, McFarlane, the starting OTs, and Cordy & Williams at safety. We don't have a lot of depth, period. This teams needs to be lucky.

 

[Alsacs]

Petrino is one of the best offensive minds around too. Last year he had little time with a new coaching staff getting his offense set up with Coach Strong's players. This year they should see a step up on offense (and a step back on D). This hinges on him not quitting halfway through the season or coed motorcycle fantasies part 2.

Louisville is a fringe preseason top 25 team they are clearly favored against us right now. Your analysis is pretty spot on IMO.

 

[CuseGoose]

Fellas I know this has been mentioned before but if you place a bet in Vegas, but it comes to fruition and you aren't there, how do you redeem your winnings? Will the casino mail it to you?

Keep your ticket from the sports book. If you win you can redeem the ticket through the mail. The instructions for redeeming are on the back of your wager ticket.

 

[OburgOrange]

Need to stay healthy. Bottom line

 

[kcsu]

IF we stay healthy we should win 4 for sure. Lose two for sure. Be underdogs in another two to three for sure and have the rest as toss ups. I see 6 wins being a good season anything more is really solid