Game by game predictions from CFN

[Eric15]

Very reasonable predictions -- they respect us.

Sept. 3 vs. Colgate

The Raiders should find a way to get into the Patriot League title chase if the defense can be up to snuff again, but they’re about to be hit hard by the Syracuse offense that’ll look solid – not sensational – right out of the gate.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 38, Colgate 6

Sept. 9 vs. Louisville
This would kick off the Dino Babers ACC era with a big, giant, massive win, but unfortunately the offense won’t be there quite yet to keep up the pace. The Friday night game will be fun and interesting, but the Cardinals will pull away in the second half.

Preseason Prediction: Louisville 37, Syracuse 27

Sept. 17 vs. USF
The Bulls have the running game and the defense to get control of the game and make it a good battle. They’ll keep the score down, but they won’t have enough firepower with the passing game to overcome a nice day from the SU air attack.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 27, USF 16

Sept. 24 at Connecticut
It’s on the road against yet another good defensive team from the American Athletic Conference, and it’s another game where the Syracuse defense will look great against a mediocre offense. It won’t be anything pretty, but the Orange will take their third win of the young season.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 23, Connecticut 17

Oct. 1 vs. Notre Dame (in New Jersey)
It’s sort of a Syracuse home game, except it isn’t, since it’s being played in East Rutherford, New Jersey. At this point in the season, Notre Dame should be hitting its stride. It’ll be a fun environment for both teams, but the Irish will grind it out and make more of a muck game.

Preseason Prediction: Notre Dame 30, Syracuse 17

Oct. 8 at Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons will need this. They’ll be coming in on a little bit of a losing streak, and they’ll have a trip to Florida State coming up next. Syracuse will have the deep plays that Wake won’t. The Orange’s defense won’t be anything special, but the offense will be terrific through the air in a scoring shootout.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 34, Wake Forest 31

Oct. 15 vs. Virginia Tech
And there’s the Syracuse team and the win that’ll change things up. Virginia Tech is the better team, and the Hokie defense should be able to make up for a sloppy day from the offense, but the Orange will come up with come up with a sharp day taking advantage of mistakes for the huge victory.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 27, Virginia Tech 23

Oct. 22 at Boston College
Syracuse will be on a roll after the win over Virginia Tech, but going to Boston College will end the fun in a hurry. The Orange won’t be able to grind with the Eagles and get by their defense up front, but with a week off to rest up, BC will finally win an ACC game again.

Preseason Prediction: Boston College 34, Syracuse 27

Nov. 5 at Clemson
The time off won’t do enough to help the Orange. Clemson will already have two losses and will be more than ready to start kicking it back in. Last year’s fight in the Carrier Dome was tough, but this will be a focused and strong effort from the defending ACC champs. They’ll coast after the first quarter.

Preseason Prediction: Clemson 38, Syracuse 17

Nov. 12 vs. NC State
The Wolfpack will need a relatively easy game at home – at least compared to the big boys faced on the road before this – but it’s not going to happen as Syracuse comes up with a terrific game from a balanced offensive run. The Orange get bowl eligible in a must-win with Florida State up next.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 37, NC State 31

Nov. 19 vs. Florida State
Syracuse will throw everything including the kitchen sink at the Seminoles in the final home game of the season. FSU will be too good, too talented, and too strong – waking up just in time to get the win – but Twitter will be buzzing about a possible upset until late.

Preseason Prediction: Florida State 30, Syracuse 23

Nov. 26 at Pitt
Syracuse will already have a bowl bid locked up, and the team should get better by the end of the season, but it’ll get hit by a Pitt team that plays like the team it was supposed to be all season long. The Orange will get a few nice drives, but they’ll settle for too many field goals.

Preseason Prediction: Pitt 38, Syracuse 12

2016 Prediction: 6-6
2016 ACC Prediction: 3-5

 

[HRE Otto IV]

We aren't losing to FSU. I am not sure that BC will score 34 points total in ACC play this year let alone one game.

 

[CuseCactus]

Very reasonable predictions -- they respect us.

Sept. 3 vs. Colgate

The Raiders should find a way to get into the Patriot League title chase if the defense can be up to snuff again, but they’re about to be hit hard by the Syracuse offense that’ll look solid – not sensational – right out of the gate.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 38, Colgate 6

Sept. 9 vs. Louisville
This would kick off the Dino Babers ACC era with a big, giant, massive win, but unfortunately the offense won’t be there quite yet to keep up the pace. The Friday night game will be fun and interesting, but the Cardinals will pull away in the second half.

Preseason Prediction: Louisville 37, Syracuse 27

Sept. 17 vs. USF
The Bulls have the running game and the defense to get control of the game and make it a good battle. They’ll keep the score down, but they won’t have enough firepower with the passing game to overcome a nice day from the SU air attack.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 27, USF 16

Sept. 24 at Connecticut
It’s on the road against yet another good defensive team from the American Athletic Conference, and it’s another game where the Syracuse defense will look great against a mediocre offense. It won’t be anything pretty, but the Orange will take their third win of the young season.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 23, Connecticut 17

Oct. 1 vs. Notre Dame (in New Jersey)
It’s sort of a Syracuse home game, except it isn’t, since it’s being played in East Rutherford, New Jersey. At this point in the season, Notre Dame should be hitting its stride. It’ll be a fun environment for both teams, but the Irish will grind it out and make more of a muck game.

Preseason Prediction: Notre Dame 30, Syracuse 17

Oct. 8 at Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons will need this. They’ll be coming in on a little bit of a losing streak, and they’ll have a trip to Florida State coming up next. Syracuse will have the deep plays that Wake won’t. The Orange’s defense won’t be anything special, but the offense will be terrific through the air in a scoring shootout.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 34, Wake Forest 31

Oct. 15 vs. Virginia Tech
And there’s the Syracuse team and the win that’ll change things up. Virginia Tech is the better team, and the Hokie defense should be able to make up for a sloppy day from the offense, but the Orange will come up with come up with a sharp day taking advantage of mistakes for the huge victory.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 27, Virginia Tech 23

Oct. 22 at Boston College
Syracuse will be on a roll after the win over Virginia Tech, but going to Boston College will end the fun in a hurry. The Orange won’t be able to grind with the Eagles and get by their defense up front, but with a week off to rest up, BC will finally win an ACC game again.

Preseason Prediction: Boston College 34, Syracuse 27

Nov. 5 at Clemson
The time off won’t do enough to help the Orange. Clemson will already have two losses and will be more than ready to start kicking it back in. Last year’s fight in the Carrier Dome was tough, but this will be a focused and strong effort from the defending ACC champs. They’ll coast after the first quarter.

Preseason Prediction: Clemson 38, Syracuse 17

Nov. 12 vs. NC State
The Wolfpack will need a relatively easy game at home – at least compared to the big boys faced on the road before this – but it’s not going to happen as Syracuse comes up with a terrific game from a balanced offensive run. The Orange get bowl eligible in a must-win with Florida State up next.

Preseason Prediction: Syracuse 37, NC State 31

Nov. 19 vs. Florida State
Syracuse will throw everything including the kitchen sink at the Seminoles in the final home game of the season. FSU will be too good, too talented, and too strong – waking up just in time to get the win – but Twitter will be buzzing about a possible upset until late.

Preseason Prediction: Florida State 30, Syracuse 23

Nov. 26 at Pitt
Syracuse will already have a bowl bid locked up, and the team should get better by the end of the season, but it’ll get hit by a Pitt team that plays like the team it was supposed to be all season long. The Orange will get a few nice drives, but they’ll settle for too many field goals.

Preseason Prediction: Pitt 38, Syracuse 12

2016 Prediction: 6-6
2016 ACC Prediction: 3-5

Sign me up for this right now.

 

[JrodCuse]

I'll take 6 wins in a heartbeat. Just bowl and get those extra practices. The rest is gravy in year1 of the new era.

 

[KaiserUEO]

I'd buy that, but they beat the clowns.

7-5.

Our floor for the next 20 years +...

 

[PAcuse]

The record is nice, but they have use scoring less points per game then last year. We get more points against UCONN, flip the BC, add a few points to the PITT game, and maybe we find a way to get to 50 in one of the other games.

 

[TheCusian]

The record is nice, but they have use scoring less points per game then last year. We get more points against UCONN, flip the BC, add a few points to the PITT game, and maybe we find a way to get to 50 in one of the other games.

Yeah, ESPN has been doing the same thing. Assuming the offense takes a step back due to a new system... When last years offense was a new system run by freshman.

I dunno.

 

[upperdeck]

last years team scores 7 more a game just by not having to start 10 different QBs all season.

 

[SWFLCUSE]

The only game I don't agree with is the BC game. No way in hell they find a way to put up 30 in a single game. I think Babers O will be too much and they will be forced to throw more than they want. Hopefully this leads to a turnover or two in our favor and it turns into a two score game for the Orange.

 

[JackBauer44]

I've been saying 7-5 for the past two months.

 

[Deano]

How did they assume Clemson will already have 2 losses when they face SU. I think Clemson will be in the Title game.

 

[Eric15]

How did they assume Clemson will already have 2 losses when they face SU. I think Clemson will be in the Title game.

Clemson is at Auburn and at FSU before playing us. I don't see them losing both those games, but that could easily be a split.

 

[OrangeMojo]

BC hasn't scored an offensive touchdown in 6 years and they're going to beat a 5-2 Syracuse team????? No sir - they are not! The rest of that, other than Wake keeping the game close seems pretty solid. I'd give it a B grade.

 

[chugg21]

Don't think we're beating the Hokies and don't think we're losing to BC. Swap those 2 and I'm all in.

 

[Eric15]

BC hasn't scored an offensive touchdown in 6 years and they're going to beat a 5-2 Syracuse team????? No sir - they are not!

I personally think we will beat BC, as well. But it's not like we handled them at home last year. We won on a field goal as time expired.

 

[Trueblue25]

I don't see BC having the offense to keep up or score much on us.

 

[SoBeCuse]

BC hasn't scored an offensive touchdown in 6 years and they're going to beat a 5-2 Syracuse team????? No sir - they are not! The rest of that, other than Wake keeping the game close seems pretty solid. I'd give it a B grade.

Huh? As recently as 2014 they went to a bowl and put up 37 on USC.

 

[SoBeCuse]

I'll take the 6-6. We're in no position right now to be demanding/expecting 7-5 type seasons. Slowly but surely.

 

[Trueblue25]

Pittsburgh beating us by over 3 touchdowns.


My head will explode

 

[KaiserUEO]

Huh? As recently as 2014 they went to a bowl and put up 37 on USC.

BC hasn't scored an offensive touchdown in 6 years...

 

[sufandu]

We aren't losing to FSU. I am not sure that BC will score 34 points total in ACC play this year let alone one game.

I'm curious what odds you're giving on that one. I may have to take them and hope I lose.

 

[Trueblue25]

Am I the only one here who thinks not one 2016 opponent will come within 3 touchdowns of beating us?

 

[TheCusian]

Huh? As recently as 2014 they went to a bowl and put up 37 on USC.

That was like 3 QB and an offensive coordinator ago. They also lost their DC.

The only remaining Dude is Addazzio.

 

[CuseCactus]

BC scores less than Millhouse. I kid, I kid.

 

[texascpa]

Am I the only one here who thinks not one 2016 opponent will come within 3 touchdowns of beating us?

I'm on the Trueblue bandwagon.