Is a 5-1 start too crazy to expect next year?

[Cuse_Albs]

With our schedule next year, I don't think it's a stretch to think that we will start 5-1. Maybe I'm looking through orange-shaded glasses but I really don't see a team, barring LSU, that SHOULD beat us in our first 6 games.

In reality though its college football, so anything can happen, but I have to think that anything worse than 4-2, would be a huge disappointment.

On paper it should look something like this:
Should win: RI, CMU, Wake
Toss Up: atUSF, atUVa
Probable Loss: LSU

Definitely could make an argument to throw USF in the should win column, but...its in Tampa and we are coming off a 3-9 campaign, regardless of how many injuries or how inept our OC and his system was. And returning only 7 Off/Def starters from last year creates huge question marks, in and of itself.

Thoughts?

 

[TheCusian]

With our schedule next year, I don't think it's a stretch to think that we will start 5-1. Maybe I'm looking through orange-shaded glasses but I really don't see a team, barring LSU, that SHOULD beat us in our first 6 games. In reality though its college football, so anything can happen, but I have to think that anything worse than 4-2, would be a huge disappointment. On paper it should look something like this: Should win: RI, CMU, Wake Toss Up: atUSF, atUVa Probable Loss: LSU Definitely could make an argument to throw USF in the should win column, but...its in Tampa and we are coming off a 3-9 campaign, regardless of how many injuries or how inept our OC and his system was. And returning only 7 Off/Def starters from last year creates huge question marks, in and of itself. Thoughts?

I think winning the first 3 is paramount. Agree that LSU is probably a loss (but you never know). USF was worse than us last year - but yeah - at their place... I say 65% chance of a UVa is interesting. They could be good (talent is there) but they've shat the bed a bunch the past 4 years.

I'd say 5-1 is a great start and is within reason. 4-2 is probably less likely. 3-3 and we are in for a long season.

 

[jekelish]

COULD start 5-1? Absolutely.
WILL start 5-1? I highly doubt it. I'm anticipating a 4-2 or 3-3 start in those first six games, which is going to make the back half of the schedule insanely crucial.

 

[RF2044]

COULD start 5-1? Absolutely.
WILL start 5-1? I highly doubt it. I'm anticipating a 4-2 or 3-3 start in those first six games, which is going to make the back half of the schedule insanely crucial.

Absolutely have to be 4-2 to stay in bowl contention, given how back loaded the schedule is.

If we don't have 4 wins in the first 6 games, it is going to be exceedingly difficult to qualify.

 

[jekelish]

Absolutely have to be 4-2 to stay in bowl contention, given how back loaded the schedule is.

If we don't have 4 wins in the first 6 games, it is going to be exceedingly difficult to qualify.

Agreed. Which could, conceivably, make the USF game the most important game of the season.

 

[iommi]

A 3-3 start will likely lead to a 5-7 finish.

A 4-2 start will likely lead to a 6-6 finish.

The USF game is a must win.

 

[JeremyCuse]

The problem with this line of thinking is that every time over the past decade the schedule was set up in a smiliar fashion or people were saying that SU had to start out with "such and such a record" it inevitably would lose a game or two most penciled in as wins and the high hopes fell apart.

At this point we have no idea what to expect from this schedule outside of the first game and based on the last 6 years of play versus Div 1AA teams not named Wagner even that isnt a lock.

 

[NineOneSeven]

"Should" is a word that is hard to apply to syracuse football over the last decade.

 

[phsyra]

I did not purchase an airline ticket from Florida anticipating to see a loss to LSU. I want to see a win much like the win against a favored Florida team in the dome a few years back.

 

[cuse309]

With Blair contributing in the secondary, and living up to expectations, 5-1 is possible. Without, we have a very small secondary without depth...3-3 is likely.

 

[TheCusian]

The problem with this line of thinking is that every time over the past decade the schedule was set up in a smiliar fashion or people were saying that SU had to start out with "such and such a record" it inevitably would lose a game or two most penciled in as wins and the high hopes fell apart. At this point we have no idea what to expect from this schedule outside of the first game and based on the last 6 years of play versus Div 1AA teams not named Wagner even that isnt a lock.

Buffalo is to FSU as RI is to Nova.

 

[retro44]

COULD start 5-1? Absolutely.
WILL start 5-1? I highly doubt it. I'm anticipating a 4-2 or 3-3 start in those first six games, which is going to make the back half of the schedule insanely crucial.

Dude you are going to need to stay away from the keyboard for a while......I am expecting a 6-0 start or a 6-1 start.

LSU does not scare this team or staff. They were 8-5 last year and lost a lot to the draft and off season. We are at home and we have historically played well against SEC teams here.

 

[Chip]

Buffalo is to FSU as RI is to Nova.

Or you could say Wagner is to Wagner as URI is to Wagner.

If the URI game is a struggle, it's a much bigger red flag than Villanova was (not that it wasn't a giant red flag also).

Key game is Wake. They will be better on offense, they had nowhere to go but up anyway. Can't slip up there.

 

[jekelish]

Or you could say Wagner is to Wagner as URI is to Wagner.

If the URI game is a struggle, it's a much bigger red flag than Villanova was (not that it wasn't a giant red flag also).

Key game is Wake. They will be better on offense, they had nowhere to go but up anyway. Can't slip up there.

Agree. We never should have struggled with Nova, but they clearly were a step above most 1AA teams (FCS or whatever).

 

[AAM62]

With Blair contributing in the secondary, and living up to expectations, 5-1 is possible. Without, we have a very small secondary without depth...3-3 is likely.

you are putting way too much stock into a true freshman

 

[jekelish]

you are putting way too much stock into a true freshman

At one position, at that.

 

[omniorange]

Considering how bad things went for us last year, it wouldn't surprise me at all to start 5-1 this season.

That's my gut feeling, and I'm sticking to it until proven otherwise.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Alsacs]

Just be happy with a 4-2 start. I do not expect to win at both @USF and @UVA. Start 3-0 URI, WF, CMU. Play respectable into the 2nd half against LSU. Split USF/UVA and be at 4-2.
If we are 4-2 then it means we can get to 6 wins.

 

[Alsacs]

Agree. We never should have struggled with Nova, but they clearly were a step above most 1AA teams (FCS or whatever).

That is why if we are going to play a 1AA team it should be a crappy 1AA a la what Rutgers does. If you play a crappy 1AA like Wagner you dominant and build confidence. There are certain 1AAs I would never play and Nova is one of them.

 

[Alsacs]

Buffalo is to FSU as RI is to Nova.

This wrong IMO. Nova is a far superior 1AA team, but the gap between them and URI is not as big as FSU to Buffalo. Coaching matters a lot more in 1AAthan 1A because the talent isn't that large. 1-85 its like Buffalo is to FSU as Elmhurst is to Nova.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Buffalo is to FSU as RI is to Nova.

I dont disagree but with Syracuse basically revamping the entire defense and the offense still a huge question mark would it really suprise you if this was relatively close game at half or early in the 3rd? Our play against 1AA's even going back to Marrone has been uninspiring at best.

I would hope that Syracuse could have this type of game wrapped up at half especially with RI being an absolute dreg last year but you just never know with this team.

 

[KaiserUEO]

Just be happy with a 4-2 start. I do not expect to win at both @USF and @UVA. Start 3-0 URI, WF, CMU. Play respectable into the 2nd half against LSU. Split USF/UVA and be at 4-2.
If we are 4-2 then it means we can get to 6 wins.

ill be relieved with a 4-2 start, for a bowl game is still in play.

5-1 will make me happy...and fill my head with unicorns, rainbows and an 8 win regular season
4-2 will be relief and hope for a 7-5 while expecting at least 6-6 (anything less and SS is gone)
3-3 will mean 3-9 and see above

 

[texascpa]

We're beating LSU. Bank on it.

 

[Alsacs]

ill be relieved with a 4-2 start, for a bowl game is still in play.

5-1 will make me happy...and fill my head with unicorns, rainbows and an 8 win regular season
4-2 will be relief and hope for a 7-5 while expecting at least 6-6 (anything less and SS is gone)
3-3 will mean 3-9 and see above

I really hope it is a 6-6 season or we get a new HC. However, we have no clue sadly.

I mean if we go 5-1 then 9-3 should be in play. If we win can beat both USF and UVA on the road we should be able to win @NC State and sweep BC and Pitt at home. That is why 4-2 tells me we should win 2 of those 3 and finish 7-5/8-4.

3-3 means we are going 4-8 at best.

Las Vegas has our O/U at 4.5 wins. They think we are a 4-8 or 5-7 team if you want to pluck down the money.

 

[NineOneSeven]

We're beating LSU. Bank on it.

Just deposited the check this morning.