Syracuse Football: Can Cuse move to ACC middle class?

Schedule and prediction

This schedule is really, really tough Syracuse is in the same division as three of the top five teams in the ACC, and their cross-division schedule isn’t much better either.

Western Michigan and Wagner should both be wins to start the season. Back to back home games against Florida State and UConn after that aren’t too bad either, though FSU will be much improved.

3-1 heading into the brunt of ACC wouldn’t be too bad, if this schedule wasn’t so tough. However, back to back road trips to Clemson and Pitt will be brutal, heading into a bye.

None of the rest of their games after that bye are pushovers either. North Carolina, Wake Forest and Boston College should all be winnable, but none of them will be easy.

If Syracuse can win those three, and one of NC State, Louisville or Notre Dame, they’ll likely be bowl bound. Unfortunately, I’m just not sure how likely that is for a team that still doesn’t have much of a passing defense.

Prediction: 6-6

I think Babers gets Syracuse back to a bowl this year. Wins over Western Michigan, Wagner, UConn, North Carolina, Boston College and an upset, either over Louisville or NC State are all possible.

Next: Preseason Top 25 following spring practices

It’ll take widespread improvement, but this isn’t an extremely unlikely result. The ACC may have a bit of a down year this season. Syracuse still isn’t talented enough to beat the best of the conference, but the middle class is much weaker than usual. That may be the opportunity Babers needs.