Syracuse Football: Can Orange get back to bowl contention in 2020?

How will Syracuse football fare in 2020?

Two games have already been cancelled with the Big Ten announcing they will only be playing conference games and the Patriot League cancelling fall sports for 2020. We are going to predict the remaining 10 games as if they will not be replaced.

• Week 1: at Boston College (W) — The Eagles torched Syracuse last year, but lose AJ Dillon to the Packers and have a new head coach. I think Syracuse can steal this one.
• Week 2: at Rutgers (Cancelled)
• Week 3: vs. Colgate (Cancelled)
• Week 4: at Western Michigan (W) — Syracuse has beaten down Western Michigan the past two seasons. Add on the fact Western Michigan hasn’t beaten a Power Five school since PJ Fleck led them on a magical run in 2016. Syracuse should be able to handle the Broncos here.
• Week 5: vs. Louisville (L) — This is where the defense’s lack of experience will hurt them. Louisville had a high powered offense last season and bring back Malik Cunningham, a dual-threat quarterback who can hurt the Orange in the air and on the ground.
• Week 6: BYE
• Week 7: vs. Liberty (W) — Hugh Freeze led Liberty to an eight-win season in his first year, just don’t think he will be able to take down Syracuse after getting shut out Week 1 last season.
• Week 8: at Clemson (L) — Good luck.
• Week 9: vs. Georgia Tech (W) — The post-Paul Johnson era got off to a very tough start. Georgia Tech is in a transitional period and Syracuse will be able to capitalize on a team that was miserable offensively and defensively in 2019.
• Week 10: at Wake Forest (L) — I think Syracuse will struggle here. The Orange have allowed 30-plus points to Wake Forest in two of the last three meetings. This will be a close one but Wake Forest holds on.
• Week 11: vs. NC State (W) — NC State is a young team and had inconsistency at the quarterback position last season. Syracuse should be able to take care of business here at home.
• Week 12: vs. Florida State (L) – The rollercoaster that is Florida State will bring a new regime into the Carrier Dome. I think Florida State finally gets to a consistent level in 2020, and Syracuse will fall short against the new look Seminoles.
• Week 13: at Pitt (L) — Pitt has a very good defensive unit, they will be able to smother the Orange offensive line and put pressure on Tommy DeVito all day.

Prediction: 5-5

As it stands I have Syracuse finishing at 5-5 for the 2020 season. It will be interesting to monitor how the ACC schedules look with Notre Dame in the mix. Syracuse is hurt by two cancelled games against very beatable opponents.