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Syracuse Football: Game-by-game predictions for Orange in 2023

By Austin Lloyd

Sep 17, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II (19) is hoisted by teammates after catching a winning touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers late in the fourth quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II (19) is hoisted by teammates after catching a winning touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers late in the fourth quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver TJ Sheffield (8) has a pass broken up by Syracuse Orange defensive back Darian Chestnut (0) in the fourth quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver TJ Sheffield (8) has a pass broken up by Syracuse Orange defensive back Darian Chestnut (0) in the fourth quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

Colgate (W)

One of the worst crimes you can commit against a sportswriter is forcing him/her to talk about a game like this. If Syracuse were to struggle here—or even worse, lose—I would be open to the university scrapping the program and just focusing more on basketball.

Western Michigan (W)

Within the last decade or so, we have seen a couple of years where it would not have been wise to sleep on this matchup. However, 2023 will likely not be one of those years.

Simply put, the Orange—who should be quite comfortable after rolling past Colgate—will be hosting a team that just suffered its first losing season since 2013. Will it be an easier fight than Colgate? Probably not. But, will it be an easier fight than just about everyone else on the schedule? Hopefully.

@ Purdue (L)

This will be the first true challenge for the Orange, as going from hosting non-Power 5 competition to duking it out in Big Ten territory will never not be a jarring transition—making the thought of it being their first loss rather unsurprising.

The Boilermakers are far from a great squad today, having lost both their starting quarterback and head coach. A troublesome atmosphere and familiarity with physical league play should be enough for them to win, though, especially with Syracuse losing a star of its own with running back Sean Tucker moving on to the NFL.

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