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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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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 05: C’Bo Flemister #24 of the Pittsburgh Panthers flips as he goes into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter during the game against the Syracuse Orange at Acrisure Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 05: C’Bo Flemister #24 of the Pittsburgh Panthers flips as he goes into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter during the game against the Syracuse Orange at Acrisure Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

vs Pittsburgh (L)

This one isn’t worth breaking much sweat to explain. Pittsburgh will be meeting Syracuse in Yankee Stadium for a rivalry game that the former has only lost once since 2012. This goes without mentioning that the Panthers are coming off of a 9-win season that saw them win their last five games. So yeah, whatever rhythm Syracuse could’ve possibly found will go right out the door once this matchup rolls around.

@ Georgia Tech (L)

Similarly to the Virginia Tech game, this is a trickier one for me to call with confidence. Georgia Tech had a very ugly start to its 2022 run before showing glimpses of promise following a sudden coaching change. Some of the team’s more notable moments were upset wins over Pittsburgh, Duke, and North Carolina (each of which won nine games last season).

To have a team that unpredictable host you after your trying loss in a rivalry game fails to give off very comforting vibes.

Wake Forest (W)

This one may come as a surprise to some people, as the Wake Forest Demon Deacons have managed to survive Syracuse in their last three meetings, with two of them being by multiple scores. Why would the Orange, after losing one of their best offensive pieces in Sean Tucker, have what it takes to down the Deacs now?

The short answer is that I’m giving this one to Syracuse for two reasons. The first reason? It has the home-field advantage, something that has been known to give Wake some serious trouble in the past. The second reason? The Deacs have lost so. Much. Talent.

On paper, it’s hard to deny that Wake Forest is in for one of the biggest transformations in college football—and not a good one. The most notable names they have lost include Sam Hartman (Notre Dame), Christian Turner (Indiana), Quinton Cooley (Liberty), A.T. Perry (NFL), Blake Whiteheart (NFL), and Gavin Holmes (Texas). Quite a staggering list.

And lastly, to put the cherry on top, the Deacs have to go into Syracuse right after an astonishingly brutal 5-week stretch. They have to face five opponents that each won eight games or more in 2022 back-to-back. If the Orange can’t down Wake under those kinds of circumstances, they just might never do so again.

dark. Next. College football: 5 teams with the most turnaround potential in 2023

I have the Syracuse Orange finishing their 2023-24 college football regular season with a record of 6-6. They will likely be invited to a forgettable bowl game, but a forgettable bowl is better than no bowl at all. Their season will conclude on a note not much better/worse than 2022’s, and any serious discussions regarding a change at head coach will probably be delayed at least a little bit longer as a result.

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