How will the Syracuse Football season play out? A roundtable discussion

On this week’s roundtable discussion, the staff predicts the 2017 season for the Syracuse football team. Plus we reveal what the fans predict?

We’ve been holding this topic in our back pocket for a while now. But we can’t wait any longer, it’s time to predict the 2017 Syracuse football campaign.

In this week’s roundtable we’ll hear from our cast of motley crew and characters. Plus we’ll hear from Orange Nation inside our twitterbag to see what you guys think!

Paul A. Esden Jr.- Site Expert

Follow: @BoyGreen25

Alright guess we’ll start with me. I want to do a quick shoutout to announce to those who haven’t seen I’ll be participating in Syracuse Football Postgame for The Score 1260 this Fall for every game, home or away.

It’s a huge promotion and you’ll hear me on-air at TheScore1260.com or of course on The Score 1260 mobile app. For the latest content and coverage you can follow me above @BoyGreen25 on social media.

Enough about me, back to the task at hand. I’m not a homer by any means, despite living in the city and donning the gear. I strongly believe that the Orange can get back to a bowl game for the first time since 2013.

The Orange have won three straight bowl games dating back to 2010 (Pinstripe Bowl x2 and a victory in the Texas Bowl). While the Orange schedule ranks among the most difficult in the country the path is there.

I’m going to blast through this for time’s sake but here’s the path to six: I concur with the rest of

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my staff chalk up three victories to open season 3-0.

LSU is going to be tough, no question about it, realistically that’s a loss. I’ve heard a lot of good things about NC State, regardless I like the Orange to have momentum from those first three weeks and to take this one on the road.

Pitt lost a lot of talent on offense with James Conner gone and Nathan Pederman to the NFL. So give me a win there. Now in this exercise I’m only going to take into account wins that wouldn’t be considered major upsets.

BUT if I was going to pick a game where the Orange could take one that no one was thinking about, it may be this Clemson game on Friday October 13th. While last year the Orange were on the road in Death Valley and got creamed (54-0).

I expect a closer game at the very least. So SU loses three in a row (Miami, Florida State, and Clemson). Wake Forest is a win. Lamar Jackson is a beast he’ll be too much. SU finishes season with a win against Boston College. For those keeping track at home I have the Orange going 7-5. That’s without any crazy upsets. Expect the Orange to go bowling in other words!

Neil Adler- Contributor

The college-football season is just around the corner, and that has me all jazzed up. Now, I root for my beloved Syracuse outfit like crazy, but I fully admit that I’m not much of an expert when it comes to the pigskin.

However, I think things are trending upward for the ‘Cuse. I really dig the enthusiasm and passion that Dino Babers is bringing to Central New York, and I expect more wins than a year ago. That being said, SU has one of the toughest schedules in the country, matching up versus a bevy of ranked squads, and with a slew of affairs on the road. Yikes!

Still, I see the Orange accumulating at least five victories, and perhaps as many as seven. If I have to give a specific number, I’m forecasting a 6-6 mark, and a bowl berth. That, my friends, would amount to a solid campaign for Syracuse, in my humble opinion. It’s pretty clear that Babers’ boys are going to score a ton of points. It all comes down to how the defense and special teams perform. If they each hold their own, it could prove a sweet season for SU.

Next: Syracuse Football Conversation With Jay Bromley (Post 2017 NFL Draft)

Josh Peelman- Contributor

Follow: @jnpmessenger

Call me crazy, but I think even with this hard schedule, the Syracuse Orange football team can win 7 games!

Yeah, you heard me right! I’m optimistic about this season. Like everyone else I think we will either the first three games against Central Connecticut State, Middle Tennessee, and Central Michigan.

After that I think we do lose to LSU but it won’t be as big of a blowout as people think. Next I think the Orange win their only road game at NC State. I think the Orange will beat Pittsburgh at home in what will be a minor upset. Also, I predict the game will not have as high of a score as we saw last year when the teams put up a final score of 76-61. It sounds like a basketball score, but I can assure you it wasn’t, and the Orange came out on the losing end anyways.

Next unfortunately I think we lose three straight to powerhouse programs Clemson, Florida State, and Miami. I think that the Clemson game at home has a chance to be close after two great performances the week’s prior.

To end the season, I think the Orange beat Wake Forest, lose to Louisville, and defeat Boston College. That brings the Orange record to 7-5. The keys to having this 7-5 record though will be that the defense will have to step up when it needs to, that Eric Dungey will stay healthy, and that the offense puts up points at almost the same rate that it did last year. Considering that Dino Babers has a high-octane offense I think it highly likely that the Orange will put up lots of points this year once again, especially with Dungey behind center. If these things fall in place then the Orange will finish I think with the 7-5 record and be back in a bowl game! Go Orange!

Zachary Weisleder- Contributor

Follow: @ZachWeisleder

Syracuse football should start the college season with three easy wins over Central Connecticut State, Middle Tennessee State, and Central Michigan. The Orange will most likely lose two straight after that to LSU and NC State.

Their next two games are important ones. On October 7th, the Orange will play Pittsburgh, and don’t be surprise if both teams once again dominate on offense. Then, they will take on Clemson, Miami, and Florida state. Barring a miracle, the Orange should lose all three.

Then against Wake Forest, the Orange should capture their fifth win of the year and be 5-5. However, they will play Louisville the following week, and fall to 5-6. Their final matchup against Boston College on November 25th should be a thriller. Syracuse should win the contest and finish with a 6-6 record.

Paul A. Esden Sr.- Contributor

As I have previously quoted, I expect this team to go 7-5 and go bowling in December.

This team has a lot of talent and is the most experienced squad in the nation! Let that sink in for a moment … they also have a seasoned QB whose stats eclipse those of last years Heisman winner with potentially the most talented returning receiver group.

Now that was the good news, the bad news is that the OITNF faces once again the toughest schedule in the BCS. The campaign included a who’s who in college football: Clemson, LSU, Florida State, Louisville. This writer believes a healthy Orange team will win one of those four and at least once end up in the top 25. Go Orange!