It’s time for some Syracuse football after months of waiting. Tonight the season kicks off and ITLH breaks it all down before kickoff.
It’s been a long while. Too long if you ask me of no college football. Fortunately that all comes to an end for Syracuse football fans tonight. So every week our staff will give their predictions for the big game before it happens.
Paul A. Esden Jr.- Site Expert
Follow: @BoyGreen25
It’s the typical cream puff for the Syracuse football team. A necessary evil in college football where these minuscule teams need to play these games to keep the lights on. This is only the second time in the Blue Devils history they’re playing a FBS team and the first time didn’t fare well.
I expect this game to be easily won, but it’s not about the win, that’s expected. The thing I want to see is good fundamentals. Defense swarming to the ball, making good decisions offensively, not doing too much. I think the Orange come away with a similar score to last season’s opener: Syracuse 34 Central Connecticut State 7.
Neil Adler- Contributor
College football is back, and I just love it. Our beloved Orange opens up the season this Friday night
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versus Central Connecticut State from the Carrier Dome.
Coming off a 2-9 mark a year ago, Central Connecticut State returns a bunch of its key guys from this past go-round. That’s the good news. The bad news is that, in 2016, the Blue Devils (wait, are we playing Duke?) coughed up a ton of points per contest, and their offense isn’t all that stellar, either.
So, Syracuse should have a field day generating touchdowns with its high-powered offensive machine. The real question is whether SU’s defense is up to snuff this season. Against heavyweights like Clemson, Florida State and LSU, I assume that the ‘Cuse will struggle on D. However, Central Connecticut State is none of those powerhouse programs. Even though Syracuse head coach Dino Babers has described the Blue Devils as a “very dangerous situation,” I’m not buying it. I think that SU rolls in this one, 45-17, to kick off the 2017 term. Go Orange!
Andrew Carey- Contributor
Follow: @Papi_Carey
I expect Syracuse to come out firing on opening night Friday in the Dome. Last season their opener was against an FCS team in Colgate, and Syracuse took care of business against a pretty good Colgate team.
Central Connecticut State is much less a threat to knock off the Orange in the Dome and I expect Dontae Strickland will have a nice game running the ball. Look for either Jamal Custis or Devin Butler to contribute on the receiving side as Syracuse looks for a number 2 option on the outside opposite Steve Ishmael. I expect a Syracuse drubbing with the final score 45 to 10.
Next: Syracuse Football: Positional grades heading into 2017 season
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
I agree with Neil. This game should be an easy one for the ‘Cuse. If the Orange lose this game the season doesn’t bode well for them.
The Syracuse Football team will show right away why Orange is the New Fast. They won’t take the foot of the pedal and will score a lot. I expect Zack Mahoney to be in by late third quarter or maybe highly rated freshman Tommy DeVito in for some snaps because it’s such a blowout.
Anytime you can get in-game reps for your backups can pay off down the line. I think the Orange defense will be good but it will be hard to tell how good because after all, it is Central Connecticut State. If I haven’t heard of them they probably aren’t that great, just saying. (Sorry Blue Devil fans!) I think the Orange will roll to a 56-3 win. Onto Middle Tennessee next week in the Dome!
Zachary Weisleder- Contributor
Follow: @ZachWeisleder
In last years opener, in game one of Dino Babers’ already famous no-huddle offense, the Orange dismantled Colgate 33-7. This time around, with more experience under his belt, quarterback Eric Dungey should pick apart Central Connecticut State’s defense all night, and back ups Zack Mahoney and Tommy DeVito should see plenty of playing time early.
Expect this game to be over before it starts. Syracuse should cruise to a 47-7 victory over Central Connecticut State. The Blue Devils haven’t played an FBS squad since 2007, when they lost 51-14 to Western Michigan.