Paul A. Esden Jr, Site Expert (1-2)
I’ve done as well picking Syracuse games as the team has played them, but I digress.
The biggest reason that I’ve swung and missed so far is that I assumed at some point the offense would start to click for the Orange. Boy have I been wrong.
The Orange scored 24 in Week 1 vs Liberty (not impressive), only 20 vs Maryland (really not impressive) and a measly six points in Week 3 vs Clemson. If Syracuse is going to go anywhere this season they need the offense to start moving and grooving.
That all starts with the offensive line play which is admittedly much worse this season. No reinforcements are coming any time soon, it seems like Sam Heckel is out for the foreseeable future.
Putting the offensive line issues aside, Tommy DeVito needs to get a connection with his receivers. The thing that excited Syracuse fans in 2018 about DeVito was his ability to hit the deep ball which has been nonexistent so far in 2019.
The Orange have the horses to hit deep with Nykeim Johnson, Taj Harris, and Trishton Jackson, but they have to execute. If Syracuse can set up the pass to eventually run, then perhaps they can get that dominant win.
However, I won’t be predicting an offensive explosion until the Orange proves it can do it. Give me Syracuse 28-19 vs the Broncos to get back to .500.