Syracuse Football: Slotted No. 14 in ACC pre-season media poll is absurd
By Neil Adler
Syracuse football is positioned next-to-last in the ACC’s pre-season media poll, and that placement is a bit too low.
Syracuse football players simply will have to go out and take care of business on the field, as media members clearly don’t think that the Orange will fare well in the 2020 campaign.
As the ‘Cuse prepares to take on No. 18 North Carolina in the Orange’s fall season opener in a week, the Atlantic Coast Conference has released its pre-season media poll for the 2020 stanza.
Clemson, the No. 1 pre-season squad in both major top-25 polls, is unsurprisingly the overwhelming favorite to capture the ACC crown. The Tigers received 132 out of a possible 134 first-place votes in the league’s pre-season media poll, and voters also have picked Clemson to win the ACC championship contest, which is planned for Dec. 12 or Dec. 19 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
For Syracuse football, meanwhile, the ‘Cuse is coming in at No. 14, with only Georgia Tech falling behind the Orange in the pre-season media poll.
Yes, Syracuse football boasts a daunting 2020 schedule, which includes road visits to Clemson, Notre Dame, UNC, Pittsburgh and Louisville. The Carrier Dome slate is certainly less imposing, with match-ups versus Georgia Tech, Duke, Liberty, Wake Forest, Boston College and N.C. State.
Syracuse football is at No. 14 in the ACC pre-season media poll, and that’s selling the Orange a tad short.
Putting my allegiance to my alma mater to the side, and even with this tough 2020 calendar, I just can’t envision the ‘Cuse ultimately checking in at No. 14 in the final league standings.
I’ll discuss this more in a near-term column, but I am forecasting the Orange to arrive somewhere in the No. 8 to No. 12 range within the conference when all is said and done.
By the way, the ACC pre-season media poll in order is Clemson, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Miami, Florida State, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Wake Forest, N.C. State, Duke, Boston College, Syracuse football and Georgia Tech.
The ‘Cuse did put forth a disappointing 2019 campaign, when it finished at 5-7. Yet I think that Syracuse football could pleasantly surprise the pundits this fall – showing members of the press that a No. 14 arrangement in the conference’s pre-season media poll is ridiculous.