Most national and regional ACC pundits think Syracuse football will hover near the league’s basement. We’re a bit more optimistic.
Syracuse football enters the fifth year of the Dino Babers era as the Orange’s head coach when the team travels to No. 18 North Carolina this Saturday for a noon Atlantic Coast Conference clash in Chapel Hill.
Babers is 23-26 on the Hill, and his squad put forth a disappointing 5-7 mark a stanza ago following a 10-3 output in 2018, when the ‘Cuse won a bowl game and finished that term ranked No. 15 in both major polls.
National and ACC observers, by and large, think that Syracuse football is likely to wrap up the 2020 campaign close to the bottom of the conference. The ACC pre-season media poll places the Orange at No. 14 in the league.
In our inaugural conference power rankings for the 2020 stanza, we have Syracuse football a tad higher, at No. 12. Here are the rest of our ACC ratings prior to league battles getting underway.
1. Clemson
Could any other conference group go at the top? The Tigers are No. 1 in the pre-season AP and Coaches top-25 polls. They are a significant contender to reach the College Football Playoff. And Clemson boasts two of the best players in the country, quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne.
2. North Carolina
Virtually everyone out there has Notre Dame, an ACC member for just the 2020 term, in the No. 2 spot. I’ll go against the grain and arrange the Tar Heels here. Quarterback Sam Howell, from my perspective, is a Heisman Trophy contender. And he has terrific offensive weapons in wide receiver Dazz Newsome and running back Michael Carter.
3. Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish joined the ACC as a full-time football member in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, and quarterback Ian Book is primed for a special stanza. Notre Dame is solid on both sides of the ball.
4. Louisville
Running back Javian Hawkins and wide receiver Tutu Atwell are really, really good, and I’m higher on the Cardinals than some folks.
5. Florida State
The Seminoles possess an excellent wide receiver in Tamorrion Terry, as well as stellar cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and safety Hamsah Nasirildeen.
6. Pittsburgh
The Panthers always seem to score a big-time upset but also register some head-scratching losses. I think that Pitt will have a solid 2020. Safety Paris Ford is a stud.
7. Virginia Tech
Linebacker Rayshard Ashby is a star, and the Hokies are going to surprise people. I think.
8. Miami
Tight end Brevin Jordan is on the All-ACC pre-season team, and the Hurricanes should hover near the middle of the league’s pack.
9. Virginia
The Cavaliers lost sensational quarterback Bryce Perkins but have a strong defense.
10. Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons do have a lot to replace from 2019. Defensive end Carlos Basham Jr. and placekicker Nick Sciba are on the All-ACC pre-season squad.
11. Duke
Most folks aren’t loving the Blue Devils this year, but I think Duke will win a few games that it’s not projected to.
12. Syracuse
I don’t see the Orange at No. 14 or No. 15 in the ACC, like some pundits are forecasting. Frankly, I think that the ‘Cuse could shock the ACC, pick up six victories and fall in the No. 8 to No. 10 range in the league.
13. N.C. State
The Wolfpack ended 2019 on a bad skid, and I am not super optimistic about N.C. State’s outlook this campaign.
14. Boston College
Two members of the Eagles’ offensive line, Ben Petrula and Zion Johnson, are on the All-ACC pre-season crew. The team’s defense, though, could struggle.
15. Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets are in for a rough 2020, although Georgia Tech does return a bunch of its leading tacklers.