Syracuse Football: Projecting Orange’s ACC record during 2022 season

The Atlantic Coast Conference’s pre-season media poll, which the league recently released, wasn’t all too kind to Syracuse football, as the Orange is projected to finish at No. 7, or dead last, in the Atlantic Division during the upcoming campaign.

Given that the ‘Cuse finished up 2021 at 5-7, losing its final three contests and failing to make a bowl game, and the Orange is prognosticated to have a potentially brutal schedule in 2022, it’s not terribly surprising that ACC media members are forecasting Syracuse football to finish in the Atlantic Division basement this coming term.

There are hints of optimism recently doled out to the ‘Cuse by a handful of national experts as it pertains to the Orange’s 2022 stanza, but make no mistake about it, Syracuse football will have its hands full trying to attain six or more victories this fall.

Let’s project how Syracuse football will fare in the ACC portion of its 2022 schedule.

The good news about the Orange’s ACC docket is that three of its first four league battles are in Central New York. That bad news is that the ‘Cuse will head out on the road for three of its final four conference clashes.

September 3 vs. Louisville (6-7 last year)
2022 Prediction: No. 4 in Atlantic Division
The Orange begins its 2022 season with an ACC affair, as the ‘Cuse welcomes Louisville to the Hill. The Cardinals have a terrific quarterback who will be tough for the Orange’s defense to contain, and Louisville is picked to finish higher in the Atlantic Division than Syracuse football.
No worries. For some instinctual reason, I feel like the Orange is going to bust out of the gates with a stellar performance in front of a boisterous home crowd.
Syracuse Football Prediction: Win

September 23 vs. Virginia (6-6 last year)
2022 Prediction: No. 4 in Coastal Division
This is a really intriguing match-up, because two of the Orange’s top assistant coaches on offense this season were with the Cavaliers a stanza ago. You know that Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers and his assistants, along with the team of course, will want to pummel UVA into the turf. I think that’s going to happen.
Syracuse Football Prediction: Win

October 15 vs. N.C. State (9-3 last year)
2022 Prediction: No. 2 in Atlantic Division
The Wolfpack had a good 2021 season and is projected to be the second-best squad within the Atlantic Division in 2022. While this ACC encounter is on the Hill, N.C. State has a tremendous quarterback, and I believe that the Wolfpack will come out on top on the road.
Syracuse Football Prediction: Loss

October 22 at Clemson (10-3 last year)
2022 Prediction: No. 1 in Atlantic Division
After its first three league affairs are at home, the Orange heads away from Central New York to play at Clemson. The Tigers weren’t their usual dominating selves in 2021, as Clemson “only” won 10 games and didn’t make the College Football Playoff for the first time in what seemed like at least 44 years.
But ACC media members are forecasting the Tigers to capture the Atlantic Division and the outright league crown in 2022. I’m sure Clemson will be in the mix for a CFP berth as well.
Yes, Syracuse football was right there with the Tigers in 2021, and I’m optimistic that the Orange won’t get blown out this time around on the road. But Clemson will prevail.
Syracuse Football Prediction: Loss

November 5 at Pittsburgh (11-3 last year)
2022 Prediction: No. 2 in Coastal Division
The Panthers were excellent in 2021 and are predicted to be among the best squads in the ACC again this coming campaign. It’s true that Pittsburgh lost some big-time offensive weapons from last year’s roster, but the Panthers have given Orange fits in numerous recent encounters.
I just can’t envision Syracuse football springing the upset away from the Hill.
Syracuse Football Prediction: Loss

November 12 vs. Florida State (5-7 last year)
2022 Prediction: No. 5 in Atlantic Division
Ugh. Last season’s bout between the Orange and the Seminoles was a heart-breaker that the ‘Cuse absolutely could have won down in Tallahassee, Fla.
In 2022, FSU heads to the JMA Wireless Dome. Both squads claimed five conquests a season ago, and the Seminoles aren’t predicted to be super strong this fall. I like the Orange in this one at home.
Syracuse Football Prediction: Win

November 19 at Wake Forest (11-3 last year)
2022 Prediction: No. 3 in Atlantic Division
Another heart-breaking loss in 2021 for Syracuse football was to Wake Forest, and what made it an even bigger pill to swallow is that the Demon Deacons were a top-two team in the ACC last season.
Wake Forest brings back a top-flight quarterback who can light it up in the passing attack, so the Orange defense will be thoroughly tested (update: Wake Forest recently said that its star QB, Sam Hartman, will be out indefinitely).
My gut tells me that the ‘Cuse will keep things close, but the Demon Deacons will ultimately prevail on their own turf, even if Hartman doesn’t end up playing.
Syracuse Football Prediction: Loss

November 26 at Boston College (6-6 last year)
2022 Prediction: No. 6 in Atlantic Division
Okay, so Syracuse football wraps up its 2022 regular season at Boston College, and it’s entirely possible that the Orange could need to win on the road versus the Eagles to clinch a sixth victory and get a bowl-game berth.
In 2022, Boston College is only forecast to finish one spot higher than the ‘Cuse in the Atlantic Division, so my sense is that Syracuse football absolutely has a shot to triumph in Massachusetts.
Something – or somethings – about this year’s Orange squad have me believing, and I’ll go with the Orange to squeak out a victory over its long-time Northeast “rival” to, hopefully, attain a bowl invite.
Syracuse Football Prediction: Win

Projected ACC Record for Syracuse Football in 2022: 4-4
This is probably the plainest and most vanilla predicted record that you could have for the Orange this coming season, but, hey, it’s better than being under .500, right?