Syracuse Football: An August preview of the Orange’s October games

So last month, I posted a quick preview and predictions about the September portion of the Syracuse football schedule. I don’t normally do predictions but you the readers who are amazing deserve what you ask for and you asked for something different than poems.

Unfortunately, life has been interesting since so I wasn’t able to finish October and November but I’m here now and I’m going to give you my honest opinion as a diehard Orange fan about what to expect.

Without further ado, here are the October games as scheduled right now via cuse.com and some fun information that I hope will help us all enjoy amping up for the season to start together.

Here’s how I think that the October games will play out for Syracuse football.

Wagner Seahawks at Syracuse Orange
Saturday, October 1st at JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY
Time & TV TBD Radio-TK99

Syracuse football should win this game (especially if I’m basing this off last season and Wagner was 0-11 last season). This is a “trap game” of sorts though because if you win, some fans will say “duh, they were supposed to win” and if they lose or it’s close, those fans will turn their backs on the season and the program. In reality, this game should be Syracuse’s first game of the season and deemed an exhibition just like the NFL or Syracuse basketball has to start their year & work on lineups. But television networks own the soul of college sports so it’s more important to spread these games out so that the first week is more appealing for the same reason Syracuse football left the Big East (well more money but also a more appealing schedule to sports network overlords and fans who don’t want to see “lesser games”).

Prediction: Syracuse 44 – Wagner 9

NC State Wolfpack at Syracuse Orange
Saturday, October 15th at JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY
Time & TV TBD Radio-TK99

Okay, so this will sound odd to some possibly if you look at the schedule, but this is the game I fear the most (Notre Dame is a VERY close second). The good news is that it’s at home in the JMA Wireless Dome. The bad news is that NC State’s quarterback is Devin Leary, who last season beat Philip Rivers’ record for most touchdowns in a season and only threw 5 interceptions the whole season. I’ve seen many ACC insiders saying they’re expecting a big season and that’s saying a lot as they’re coming off a 9-win season last year. However, I feel it’s worth noting that they were 2-3 playing away from home in the ACC last season and if Syracuse football can win those first 5 games, maybe a big home crowd can help give the Orange the advantage.

Prediction: Syracuse 37 – NC State 34 in overtime

Syracuse Orange at Clemson Tigers
Saturday, October 22 at “Death Valley” aka Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC
Time & TV TBD Radio-TK99

Okay so let’s talk about Clemson. This game is at Clemson, and Syracuse football has proven they can play well there only faltering in the last 41 seconds of the game in Death Valley in 2018. Writing this in August makes it hard to say how this Clemson team will be but their offense wasn’t as effective last season as they were in the past and their offensive coordinator is now coaching Virginia so will they be better or will they “fall off” again (they still won 10 games)? Clemson is looking to prove they belong back in the national championship conversation and Syracuse is out to prove this program deserves more respect.

Prediction: Syracuse 24 – Clemson 23

Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Syracuse Orange
Saturday, October 29th at JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY
Time & TV TBD Radio-TK99

The last time Syracuse beat Notre Dame was in 2008 in South Bend as the late Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson was in his last season and was even featured on the ESPN Gameday show. The last time Notre Dame played in Syracuse was in 2016 and the Irish won 50-33 (though people seem to only recall the two teams meeting outside of Syracuse when they relive the history). Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for the SEC but his coordinators stayed so how will a team just barely left out of the 4-team playoff last season respond? How many Irish fans will try to take over the Dome to attempt to lessen the Dome field advantage (Syracuse has a huge Catholic community who supports the school) and how many Syracuse football fans could make this feel like the old Loud House if this team is as good as I’ve predicted? Can Syracuse football prove they belong in the national conversation because this game could be on a big stage if both teams are playing well whether it’s on NBC/Peacock or ESPN?

Prediction: Syracuse  41 – Notre Dame 38