It’s been a tale of two widely different halves of the 2022 campaign for Syracuse football, as the Orange will head to Massachusetts this Saturday night to face long-time rival Boston College in the regular-season finale for the ‘Cuse.
After racing out to a 6-0 start in 2022, Syracuse football found itself highly ranked in the major top-25 polls. In fact, the Orange was inching somewhat close to the top 10, but then the ‘Cuse blew a second-half lead at then-No. 5 Clemson, and it’s proven all downhill ever since.
Sure, Syracuse football (6-5, 3-4) is bowl eligible, and the Orange has already eclipsed its win total from a stanza ago, when the ‘Cuse went 5-7 overall after dropping its final three regular-season games.
But should Syracuse football lose to Boston College (3-8, 2-5) this coming Saturday, that would mean the Orange had lost its last six regular-term games. That’s abysmal.
What’s more, if the ‘Cuse falls to the Eagles and then in its bowl contest, Syracuse football could wind up under .500 in 2022 after beginning the present campaign at 6-0. That, to me, would prove horrendous. A total disaster.
At least this past weekend, the Orange was competitive. The ‘Cuse had previously gotten blown out at home on senior day, 38-3, by top-25 Florida State.
So when Syracuse football managed to produce 35 points in a 45-35 setback on the road to Wake Forest this past Saturday evening, I was encouraged by the Orange’s offensive production. But the Mob defense, unfortunately, struggled versus a high-powered Demon Deacons offense.
Syracuse football at Boston College odds week 13
When I wrote this column, WynnBET had installed the Orange as a 10.5-point betting favorite over Boston College. Also at the time of this writing, the over/under was set at 45.5 points.
Syracuse football at Boston College prediction week 13
In their all-time series together, the Orange is 32-22 against the Eagles. In the 2021 stanza, Syracuse football hosted Boston College in late October.
The ‘Cuse defense was really, really good, stifling the Eagles. Syracuse football would come away with a 21-6 conquest of Boston College in that Atlantic Coast Conference clash.
Fast-forward to the present and the Eagles haven’t been good at all in the 2022 term to date. Boston College has wins over Maine, Louisville and at N.C. State, so those latter two victories are strong.
On the flip side, the Eagles have fallen to Rutgers, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Clemson, Wake Forest, UConn, Duke and, most recently, Notre Dame in a blowout loss.
I get that Syracuse football is playing fairly poorly these days, and Boston College did upset the Wolfpack on the road not too long ago. But something tells me that the Orange will snap its five-game slide and take down the Eagles, giving the ‘Cuse a 7-5 mark in the 2022 regular season.
Injuries, how to watch, live stream, next game
On the injury front, Syracuse football has lost numerous key players to season-ending injuries. They include star cornerback Garrett Williams, fullback/tight end Chris Elmore, linebacker Stefon Thompson, wide receiver Isaiah Jones, defensive lineman Terry Lockett and defensive lineman Denis Jaquez Jr.
Another star defensive player for the ‘Cuse, linebacker Mikel Jones, was a bit banged up in the Wake Forest loss. We’ll have to monitor his status for the Eagles affair.
Plus, there are several members of the Syracuse football offensive line who didn’t play against the Demon Deacons.
The Orange will square off with Boston College from Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass., commencing at 7:30 pm on Saturday, Nov. 26. This league encounter will air on ACC regional sports networks.
For Syracuse football and Eagles fans who want to stream this game, you can check it out on fuboTV.
After its game versus Boston College, the ‘Cuse will have completed its 2022 regular season. The Orange then will wait to see which bowl contest it will compete in, and which foe it will suit up against in post-season play.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.