Syracuse Football: Latest bowl projections and power index rankings for the Orange

Syracuse football looks to get back into the victory column when the Orange hosts Virginia Tech this Saturday afternoon.

In the month of October, the 'Cuse didn't play any home games. Now Syracuse football (5-2, 2-2 in the ACC) has five regular-season games left in the 2024 campaign, with three of those affairs coming on the Hill.

It all starts this Saturday versus the Hokies (5-3, 3-1 in the ACC), as the Orange attempts to put its rough loss at top-20 Pittsburgh last Thursday night in the rear-view mirror.

The 'Cuse is just one triumph away from qualifying for a post-season bowl game for the third consecutive year. Numerous national writers and analysts, this week, included the Orange in their latest bowl projections for the end of the 2024 season.

The most recent bowl projections, and other rankings, for Syracuse football.

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports has the Orange in a rematch with Big Ten Conference member Minnesota (5-3) at the Pinstripe Bowl on December 28 in the Bronx, N.Y. In late December of 2022, the 'Cuse suited up in the Pinstripe Bowl against Minnesota, with the Golden Gophers prevailing, 28-20.

Erick Smith of USA Today forecasts Syracuse football to battle Big Ten Conference squad Nebraska (5-3), also at the Pinstripe Bowl on December 28 in the Bronx, N.Y.

Brad Crawford, an analyst with 247Sports, projects that the Orange will play Southeastern Conference member and No. 16 LSU (6-2) at the Gator Bowl on January 2 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports has Syracuse football against Big Ten Conference team Southern California (4-4) at the Sun Bowl on December 31 in El Paso, Texas.

Brett McMurphy of the Action Network predicts that the 'Cuse will suit up against American Athletic Conference member Memphis (7-1) at the Fenway Bowl on December 28 in Boston.

This week, in CBS Sports' latest rankings of all 134 Football Bowl Subdivision ("FBS") groups, Syracuse football checked in at No. 33 overall, down six spots. Its next foe, Virginia Tech, is No. 41 nationally.

Over at ESPN's Football Power Index ("FPI"), this week, the Orange was No. 66 overall and No. 12 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hokies, in the latest FPI, are No. 28 nationwide and No. 5 in the ACC.