Syracuse Football: Latest bowl projections include battle with Deion Sanders, Colorado

Syracuse football moved to 8-3 overall when the Orange defeated non-conference foe UConn last Saturday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome by seven points on senior day.

Now the 'Cuse (8-3, 4-3 in the ACC) and its first-year head coach, Fran Brown, are gearing up for a juicy Atlantic Coast Conference clash this Saturday in the 2024 regular-season finale, when Syracuse football welcomes top-10 Miami to the Hill.

On Saturday afternoon, the Orange can knock the Hurricanes out of contention for a berth in next month's ACC championship game, and possibly the 12-team College Football Playoff as well, if the 'Cuse can spring an upset of Miami.

Beyond that, though, the Orange is seeking to win a ninth regular-season contest for the first time since the 2018 campaign, while improving its position in the ACC standings and potentially earning a bid to a higher-quality bowl game. The 'Cuse has reached post-season eligibility for the third straight year.

The latest bowl projections for Syracuse football ahead of week 14.

Brad Crawford, an analyst with 247Sports, predicts that the Orange will square off versus Big 12 Conference squad and No. 23 Colorado (8-3) at the Holiday Bowl on December 27 in San Diego. This would be a lot of fun, as Brown would go up against the Buffaloes head coach, Deion Sanders.

Erick Smith of USA Today, by extension, also forecasts Syracuse football to face Colorado in the Holiday Bowl.

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports has the 'Cuse playing Big Ten Conference school Southern California (6-5) at the Sun Bowl on December 31 in El Paso, Texas

Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports, like Palm, has Syracuse football going toe to toe with Southern Cal in the Sun Bowl.

Brett McMurphy of the Action Network is projecting the Orange to take on Big Ten Conference member Nebraska (6-5) at the Duke's Mayo Bowl on January 3 in Charlotte, N.C.

In this week's Associated Press and Coaches top-25 polls, the 'Cuse checks in at No. 28 overall and No. 29, respectively. If - I repeat, if - the Orange triumphs over Miami and ends the 2024 regular season at 9-3, Syracuse football will reside in the top-25 polls following week 14.

In CBS Sports' latest ratings of all 134 Football Bowl Subdivision ("FBS") programs, Syracuse football was No. 29 nationally, up one spot from the prior week. Currently, ESPN's Football Power Index ("FPI") has the 'Cuse at No. 60 nationally and No. 12 in the ACC.