Last Saturday, Syracuse football played one of its best games of the 2024 season, coming away with an eight-point triumph over California on the road.
The Orange (7-3, 4-3 in the ACC) has two regular-season affairs left. The 'Cuse will host non-conference foe UConn this Saturday followed by another game on the Hill, against Atlantic Coast Conference heavyweight and top-15 Miami, on November 30.
Currently, Syracuse football is tied with Louisville and Georgia Tech for the No. 4 spot in the ACC standings. By and large, first-year head coach Fran Brown and his top-flight staff have done a terrific job in the 2024 campaign, and the Orange is in the hunt for eight, nine or 10 wins this term.
While the 'Cuse won't want to take UConn (7-3 overall) lightly, I believe that Syracuse football will prevail this Saturday to get to 8-3, and then we'll have to see how the Orange fares versus the Hurricanes and in its bowl game.
The latest bowl projections and power rankings for Syracuse football ahead of week 13.
Erick Smith of USA Today projects the 'Cuse to face Pac-12 Conference member and No. 25 Washington State (8-2) at the Holiday Bowl on December 27 in San Diego.
Jerry Palm of CBS Sports has the Orange playing American Athletic Conference school East Carolina (6-4) at the Fenway Bowl on December 28 in Boston.
Brad Crawford, an analyst with 247Sports, predicts that the Orange will square off against Big Ten Conference squad Southern California (5-5) at the Sun Bowl on December 31 in El Paso, Texas.
Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports also has Syracuse football going toe to toe with Southern Cal at the Sun Bowl.
Brett McMurphy of the Action Network is forecasting the Orange to battle Southeastern Conference team Missouri (7-3) at the Gator Bowl on January 2 in Jacksonville, Fla.
My Week 13 bowl projections + which 5 win teams would earn a bowl bid if not enough 6 win teams. Non-playoff: Arizona: Ohio-San Jose St; New Mexico: UTSA-New Mexico; Fenway: Tulane-Ga Tech; 68 Ventures: WMU-Ark State; Armed Forces: Texas Tech-Texas Sthttps://t.co/AzjdSCHpuO pic.twitter.com/lzG9Jujj9y
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 18, 2024
This week, in the latest Associated Press and Coaches top-25 polls, the 'Cuse is receiving votes in both polls, residing at the No. 29 overall spot in each ballot. I don't necessarily think that Syracuse football will enter the top 25 assuming it beats UConn, although if the Orange can get to 9-3 by upsetting Miami, the 'Cuse should be ranked at that time.
In CBS Sports' most recent ratings of all 134 Football Bowl Subdivision ("FBS") programs, Syracuse football was No. 30 overall, up five spots from the prior week. Currently, ESPN's Football Power Index ("FPI") has the Orange at No. 62 nationally and No. 12 in the ACC.