The Orange have struggled since entering the ACC three seasons ago. Syracuse has managed just seven wins in that timeframe and that poor performance led to the dismissal of Scott Shafer after three years. Now, Dino Babers is the coach calling the shots from the sideline and Syracuse hopes that he can lead them back to respectability.
Syracuse Orange Season Win Total Odds at BookMaker.eu
Orange Over 4 -110
Orange Under 4 -110
2015 SYRACUSE ORANGE SEASON REVIEW
The Orange lost eight straight games last season en route to finishing 4-8, but there was a lot of promise displayed throughout. Syracuse played LSU and Clemson tough despite being a massive underdog in both games and also gave Pittsburgh and Virginia all each team could handle. It didn’t save Scott Shafer’s job at the end of the day, but shows the potential Syracuse has.
Eric Dungey was slowed by injuries last season, but he emerged as the best quarterback the Orange have. He completed almost 60 percent of his passes for 1297 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions and was also the second leading rusher on the team. Zach Mahoney also saw some time as the starter, but only completed 46 percent of his passes.
The running game was better than it was in 2014, and Syracuse found an unexpected gem in Jordan Fredericks. Fredericks averaged 5.7 yards per carry with the Orange last season as a true freshman and took over the job as the season went along. He is a physical runner and can get yards between the tackles.
WHAT CHANGED
Scott Shafer was replaced by Dino Babers and now Babers brings his system and entire staff over. Babers has plenty of experience with building great offenses and will install his up-tempo offense in Syracuse. He doesn’t totally eschew the running game like some spread coaches, but he will use four wide receivers and a single back in most sets. His offense averaged 547 yards per game last season at Bowling Green, but usually takes about a year to install.
The Orange will have a new sheriff on defense as well with Babers appointing Brian Ward as defensive coordinator. Syracuse’s defense allowed over 30 points per game last season and didn’t excel in any aspect of the game during the year, failing to stop the run or the pass. The team got very little pressure as well as only one person had more than five sacks.
2016 SYRACUSE ORANGE SEASON PREVIEW
Dungey will be the starter this season and Mahoney will provide depth as the back-up. Babers typically likes to build up a young quarterback from the ground up in his system and Dungey will get all of his attention. He will be helped by Steven Ishmael, who led the team in every receiving category last season and should thrive in the new offense.
The running game may take a step back this season. Jordan Fredericks gained some pounds in the offseason and is working his way back into playing shape. Babers shifted Dontae Strickland into the starter’s role and Strickland seized the opportunity and should be the starter in the season opener.
Defensively, Cuse has to be better than it was in 2015. The Orange return eight starters from last season, including their entire back seven, and that should improve the numbers of a unit that allowed 64.7 percent of passes to be completed on them last season.
Babers was a good hire, but it may take time to see the fruits of his labor. The schedule this season is brutal with nine bowl teams on the docket and the only easy win is the first week of the season against Colgate. Syracuse will compete, but it’s likely a year away.
College Football Odds: Syracuse Orange Under 4 Wins -110
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