Syracuse Orange 2016 NCAA Football Preview
SYRACUSE ORANGE
Atlantic Coast Conference – Atlantic Division
2015 Record – 4-8
ATS – 8-4
2016 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
Atlantic Division #7
Conference #14
2015 Recap
The Orange have led the planet in QB injuries the past couple of seasons. They get a lot of credit for giving teams like LSU, Pittsburgh and Clemson some tough games in 2015 despite their quarterbacks dropping like dominoes. The Orange started out 3-0 and then it all fell apart with eight consecutive losses. They won the season finale 20-17 against Boston College. A new sheriff is in town. HC Dino Babers comes over from Bowling Green and will eventually get this team scoring a lot of points.
2016 Preview
OFFENSE
It looks as though sophomore Eric Dungey will get the starting nod at QB this season. He looked pretty good in limited action last season before he was – wait for it – injured. Of course there are some other options for HC Babers and he just might surprise everyone after seeing how things go at camp in August. The offense promises to be high-tempo and balanced but it will take some time for the personnel on hand to execute proficiently in the new system.
Syracuse is yet another team entering the season with questions on the offensive line. They only return two starters from last season’s group and are learning a new system in 2016. However, the unit does have some size and they just might surprise people this season. MEGALOCKS STEALTH INSIDERS have advised us that Dontae Strickland appears to have won the starting RB job and there are some intriguing options at WR. We are particularly interested to see how WR Steve Ishmael does in the new offense. It will not happen overnight – but we expect the unit to be a lot more potent in 2016.
DEFENSE
The Orange were ranked dead last in the ACC in total defense allowing 439 yards per game. They were equally horrible against the run and the pass and recorded only 23 sacks. New DC Brian Ward comes over with HC Dino Babers and will install the Tampa-2 defense which is less aggressive than the scheme Syracuse played last season. The Orange were counting on the transfer of disruptive DE Gabe Sherrod to spice up the DL but he will play his final season at Michigan St #EmbarrassmentofRiches. Syracuse is most likely going to struggle on defense this season which marginalizes any improvement we see from the offense.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Orange boast dangerous PR Brisly Estime who took two punts to the house last season while averaging 18.1 yards a return. Cole Murphy returns at PK and he had an average season last year in the field goal department. Syracuse loses their excellent punter Riley Dixon and must break in a freshman this season.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 3.5
MEGALOCKS says:
Things are going to get better. Eventually. Winning follows HC Dino Babers around so there is no reason to believe he cannot get the Orange playing exciting football and winning games on a regular basis. Unfortunately for Syracuse fans, the schedule is really difficult, so it appears that other than the week one tune-up against Colgate, it is going to be a struggle to win more than two or three games. It is possible, however, that we are underestimating the ability of the defense to be a pleasant surprise.
Overall, we give the ORANGE a 3.5 ATS Value Rating (Below Average) this season. There is going to be a learning curve any time you introduce new systems on both sides of the football. Now from an ATS perspective, the Orange will have to be considered when catching double digits just because of the potential they have on offense. We anticipate that Syracuse will be an underdog almost every week and it may be possible to pick some juicy spots and turn a profit.
Want more Syracuse Orange football?
Website
http://www.cuse.com/index.aspx?path=football
Forum
http://syracusefan.com/forums/syracuse-football-board.3/
http://www.scout.com/college/syracuse/forums/2826-football-board
News
http://www.nunesmagician.com/syracuse-football
http://bleacherreport.com/syracuse-football
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/syracuse-orange
https://twitter.com/CuseFootball (@CuseFootball)
https://twitter.com/Stephen_Bailey1 (@Stephen_Bailey1) Stephen Bailey