With the win over the Boston College Eagles giving the Syracuse Orange a little bit of momentum, or at least the perception of it, there's a very obvious question to be asked as we head into the final seven games of the season.
Will the Orange win 20 games in the 2014-2015 season?
We've already clinched our 44th-straight winning season. That's not terribly-impressive, though it should be noted that North Carolina and Duke can't claim the same. What's more impressive is the stat that Syracuse has won at least twenty games in a season 36 times in 38 seasons.
At 16-8, the Orange have to go 4-3 from here on out to make it 37. That's no small feat given that the seven games includes a home-and-home with the Duke Blue Devils, the Louisville Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Panthers, at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Virginia Cavaliers and at the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Without an ACC Tournament or post-season tournament to help pad the numbers, every win matters.
Can the Orange do it? The TNIAAM crew isn't terribly hopeful.
John Cassillo: Can't get to more than 19 even in my wildest dreams given this slate. I say we beat Pitt, and pull one upset vs. ND/Duke/UVa. And that's it. Even the road game to close at NC State just doesn't seem doable. Sucks, but at least we don't have a potential NCAA Tourney bid to lose in the process.
Michael Burke: I can't see Syracuse going any better than 2-4 in its next six games -- a stretch that includes Duke twice, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, and Virginia. And even if the Orange manage to split those six, that would still leave them needing a win at NC State in the season finale to get win No. 20. Again, I just don't see it.
Sean Keeley: On paper, I see two wins from here on out. Of course, the Orange have as good a chance as any of stealing a win or two against the ranked opponents, but, it's not something you can count on right now.
The "safe" bet would be that the Orange end up 18-13 or 19-12. But we want to know what you think? Do you think the Orange have a couple upsets in them? Will the big home crowds propel SU to victory? Or will SU stumble into the finish line?