Syracuse football: Orange return to bowl projections

After upsetting the no. 17 Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday, the Syracuse Orange are back in some bowl projections around the internet. Not all of them, of course (and fairly so). But some... which are the ones we care about most here.

First up is SB Nation. Jason Kirk hasn’t wavered on SU making the postseason, even at 5-7 via APR scores. This week we’re pegged to play the Houston Cougars in the Birmingham Bowl — an absolutely terrifying proposition given the speed at which UH operates and the talent on that roster. Houston’s 6-1 and ranked 11th in this week’s AP Poll. While they’re likely the best team in the AAC, they need Navy (who beat them) to lose twice if they want any shot at playing for a conference title. That’s how a team that good ends up down in the Birmingham Bowl.

Obviously any trip to the postseason’s a good one. And perhaps Houston would not be thrilled about a lower-tier game (and maybe playing without their coach Tom Herman on the sidelines). But still not an ideal matchup at all.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach and Brett McMurphy also release weekly rankings, with sometimes differing perspectives. Surprisingly, both included the Orange on Sunday. Schlabach has SU facing Indiana in the Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. on December 26. McMurphy says Syracuse has to play USF again, this time in the cozy confines (for the Bulls) of St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field. The St. Petersburg Bowl is also played on the 26th. We don’t really want to face South Florida again...

ESPN’s ACC Blog, CBS and more did not include SU in this week’s projections, but there’s plenty of time to overcome that. A win over Boston College this coming Saturday would get Syracuse to 4-4 with four to play. Losing that matchup would likely remove the Orange from all projections with Clemson, Florida State, NC State and Pitt all on the schedule for November.

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Happy to be included? Worried about opponents? Share your bowl-related thoughts below.