Syracuse opens as 10-point favorites over Bye Week University

The Syracuse Orange (4-4, 2-2) obviously haven’t won every game this year, but they’ve still managed to look improved and capable of winning each week. That’ll be put to the test again on Saturday when they take on the long-time rival Bye Week University Fightin’ Byes (0-8).

Vegas has installed Syracuse as a 10-point favorite at home vs. the Byes, which may seem like a tight line given the opposite directions of these teams. But Syracuse has only beaten one FBS opponent by more than three points all season.

With Bino Dabers’s slow-paced offense, the Byes have struggled to really move the ball this season. And to add to it, the defense can’t seem to stop anyone — especially on third down.

Derick Dungy has been the motor powering what little offense BWU has mustered, leaning on his run game for help. Dante Struckland is the offense’s leading performer while receivers Irving Pheleps and Ishmael Stephen have little to do in terms of pass-catching most games.

The Byes have never beaten the Orange in the history of this rivalry, going 0-127. Last year’s meeting was the closet yet — a 46-45 win for SU. But a win’s a win, so the streak continued.

When asked about the losses for his program, Dabers is just said he’s working toward making the team “consistently not bad, instead of occasionally mediocre.” To rally fans to get excited about the game against Syracuse this weekend, he’s been using the hashtag #OrangeIsTheNewPast. No other Twitter account has used the phrase at the time of this writing.

Plenty more coming around this matchup as the week goes on.