Syracuse football over/under opens at 4 wins in Las Vegas

On Friday, South Point sports book director Chris Andrews set initial over/under win totals for all 130 college football programs for the 2017 season. That list included the Syracuse Orange, which were given a pretty conservative four wins as the benchmark.

While we’re all pretty high on SU’s ability to improve this year (and some advanced metrics are too), there’s at least some sound reasoning for the four-win prediction. Syracuse hasn’t topped four wins since 2013, when the team won seven. In the three subsequent seasons, the Orange have won three, four and four games, respectively.

Syracuse also faces the country’s most difficult schedule, depending on which source you ask.

Previous over/unders for the Orange have opened at four wins in 2016 and 4.5 wins in 2015. One SU fan was crazy enough to place a $2,500 bet on the team last year, if you recall.

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Also, a look at where that four-win projection would place the Orange, in context of the rest of the ACC;

Atlantic Division

Clemson Tigers: 9.5

Florida State Seminoles: 9.5

Louisville Cardinals: 9.5

NC State Wolfpack: 6.5

Wake Forest Demon Deacons: 5.5

Boston College Eagles: 4

Syracuse Orange: 4

Coastal Division

Miami Hurricanes: 9

Virginia Tech Hokies: 8.5

North Carolina Tar Heels: 7

Pittsburgh Panthers: 6.5

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: 6

Virginia Cavaliers: 5.5

Duke Blue Devils: 4.5

That’s tied for last with BC — though South Point’s oddly high on Virginia here. The Hoos aren’t the only team strangely given the benefit of the doubt, either. Andrews gives FBS newcomer Coastal Carolina 5.5 wins (noooooope) and Northwestern 8.5.

Syracuse’s other opponents on the 2017 schedule received high marks as well. Week two opponent Middle Tennessee is set at 7.5, and Central Michigan is at a (maybe overly high) seven wins. LSU is given nine.

Does this seem too low? Are you betting your life savings on the over as we speak? Share your own thoughts below.