Syracuse vs. Bye Week Fightin’ Byes: TNIAAM predictions & poll

The Syracuse Orange (3-2, 0-1) are above .500 once again, but will put that mark to the test against the long-time rival Bye Week Fightin’ Byes. Though Bye Week is 0-147 against Syracuse in the all-time series, some games have been closer than others and this one could very well pose a challenge for SU given the offensive inconsistency so far this year.

So before this one gets going on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET on ACC Network 8: The Otto, the TNIAAM weighs in on what might happen:

Steve Haller

Syracuse 52, Bye Week 39

The Byes hang in there and actually have a lead through three quarters, but Tommy DeVito pulls it together and throws for three touchdowns in the fourth, opening up a lead and taking care of business. It will be a track meet that looks like Sunday runs out there. That last quarter will almost look like they’re not playing anyone.

Andy Pregler

Syracuse 4, Bye Week 4

In an unprecedented move, Dino Babers, learning from last week’s Tommy DeVito mess, benches all scholarship players, dressing only walk-ons, student journalists, and those two dudes on the quad who have been running routes since freshmen move in. Because Dino is a coaching legend, this mish mash of not actual FCS level talent is able to hold Bye Week to just 44 yards, using pure confusion tactics to cause two blocked punts for safeties. Unfortunately, Syracuse continues to struggle establishing tempo on first downs, and somehow laterals the ball out of their own endzone twice.

Kevin Wall

Syracuse 70, Bye Week 8

Despite 200 yards on the ground from Noe Meal, the Byes struggle to turn that into points as their kicker Standre Szmrichter misses five first-half field goal attempts. The Orange take advantage and utilize an all-TE aerial attack as Aaron Hackett, Luke Benson and Chris Elmore end up with 75 yard touchdown receptions. Elmore’s catch and run chews up over four minutes in the third quarter as he just jogs from sideline to sideline bowling over the Byes’ defense. We find out after the game that Elmore was actually recording an episode of Jungle Rumble during the play.

John Cassillo

Syracuse 62, Bye Week 7

Bye Week actually gets on the board first against Syracuse and the assembled crowd of zero people start to get pretty concerned. However, the Orange close out by reeling of 62 unanswered points as Dino Babers is only out for blood when no one is there to see it. Clayton Welch is starting by the second quarter, unlike Clayton Welsh, who takes over under center for the Byes in the fourth. Noe Meal still leads all players in rushing with a nice 169 yards as he continues his ill-fated attempt to win a Heisman on a winless team.

Now it’s your turn...