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As you may have noticed just before the holiday, we wrapped up our 2019 Syracuse Orange football opponent preview series. Keeping that in mind, I wanted to put all of them in one place now, with links to stop you from unnecessarily searching for each article we’ve been creating since April.
Below are links to all 12 Syracuse football opponent previews on TNIAAM, plus some other pertinent information around each team. Click to catch up on what to expect for each team as we continue writing about other aspects of the upcoming football season (including position previews, which started on Monday).
Week 1: at Liberty Flames
Last year: 6-6 (N/A)
Big Takeaway:
“The Flames return a lot of skill talent from 2018, with their leading passer (Stephen Calvert), leading rusher (Freddie Hickson) and leading receiver (Antonio Gandy-Golden) all coming back. Alternatively, the offensive line is a mixed bag with two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore projected to start while they try to replace potential NFL Draft pick Julio Lozano.”
Odds of Orange victory: 92%
Bill C. Preview: There might not be a better fit than Hugh Freeze and Liberty
Week 2: at Maryland Terrapins
Last year: 5-7 (3-6)
Big Takeaway:
“Despite losing a decent amount of production year-over-year, Maryland also brings a lot on offense, in particular. Plus they’ll welcome some notable transfers as well: QB Josh Jackson and WR Sean Savoy (both Virginia Tech), and tight end Tyler Mabry (Buffalo). Jackson’s the key piece of the puzzle, really, if the Terrapins are going to rebound at all from last year, it probably starts with a more capable passing game and the balanced attack that brings when paired with the strong run game.”
Odds of Orange victory: 60%
Week 3: Clemson Tigers
Last year: 15-0 (8-0)
Big Takeaway:
There’s reason to expect regression on defense because of the aforementioned turnover. However, defensive coordinator Brent Venables has dealt with it before. Plus, the team returns leading tackler Isaiah Simmons and fourth-leading tackler Tanner Muse. The defensive line is young, but obviously full of four- and five-star players. Clemson’s secondary will have a little more pressure on them, but seem plenty equipped to handle it.
Odds of Orange victory: 13%
Bill C. Preview: Clemson is again college football’s safest bet
Week 4: Western Michigan Broncos
Last year: 7-6 (5-3)
TNIAAM Western Michigan Preview
Big Takeaway:
“The talent gap between these two teams will continue to grow as the P.J. Fleck era gets further in the rear-view mirror and the Dino Babers era continues to upgrade talent for Syracuse — a definite positive since these teams still face off again in both 2020 and 2023. But even with a lot of experience on the roster for the Broncos, the odds are very much in the Orange’s favor for this one with production advantages on both sides of the ball.”
Odds of Orange victory: 80%
Bill C. Preview: This might be college football’s most experienced team. Can WMU capitalize?
Week 5: Holy Cross Crusaders
Last year: 5-6 (4-2)
Big Takeaway:
“This season’s schedule should prove even more difficult for Holy Cross, with a tough September of Navy, New Hampshire, Yale and Syracuse that should make for some early growing pains. Five of the first six games are on the road, but if things aren’t completely derailed early, there’s some potential to rectify things in the heart of the Patriot League slate to end the year.”
Odds of Orange victory: 99%
Week 7: at N.C. State Wolfpack
Last year: 9-4 (5-3)
Big Takeaway:
“Over on the defensive side, NC State brings back a lot, though notably loses DE Darian Roseboro (7.5 TFLs), LB Germaine Pratt (79.5 tackles) and safety Dexter Wright. There’s a good deal of seniors still on the roster, however, so that could better situate them to cope without those key players. Bringing back most of last year’s sacks and interceptions, while also adding USC transfer Levi Jones could actually yield a much improved group compared to 2018.”
Odds of Orange victory: 50%
Bill C. Preview: How long can Dave Doeren keep up NC State’s steady improvement?
Week 8: Pittsburgh Panthers
Last year: 7-7 (6-2)
Big Takeaway:
“While Pitt’s rushing attack really drove their success in the latter two-thirds of 2018, they’ll need to figure out how to replicate that without its primary contributors. Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall are both gone, which will be big shoes to fill even if you believe in replacements like A.J. Davis (4.19 yards per carry) and V’Lique Carter (8.08 yards per carry).”
Odds of Orange victory: 60%
Bill C. Preview: Pat Narduzzi’s Pitt is harder to figure out than usual, which is saying a lot
Week 9: at Florida State Seminoles
Last year: 5-7 (3-5)
Big Takeaway:
“Back in January, I pegged this as a toss-up game for the Orange and I think that still holds true. FSU has experience but we don’t necessarily know if the glaring issues have been addressed this offseason. A better ‘Noles squad at home should put up more of a fight against the Orange than what we saw last year. And Cam Akers is on the short list of running backs in the ACC that can and should truly exploit SU’s inexperience at linebacker this fall.”
Odds of Orange victory: 45%
Bill C. Preview: How does Florida State respond to its first losing season since 1976?
Week 10: Boston College Eagles
Last year: 7-5 (4-4)
Big Takeaway:
“But this is a group that will have to make a lot of progress over the course of the season to avoid a drop-off from last year’s already paltry offensive production. The defense loses plenty as well, with three starters departing on the line (Ray Smith, and the aforementioned Zach Allen and Wyatt Ray), along with four of the top five defensive backs and top linebacker Connor Strachan.”
Odds of Orange victory: 65%
Bill C. Preview: Will Steve Addazio’s Boston College ever win more than 7 games a year?
Week 12: at Duke Blue Devils
Last year: 8-5 (3-5)
Big Takeaway:
“Scheduling wise, Duke is paid no favors here. An opener against Alabama and a road game at Virginia Tech book end a September played largely away from home, and they get Notre Dame, Syracuse, Wake Forest and Miami in four consecutive weeks to close out the year. Even just accounting for those, it could be six losses. Bowling’s certainly a tall order, even if Duke’s about as good as last year.”
Odds of Orange victory: 45%
Bill C. Preview: Duke’s steady and full of upside in football. We don’t talk enough about how wild that is
Week 13: at Louisville Cardinals
Last year: 2-10 (0-8)
Big Takeaway:
“Welp, it can’t be as bad as 2018. Satterfield will have his work cut out for him in year one, however, replacing a ton of starters (especially on offense) and installing new systems. Louisville starts with a tough game against Notre Dame, and faces a brutal slate of road games — FSU, Wake Forest, Miami, NC State, Kentucky — that may not result in a single win.”
Odds of Orange victory: 70%
Bill C. Preview: Give Scott Satterfield time to clean up Bobby Petrino’s mess
Week 14: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last year: 7-6 (3-5)
Big Takeaway:
“That Deacons’ passing attack certainly takes a step back without Greg Dortch, though it could be a bigger one if the line struggles and/or Cade Carney and Christian Beal-Smith can’t make up the difference on the ground in Colburn’s absence.”
Odds of Orange victory: 65%
Bill C. Preview: Wake Forest’s 2019 season could go in so many different directions