Syracuse vs. Bye Week: TNIAAM Predictions & Poll

The Syracuse Orange football team grounded Boston College last week, and now sit at 5-4 going into the final month of the regular season. While you may have turned your attention to the Louisville game, that’s a classic mistake. And it’s how the Bye Week Fightin’ Byes manage to trip teams up every so often. Hopefully this Syracuse team doesn’t commit such a grave error on Saturday.

Before things kick off from the Dome on ESPN 8: The Ocho, let’s see what the TNIAAM staff predicts will happen during this game. And if you’re the wagering type, DraftKings doesn’t have odds for this one, but they do for plenty of the other college football games happening this weekend (odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details).

John (8-1)

Syracuse 48, Bye Week 2

The Orange opt to give Sean Tucker a breather for the weekend, and it doesn’t much matter against a porous Fightin’ Byes front. Cooper Lutz still picks up 140 yards on the ground, SU scores at will in the first half, then parks themselves in prevent D in the second half to slow down Byes QB Shredder Garrett. Bye Week’s lone points are from a safety after Syracuse lined up in shotgun formation from their own goal line and couldn’t beat the rush. Alas, no shut out on the day.

Kevin (8-1)

Syracuse 44, Bye Week 3

The Orange get off to a fast start when the return the opening kick-off for a touchdown. Officials deny Bino Dabers’ review challenge stating that coaches can’t challenge “due to my team not being ready”. Syracuse mixes things up letting younger players get plenty of playing time and Dillon Markiewicz and Luke MacPhail toss touchdown passes in the second half. Fans watching this game on television get to see a serious sideline Jenga contest in the 4th quarter between Chris Elmore and Airon Servais.

Steve (7-2)

Syracuse 49, Bye Week 2

We’re hitting scorigami this week. Unfortunately the Orange are put in a weird spot after forcing a boomer of a Will Jamiams punt that pinned them on their own one yard line on the first drive of the game, going down 2-0. Thankfully Sean Tucker rattles off seven straight 50+ yard rushes, tackled inside the ten on half of them. In each instance, Garrett Shrader calls his own number for the score. At this point both Justin Lamson and Lustin Jamson come if for their respective teams and take a knee for the entire fourth quarter.

Christian (6-3)

Syracuse 4, Bye Week 2 (14 OT)

Syracuse has a bad tendency to play down to the level of their opponents, and unfortunately that trend continues this week. Shockingly, Syracuse’s run-based offense and Bye Week’s pass-based offense can’t quite break through during regulation, even after Sean Tucker rushes for 250 yards and Shredder Garrett passes for 500 yards. No scores mean this game goes into overtime, where neither team score again. That means it’s on to the two-point conversion attempts, and both finally convert in the seventh OT. Syracuse finally scores in the 14th OT when Dino Babers remembers he can legally throw to Luke Benson and the defense holds strong as Mikel Jones picks up his 20th sack of the game to seal the deal for the Orange.

Andy (6-3)

Syracuse 4, Bye Week 3

Things get weird when the Byes come into town, and while Wony Thite’s defense hasn’t been great, I have a sinking feeling Garrett Shrader’s first time against him will result in an ugly affair. My money is on the Syracuse front four getting enough pressure to rack up not one, but two safeties and finally get a game where we are forced to talk about that side of the ball all week.

Now it’s your turn...