FiveDimes recently released over/under regular season win totals for college football teams.
Here is an early season look at the Syracuse Orange in the ACC.
Over/under
FiveDimes has Syracuse at 4.5 regular season wins. Last year, the Orange went 3-9 in the regular season. The line features a better return on the under at -115, while the over is at -125.
The upside
Senior quarterback Terrel Hunt is back. That’s about the only good news for Syracuse entering this season.
The Orange were offensively challenged in 2014, scoring seven or less points in five games. With a new offensive coordinator, the Orange are expecting far better results this season. Syracuse will have to accomplish that feat without many returnees at running back, wide receiver or offensive line.
To get to five wins, the Orange will look to get off on the right foot at home. Syracuse hosts Rhode Island, Wake Forest and Central Michigan in the season’s first three games. Regardless of how many starters aren’t returning from a 3-9 team last season, Syracuse should be favored in all three of those contests.
From there, the schedule doesn’t set up as well, but if Syracuse can start out at 3-0, it might provide enough confidence to sneak in two more victories.
The downside
Where should we start?
The defense must replace eight starters. The offense returns pretty much only their quarterback, a wide receiver and a running back with significant starting experience. The offensive line does have some players returning, but for the most part, those previous starts were because of injuries that decimated the Orange’s offensive line.
It’s not just all about Syracuse. The schedule doesn’t do it much justice after the first three weeks.
Syracuse must travel to Florida State, Louisville, South Florida, Virginia and North Carolina State. The home schedule is slightly easier, with games against Pittsburgh, Clemson and Boston College.
The Orange likely won’t be favored in any of those games, but at least the games against South Florida, Boston College and Pittsburgh could be close spreads.
The verdict
The prognosis isn’t good for the Syracuse football program. The team was lifeless last season, especially on offense.
It won’t get any better this season. There’s not much reason to elaborate. The under is the far better bet, and it’s surprising the under would actually garner a better bet for gamblers. The Orange may not even win each of their first three games, putting them at a far disadvantage to achieve five wins.
Take the under and don’t sweat this one.
