Syracuse Orange Football: Predictions for the 2024 TNIAAM season

We've finally made it to the Syracuse Orange's 2024 football season. The Fran Brown era begins Saturday against the Ohio Bobcats and we have our season predictions for the Orange. Let's see if our darts hit the bullseye

Kevin: 8-4, 4-4, Pop Tarts Bowl against Arizona Wildcats

I'm wavering between 7 and 8 wins, but I buy the talent upgrade for the Orange. I think Kyle McCord will be better than many outside of Syracuse think and that will give the offense enough power to win 8 games. My losses are NC State, Virginia Tech, California and Miami, which would make for a really bumpy November, but overall enough to send Syracuse back to Orlando to face Dino Babers and the Wildcats…..surely no one expects Arizona to do that well, but let's add a little spice to the Pop-Tarts?

Dom: 8-4, 5-3, Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl vs Kansas Jayhawks

Like Kevin, I considered between 7 and 8 wins. But I went with the 8-4 prediction for a reason. After a productive offseason, the Orange have a lot going for them. My logic is this: After winning six games last year, 8 wins seems optimistic and not too unrealistic. I expect Syracuse to be above .500 against the ACC for the first time since 2018, with losses to UNLV, NC State, Pitt and Miami. The Orange will travel to the Lone Star State to face Kansas; the Jayhawks can't run away from us in football forever.

Mike: 9-3, 5-3, Pop Tarts Bowl against Hurricanes in the state of Iowa

I'm pretty bold with that prediction, but after all the horrific injuries the last two years, SU will have a year where more things go right than wrong. The biggest concern, as always, is the O-line, but for once I'm reasonably confident the depth there will hold up. There's so much talent at the skill positions that the Orange offense should be on par with pretty much anyone in the ACC. The losses are to NC State, VT and Cal, who will set up a showdown with a Big 12 surprise team in Orlando.

Carson: 8-4, 4-4, Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl vs Arizona Wildcats

I think 8-4 is extremely reasonable with this group. My losses are Georgia Tech, UNLV, NC State and Miami. As I mentioned in my 9-3 prediction, I think Syracuse will get better as the season goes on and instead stumble earlier in the year. Hence the early losses to GT, UNLV and NC State the following week. 4-4 against the ACC seems appropriate. Dom put up a great number – Syracuse hasn't scored over .500 against the ACC since 2018 – and I think that continues. Not that I don't believe in Fran Brown, I do, I think this year will be a bit of a learning curve for the 31st head football coach of the Syracuse Orange.

Max: 7-5, 4-4, Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

I stand by my record and game-by-game predictions from last week. The Georgia Tech game in Week 2 is an excellent early season test and will be a good resume builder for the Orange after a big win at home. One downside with a new group of coaches and players is the unknown chemistry between them. There will be some obstacles, especially on the road trip in October against UNLV, NC State and Pitt, but I'm confident seven wins is the minimum goal for SU.

Steve: 7-5, 4-4, Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

I'm still lukewarm on this team. They have the talent to get better, they have the ability to break 9 wins, maybe even 10, and the absolute floor is 6-6, but I'll play it safe and say 7-5. The Orange got better across the board and have a new team, but was the increase in talent and the influx of good younger players enough to make a difference when the rest of the ACC was bringing in talent? I hope I'm totally wrong here and it's 8 or 9 wins, but I can't in good conscience put that on until I see results on the field.

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Now it's your turn