Syracuse University released it's 2012 full schedule today, kicking off the start of the teams 34th (21st for football) and last season as a member of the Big East conference. Many fans around Central New York are sad too see this very successful partnership come to an end, as well as excited to see their football team in a better position to succeed in the years to come. While the Orange will start the season with 4 of their first 5 games either at home, or in a advantageous neutral site, they will be forced to finish the year with 4 of 5 games on the road.
Week 1 - The Orange will open the season at home against Northwestern, in a game that is anyone's to win. Both teams will be looking to make a statement starting the season, so hopefully the crowd will give Syracuse the edge to start 2012 on a positive note.
Prediction - Syracuse 24, Northwestern 20
Week 2 - This is the game that fans circled on their calender right away. A chance to put your team on the map here as Syracuse meets #2 USC at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. There is no doubt this will be the toughest game on the schedule, and a flawless game will be needed here for a win.
Prediction - USC 38, Syracuse 17
Week 3 - The team gets a break here in week 3, facing Stony Brook (FCS East). All they have to do is make sure to show up focused and they should win easily.
Prediction - Syracuse 42, Stony Brook 7
Week 4 - The first true road game of the season comes 4 weeks in when the Orange travel to the land of 1,000 lakes, facing the Gophers of Minnesota. This is another interesting non-conference matchup, but the edge goes to Minnesota here at home.
Prediction - Minnesota 28, Syracuse 24
Week 6 - After an a week off to rest, the team starts their final Big East run against a team they'll be sure to see again many times in the future. The conference schedule opens with fellow ACC defect, Pittsburgh. The Panthers have won 7 straight games against the Orange, with Syracuse's last win coming on November 7, 2004 in a 38-31 shootout. Don't expect 69 points to be scored in this contest.
Prediction - Pittsburgh 17, Syracuse 14
Week 7 - Next up the Cuse travel to New Jersey for the 2nd time this year, facing the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Knights are a team the Orange have traditionally dominated, with a career head to head record of 27-11. With that said, Syracuse has won just 2 of the teams past 7 meetings, which could plant some doubt in the program with another loss here. Expect this to be a close one,
Prediction - Rutgers 28, Syracuse 27
Week 8 - UConn is always a fun team to hate for members of Otto's Army, perhaps more so during basketball season. There has been a longstanding rivalry between these teams since the inception of the Big East, and this could be the beginning of the end. With the Huskies issues in their basketball program, all eyes in this rivalry turn to the football field. Despite their young football program, the Huskies have embarrassed the Orange, winning by a combined 97 points over the last 5 matchups. While Syracuse is on the rebound, I don't see this trent reversing it's course.
Prediction - Connecticut 35, Syracuse 24
Week 9 - A trip to South Florida usually involves relaxation, beach time, and maybe a chance to watch crazed zombies on bath salts eat peoples faces off. For the Orange, it will be all about work. If Syracuse wants to return to relevance nationally, they will need to start winning road games in their conference. Here is where they get a much needed moral booster against the Bulls.
Prediction - Syracuse 24, South Florida 10
Week 10 - For the second straight week, Syracuse finds themselves on the road, traveling to Cincinnati. In the last 6 matchups, the Bearcats are 5-1, and each time the victor has won by 14 or more points. This trend should end this year, but Cincinnati is a tough team at home.
Prediction - Cincinnati 17, Syracuse 7
Week 11 - The only home game left on the schedule comes here as Teddy Bridgewater and Louisville come to town. Syracuse needs a win here if they want to stay in the hunt for a bowl game.
Prediction - Syracuse 21, Louisville 14
Week 12 - Every couple of years, Syracuse pulls a few tricks out of their sleeve and upsets a team they have no business beating. From the victory that cost Charlie Weis his job at Notre Dame, to a blowout win against West Virginia last year...the Orange have been known to shake the college foundation from time to time. If they were to do it this year, this late season match-up in Missouri could be it. The Tigers aren't the powerhouse we saw just a few years ago, when Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin moved the ball at will. While unranked, the are the much more prestigious team, and have the talent to be a top 20 team by December. Look for a surprise finish here, moving the Orange closer to the recently evasive bowl appearance.
Prediction - Syracuse 38, Missouri 35
Week 13 - The final game of Syracuse's Big East life will fittingly be against one of their replacements. The Temple Owls, who's football team started in the Big East this year, are joining the Big East along with Houston, SMU, San Diego, Boise St, Central Florida and San Diego St. as full members in 2013. Both teams will play this game looking to make a farewell statement. The teams haven't met since 2004, when Temple beat the Orange 34-24.
Prediction - Syracuse 31, Temple 20