The preseason USA Sports AFCA Coaches Top 25 rankings were released last week and five Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) programs made the cut.
Syracuse University is not one of them.
Syracuse got off to a pretty good start last season, going 3-1 before losing six of its last eight games to finish the season at 5-7 overall, 2-6 in the ACC and just miss out on a bowl berth.
There is no New York sports betting on Syracuse, a school within state boundaries, but there will be plenty of action.
Let’s see what the oddsmakers see heading into the 2022 season and what odds EmpireStakes.com sets for the Orange to crack the top 25 at some point this season.
Assessing Schedule, Future Odds
With NY betting apps only being live since Jan. 8 of this year, this is the first time bettors in the state will get a chance to wager on a full college season.
As of Monday morning at Caesars Sportsbook, the Orangemen face long odds to achieve future success. The over/under win total has been set at 4.5 games (-110 either way). To win the ACC Atlantic Division, Syracuse is listed last at +10000.
Here is how that breaks down, with Clemson the favorite in New York college football betting:
Caesars Sportsbook ACC Atlantic Division Champ Odds
To win the ACC title, Syracuse is listed at +20000, ahead of only Duke (+40000). The odds to win the national title: +75000.
The Orange open the season at home against Louisville Sept 3 and look to avenge last year’s 41-3 road loss on Nov. 13. After that is the first road matchup of the season against Connecticut and then the team comes home for four in a row (Purdue, Virginia, Wagner, No. 13 North Carolina State), before contests at No. 4 Clemson (Oct. 22) and home to No. 5 Notre Dame (Oct. 29).
The season will be determined during this stretch as to whether the Orange can achieve success and to be eligible for a bowl berth (minimum six wins needed).
FanDuel sportsbook New York sees Alabama (+180) to win another national championship, followed by Ohio State (+300), Georgia (+350) and Clemson (+800).
Seeking Encouragement Inside the Numbers
When you go inside the numbers, Syracuse’s first four losses of season were by 10 points or less, including three straight by three points, highlighted by a 40-37 overtime home loss to then No. 19 Wake Forest on Oct. 9.
The last three losses of the year, including at No. 25 North Carolina State and home to No. 20 Pittsburgh, were all by blowout, with the Orange offense totaling just 34 points.
Junior quarterback Garrett Shrader, who transferred from Mississippi State in the spring of 2021, returns to lead the offense. Schrader completed 123 of 234 passes (52.6%) for 1,444 yards with nine touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also had a productive rushing season. He finished with 781 yards and 14 TDs; each was the second-most in program history.
Another plus is the return of sophomore running back Sean Tucker, who emerged on the national radar last season. Tucker broke the single season rushing record (1,496) in 2021 and ranks No. 20 on the school’s career rushing record list after just two seasons (2,122). He also became the 25th player in program history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in his career.
Head coach Dino Babers enters his seventh season (66-59, .528) at Syracuse. This year could be a pivotal one if he does not show the program is making progress.
Empire Stakes odds on Syracuse cracking the Top 25
Syracuse most likely will go 3-5 in its first eight games with two toss-up games at home against Purdue and Virginia. Those games could make the Orange 4-4 or 5-3 and a position inside “Others Receiving Votes” a more likely option.
After the Notre Dame game, Syracuse plays three of the next four games on the road, including at No. 16 Pittsburgh (Nov. 5) and at No. 19 Wake Forest (Nov. 19), with a home game mixed in against Florida State (Nov. 12). Its final game of the regular season is at Boston College (Nov. 26).
Conclusion:
EmpireStakes.com future odds to crack Top 25: +15000.
EmpireStakes.com is a great source for betting info on all sports as well as NY sportsbook promos.
