Football Schedule Analysis

Photo Courtesy of Jason Rostkowski

The Syracuse football season kicks off in just 22 days with Wake Forest coming into town. With the expectations high and the anticipation even higher, OSS asked a couple SU players (we'll call them "Players X") about each of their games this season. We wanted to see how they really viewed the upcoming campaign. Here's what they had to say as well as Ben Glidden's added analysis:

9/1 SU vs. Wake Forest - 8:00 - ESPN3

OSS - This game should be an easy start for the Orange, especially since Wake won just 3 games last season. It’s a Thursday night game and the Carrier Dome will be packed, which will help out tremendously.

Players X - "Sorriest team in the ACC."

9/10 SU vs. Rhode Island - 4:30

OSS - This team is one of the better in its conference. RI had a few solid wins last season but the Orange are just on a different level and should come away with the easy victory.

Players X - "Good thing this ain't hockey or we would lose."

9/17 SU @ USC - 8:00 (EDT) - FX

OSS - This is the first real challenge in the schedule for the Orange. USC has always been regarded as a BCS powerhouse. With its success on the road last season, Syracuse may give the Trojans a run for their money, but the Orange will probably be handed its first loss of the season.

Players X - "Players got no motive to win!"

9/24 SU vs. Toledo - 12:00 - Big East Network

OSS - The Rockets might be an unexpected challenge for the Orange. Last season, Toledo won eight games and found itself in a bowl, but the team wasn’t really challenged by anyone. This season, before playing Syracuse, they face off against Boise State and Ohio State, two powerhouses. After coming off those two loses, Toledo might steal one from the Orange.

Players X - "We going all the way to Mexico for this one!!!"

10/1 SU vs. Rutgers - 12:00 - Big East Network

OSS - The Scarlet Knights gave the Orange a bowl birth last season after a thriller that took place in New Jersey. This season, I don’t expect the game to be as close. Rutgers only won one in-conference game last season and I expect a similar performance this season.

Players X- "Rutgers girls are jersey shore girls, nuff said."
"This one gonna be a battle."

10/8 SU @ Tulane - 8:00 (EDT)

OSS - This is simply an unimpressive team. This will be a nice vacation to New Orleans for the Orange. Unless we play like Rutgers did against Toledo last season (terribly), we will earn an easy W.

Players X - "Maybe they can beat us in calculus."

10/21 SU vs. West Virginia - 8:00 - ESPN/ESPN2

OSS - The Mountaineers are the front-runners in the Big East this season. This is going to be an extremely tough game for Syracuse, but it’s at home on ESPN in front of what should be a huge crowd. If the Orange can carry some momentum from wins against Rutgers and Tulane into this game, the game could be close. Expect an overtime thriller.

Players X - "Gonna be a good game, we're both good."

10/29 SU @ Louisville - TBD

OSS - Last season, SU finished in front of the Cardinals in the Big East but they still beat us at home by eight. Louisville isn’t expected to get much better, but they have had our number the past couple seasons. Syracuse hasn’t beaten Louisville since 2008. The Orange will be on upset watch for this game.

Players X - "Spanking!"
"Just like the Cardinals in the MLB, all the players are injured or doo-doo."

11/5 SU @ Connecticut - TBD

OSS - UConn won the Big East last season and embarrassed the conference in the BCS bowl. The Huskies beat us pretty handedly last season but are expected to significantly decline in talent. The Orange also may be trying to clinch a bowl bid at this point in the season, which may give us the extra boost we need.

Players X - "Most respectable team in the Big East."
"R.I.P Jasper Howard."

11/11 SU vs. USF - 8:00 - ESPN2

OSS - The Bulls are expected to be one of the most improved teams in the Big East. BJ Daniels is dangerous at the quarterback position, both in the air and on foot. It will be a tough game for the Orange defense and USF should come out on top.

Players X - "Shark Week!"
"They are so sorry"

11/26 SU vs. Cincinnati - TBD

OSS - The Orange beat the Bearcats easily last season and it’ll be a similar game this season.

Players X - "Yawn"
"Crickets"

12/3 SU @ Pittsburgh - 8:00 - TBD - ABC/ESPN/ESPN2

OSS - This is the season finale and it’ll be a great one. Two of the better teams in the conference will face off on ESPN in Pittsburgh. Last season, the Panthers destroyed the Orange. In fact, the Orange hasn’t beaten Pitt since 2004. But this season, the Panthers will be coming off the backyard brawl against West Virginia and could be vulnerable the next week against the Orange.

Players X - "I hope it snows so I can throw snowballs at their sorry asses"
"This is were we finish the perfect season!