NFL
Syracuse Orange football will be back in full swing against the Ohio Bobcats, Saturday August 31st at 3:30 PM. Syracuse will bring back some familiar faces as well as some new ones as they hit the refresh button under new HC Fran Brown.
In a matchup where Syracuse is heavily favored to win (-17.5 FanDuel) week 1 won’t be where the Orange answer enough questions surrounding the team. The Bobcats aren’t to be taken lightly as Ohio is coming off a 10-win season capped off by a 4-game win streak. Although players and personnel have shifted since the 2023 campaign, coaches should have a good sense of what they have and how to motivate their guys.
On the defensive side of the football, their safeties coach, John Hauser, was promoted to DC, which could help or hinder the Orange. Bringing in an outside coach usually takes a few games to adjust and implement a new scheme while a DC adjusts to his players’ strengths. An in-house hire can move a bit quicker, knowing what worked and didn’t work from the year before.
So how will Syracuse match up against Ohio’s new defense?
Kyle McCord steps under center for the Orange and fans will be looking for him to make an immediate impact. He’ll be an instant upgrade at the position and has plenty of talent to work with. The Orange hit the offseason recruiting hard so there will be a good mix of new talent (Meeks, Haynes, Ross-Simmons) and returning talent (Gadsden II, Allen, Hatcher, Pena).
Heavily favored doesn’t guarantee a win. However, should it turn out that Syracuse ends up with that sort of lead, keeping their foot on the gas without running up the score might not be a bad idea. With a new regime and talent pool, building chemistry early in the season is a must without being disrespectful to their opponents.
As exciting as the offense might be, plenty of eyes will be on the defensive side of the football. Syracuse will roll out a new scheme this season (247sports) and will bring in fresh faces along the defensive front. However, don’t expect a huge disappointment on defense as the Orange will be bringing back experience with standouts such as Derrick McDonald and Marlowe Wax to be the lynchpin in the middle of their defense. The Bobcats will have their share of new talent having to replace a handful of exiting seniors from last season. Syracuse’s defense will have to set the tone early so the Bobcat’s don’t get into a rhythm.
Overall, there’s no such thing as an easy victory before the game. It’s usually established by the end of it. While the Syracuse Orange have won 9 of their last 10 opening games, they still face challenges as they approach their new style of football. Did the team absorb enough to get off to a hot start, or can the Bobcats cause them to make some early mistakes and challenge them as the underdog. The Bobcats remain winless against the Orange so far. Kickoff is at 3:30 PM EST at the JMA Wireless Dome and can be seen on the ACC Network/ESPN+.
