By: DA
The Orange football team stands “on the edge of the cliff” as Dino Babers says. There are two games left to play and SU must win both to be bowl eligible. Coming into the season making a bowl game was not a mandate according to most fans. This would be a difficult, program-building year with a brutal schedule that included FSU, Miami and LSU on the road. But a funny thing happened en route to 4-8… the Orange beat #2 Clemson.¬†
That night changed everything about the season’s complexion for SU, and now with a road trip to Louisville next up, a win would keep flickering bowl hopes alive. The chances SU can pull off the feat, though is slim. The Orange are nearly a two-touchdown underdog on the road this weekend, with dynamic Lamar Jackson waiting. Syracuse needs the upset.¬†
It’s interesting to take a look at the confidence¬†poll that Syracuse.com ran this week. It was nearly a 30/30/30 split between no faith, little faith, and optimism. The fans seem to want to believe, but know deep down that six wins is out of reach.¬†¬†
On the same weekend, the shoe will be on the other foot for the Orange basketball team. Syracuse is 2-0 on the young season, while Texas Southern is 0-3. Can the boys from the Lone Star State come into the Carrier Dome and pull the upset? Jim Boeheim’s crew better hope not, because the ACC schedule will be brutal in itself. The Orange have¬†non-conference games¬†ahead with Kansas, Georgetown, Maryland and UConn.¬†And let’s not forget that¬†lower seeded teams have managed to make some pretty deep runs, so it¬†can ill-afford to drop an easy win like this one.
A pair of wins this weekend will ease the fears of the fan base, and go a long way to getting SU football on track for a final shot at a bowl bid. A win for the hoops team is assumed, although nothing should be taken for granted with a young team. It’s the holiday season, which means emotions can sink or swim with every passing day.¬†
