We all know that Vegas is not too keen on Syracuse Football this year. Depending on the sports book you look at, the odds makers believe the Orange will only win three or four games. That is even with a schedule that is on the easier side of the strength of schedule metrics.
With Ohio being one of the easier opponents for Syracuse, you would think the Orange would be favored in Week 1. However, you would be wrong. Most sports books are beginning to release their opening lines for the first week, and most have Ohio as one point favorites. Some have the game as a pick ‘em, meaning it is too close to favor one team, so you can pick whoever you want without a spread.
One point is nothing crazy, but it does show just how little Zegas and the public are expecting from Syracuse. Sure, Ohio has a fantastic running back in De’Montre Tuggle that could pick apart SU’s linebackers, one of the bigger issues from a year ago. Sure, the Bobcats are returning plenty of players on the defensive side. However, their longtime head coach, Frank Solich, retired just about a month ago.
Ohio is a solid team and will be on its home turf on September 4th, however, this opening line says more about the Orange than it does about the Bobcats. If Vegas is making Syracuse the underdog to Ohio, get ready for a season with very few spreads in favor of SU.
