ETHAN (1-0): Syracuse 38, Western Michigan 14
The Orange are going to continue the easier portion of their schedule with a resounding win over the Broncos, a step up from Colgate in week 1, but still a team that is not on the level of SU. With the team mostly healthy, keeping it that way should be of the upmost importance for Dino Babers as he prepares his team for their first real test, at Purdue, a week from Saturday. Syracuse should roll in this one and it would not be a surprise if the starters did not feature in the 4th quarter for the second week in a row.
FRANCESCO (1-0): Syracuse 42, Western Michigan 13
This will be more of a contest than last week, but not much of one. Western Michigan played St. Francis out of the FCS last week and only beat them 35-17. There’s a lot of turnover for the Broncos from a team that went 5-7 last year. Syracuse is the team with more talent, and the Orange should show that. It’ll be much more competitive than last week. Unlike Colgate, Western Michigan will cross the 50 yard line more than once. However, SU will prove itself dominant over its MAC opponent and improve to 2-0.
ADAM (1-0): Syracuse 48, Western Michigan 24
To those who are going to bet Syracuze -24.5 I’m sorry. But, in the two matchups between SU and WMU in 2018 and 2019 the Broncos scored 76 combined points. The Orange offense will do whatever it pleases against a MAC defense. But, Jalen Buckley, the Western Michigan RB showed a lot of promise against the Saint Frances d-line. He’ll be able to run for close to 100 yards and the QB Jack Salopek will do enough to get 24 points.
LIAM (1-0) (EXEMPT FROM PREDICTION):
Western Michigan’s glory days of the 2016 season are long gone. The Broncos have had three seasons in which they’ve qualified for a bowl since their trip to the Cotton Bowl, but haven’t won more than eight games in a single season since. New Head Coach Lance Taylor takes the reigns of a team that is coming off a 5-7 campaign and lost its top seven tacklers from that campaign. Offensively, running back Jalen Buckley put his threat level on display, but the passing game leaves a lot to be desired. Western Michigan is much more potent than Colgate, but this contest should present another opportunity for Syracuse’s coaching staff to experiment.
TYLER (1-0) (EXEMPT FROM PREDICTION):
Western Michigan is certainly a higher-level opponent compared to Colgate. The MAC-based Broncos have played the Orange competitively both times they’ve matched up. In 2018, SU was victorious 55-42. A year later, the final score was 52-33 in favor of the ‘Cuse. This year, though, WMU is coming in without as much offensive as it had before. In 2022, Western Michigan averaged 19 points per game, which ranked dead last in its conference. Because of that, Saturday’s game should provide Syracuse’s defense with another opportunity to show off.
