The Syracuse Orange football team kicked off its season with a 45-26 opening day defeat to Tennessee but rallied for wins the last two weeks. While the loss to the Vols was a disappointment to head coach Fran Brown, who begins his second season in charge at Syracuse, he and the fans can be confident of turning things around.
Upcoming games against Clemson and Duke will give the team every opportunity they need to get back on track. The team is currently +3000 to make the playoff. Odds will vary across operators, with crypto betting sites emerging as a good option for sports fans hoping to make the most of bonuses to improve their bets.
While the NFL gets the majority of football betting, a lot of fans are looking at college ball for the value on offer to those who have good knowledge about how teams are going to line up and perform.
Syracuse Orange fans will be able to back the team in individual games, as well as longer-term bets like playoffs.
One of the key factors to get Syracuse back and challenging will be Yasin Willis. The Sophomore running back showed his potential against Tennessee, performing admirably against a solid defense. Tennessee was a top-10 national team last season, and Willis was able to end the game on 23 carries, 91 yards, and 3 touchdowns.
At 6’1″ and 235 lbs, the Newark-born player is justifying his rating as the top player to come out of the State of New Jersey coming out of high school. His freshman season saw him rush for 130 yards and get one touchdown on 36 carries; this year, he will be pushing for more game time, and a key figure for Syracuse.
It is undeniable that the Syracuse defense faced a torrid attack against Tennessee, but it has the makings of a great unit. Demetres Samuel Jr. showed great character in rebounding from a disappointing first half to come on in the second, and defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson. will be quietly confident that he can guide the players under his watch.
With some excellent young talent coming through the ranks and more experienced players to lead them, the Orange defense has the potential to be one of the best in the league.
Fran Brown has everything in his locker to be a success with Syracuse, and his DART philosophy is something that can drive the team on to success. DART stands for Detailed – Accountable – Relentless – Tough, and if he can get his players to display these fundamentals on a regular basis, the results will speak for themselves.
Brown’s playing career never really hit the heights he would have hoped, peaking with the Bengals in 2007-2008 on the practice squad. However, his coaching career dates back to 2010, and he has enjoyed a variety of roles before being named as Syracuse University’s 31st head coach in November 2023. His experience in South Jersey, where Syracuse is known to recruit, was a key factor in his appointment.
He will be looking to improve on last season’s 10 wins, and will use victories over three top-25 teams as evidence that the team is capable of competing at the highest level as long as they follow his instructions and show the desire required at this level.
As with any new season, questions will be asked about how players will be replaced, and this year was no different. The loss of some solid defensive players raised questions in the preseason, and dropping behind by 17-0 in the first quarter would have been a concern. The offensive line would also have worried some, but QB Steve Angeli looked good when he had time, finishing with 300 yards, an interception, and a TD.
The offense rebounded against Colgate to give him something to build on. If the team can work on cutting out errors and capitalizing on its strengths, there is a lot of hope that the team will be able to compete.
