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Syracuse Football Predictions 2009

The Syracuse Orange will surely be more competitive this season after losing nine games by 14.6 points/game in 2008. The problem is that this program still doesn’t have the look of a .500 team yet. Having eight home games will certainly help ease in new head coach Doug Marrone, though opening with three consecutive Big Ten teams in Minnesota, Penn State and Northwestern won’t be easy. NCAA football odds show that Syracuse is, hands down, the biggest underdog to win this conference. The Orange are listed at +5000 to win the Big East Conference in 2009.

Offense: There are two good reasons to assume big improvements for the Syracuse offense this season. First, a healthy Delone Carter returns at running back after rushing for 713 yards in 2006 before missing all of 2007 with a dislocated hip. Then a hamstring injury limited him to four games last year. Second, wide receiver Mike Williams returns after recording 837 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2007 before sitting out last season. Having these two weapons, as well as a fairly experienced offensive line, should be a welcome relief to senior quarterback Cameron Dantley. A lack of playmakers last fall led to just 1,298 passing yards from Dantley.

Dantley now has Williams and Carter to rely upon, as well as a deeper receiving corps and a proven tight end in Mike Owen, who caught 19 balls last year. Returning to the wideout positions are Donte Davis who had 29 grabs last year to lead the team, Marcus Sales and his 14 receptions, and Lavar Lobdell and his 13 catches from a year ago. Carter should offset the loss of 1,164-yard rusher Curtis Brinkley. Explosive sophomore tailback Antwon Bailey, who averaged 6.7 yards/carry last year, should have a more expanded role in 2009. All of these playmakers should help improve on the Big East’s worst offense from a year ago.

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Defense: Doug Marrone’s rebuilding job starts on this side of the ball with a unit that was last in the Big East in 2008 in points allowed, rushing defense and total defense. The defensive line has a chance to be a good one if everyone lives up to their potential. Standout nose tackle Arthur Jones, whose career total of 31.5 tackles for loss, ranks sixth all-time at Syracuse. Jared Kimmel’s emergence at end could take some of the double-teams away from Jones.

The linebackers aren’t big, but they are very fast and active. Returning starters Derrell Smith and Mike Mele finished second and third, respectively, on the team in tackles last year as sophomores. Smith will make a bigger impact this season after shifting from the outside to the middle backer position. The secondary is solid with three returning starters. Cornerback Kevyn Scott showed promise as a redshirt freshman. This allowed Mike Holmes to move from corner to free safety in spring camp. Holmes should flourish at his new position after recording two interceptions, a forced fumble and four fumble recoveries last season. Max Suter mans the other safety spot, and each are back deep on kickoff returns to utilize their speed in every way possible.

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