Michael Cohen
Overall: 3-9
Conference: 2-5

Last year I drank the Kool-Aid. I truly believed that a Pinstripe Bowl win would carry Syracuse through to a great 2011 season in which the Orange would post an 8-4 record and reach another bowl game. I was very, very wrong. So this year I’m going the other way. SU will start the year 0-3 with losses to Northwestern, No. 1 Southern California and an incredibly dangerous Stony Brook — yes, Stony Brook. Marcus Coker will return to glory by defeating the Orange in the Carrier Dome, thus stamping Syracuse’s season a disappointment. Marrone won’t quit, though, and SU will win three games in all. But the season will certainly be a disappointment.

Northwestern – L
Southern California – L
Stony Brook – L
Minnesota – W
Pittsburgh – L
Rutgers – W
Connecticut – L
South Florida – L
Cincinnati – L
Louisville – L
Missouri – L
Temple – W

Ryne Gery
Overall: 4-8
Conference: 2-5

Coming off five straight losses to end last season, Syracuse is surrounded by uncertainty across the field. The Orange doesn’t have a clear-cut rotation at running back to replace 1,000-yard rusher Antwon Bailey. With Justin Pugh out for the start of the season and two other starters to replace, the offensive line is an area for concern too. Defensively, the line is inexperienced, and the secondary has a lot to prove after a tough 2011 campaign. This Orange team doesn’t even match up with the one it had a year ago, and that team finished last in the Big East and couldn’t make a bowl. SU barely edges Temple to avoid a second straight last-place finish.

Northwestern – L
Southern California – L
Stony Brook – W
Minnesota – W
Pittsburgh – L
Rutgers – L
Connecticut – W
South Florida – L
Cincinnati – L
Louisville – L
Missouri – L
Temple – W

Chris Iseman
Overall: 3-9
Conference: 2-5

At the start of training camp, Doug Marrone told reporters the team had a long way to go and wasn’t where it needed to be to be successful. On the final day of training camp, the Syracuse head coach said the team still wasn’t where he wanted it. See the problem? Less than two weeks before the season starts and Marrone doesn’t like where the team is. Competitions at several positions were never settled during the preseason. The Orange is going into game week with several starters yet to be named. Out of a group of five running backs, not a single one proved he deserved to be a starter. Three days before the end of training camp, the coaches moved safety Devante MacFarlane to running back to see if he could take that spot. The offensive line is a giant question mark, as is whether or not the defense can rebound from a down year. Syracuse’s nonconference schedule is among the toughest in the country, and the Big East has some very solid teams. The Orange isn’t ready to compete at a high level just yet.

Northwestern – L
Southern California – L
Stony Brook – W
Minnesota – L
Pittsburgh – L
Rutgers – L
Connecticut – W
South Florida – L
Cincinnati – L
Louisville – L
Missouri – L
Temple – W

Published on September 1, 2012 at 11:28 am

Contact Ryne: rjgery@syr.edu