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Syracuse football 2019 preview: Best and worst-case scenario

By Shayne Nissen

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Syracuse Orange head coach Dino Babers leads his team on to the field before the Camping World Bowl between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Syracuse Orangemen on December 28, 2018, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Syracuse Orange head coach Dino Babers leads his team on to the field before the Camping World Bowl between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Syracuse Orangemen on December 28, 2018, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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It’s going to be tough to replace All-ACC quarterback Eric Dungey, but behind talented sophomore Tommy DeVito the Orange hope to build on their first 10-win season since 2001.

After three straight 4-8 seasons from 2015-2017, Syracuse finally turned it around last year with a 10-3 record including a huge bowl win over West Virginia to cap it all off. Dino Babers inherited a bit of a mess from former head coach Scott Shafer, and while it took him a while to turn it around, the results from last year are undeniable.

The offense ranked No. 11 in the country in points per game last season and it was in large part due to Eric Dungey, who had a fantastic season for the Orange. Dungey threw for a career-high in passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2019 with 2,868 yards and 18 touchdowns. Unfortunately, that production will need to be replaced, but people around the Syracuse program seem to think that Tommy DeVito is up for the job.

DeVito, one of the best recruits Babers has signed, was a four-star recruit that ranked as the  No. 13 pro-style recruit in the class of 2017. The 6-foot-2 signal-caller has a fantastic arm, but questions could arise about his accuracy. If DeVito can effectively get the ball to what should be a talented receiving corps, he will have no problems replacing the production of his predecessor.

The defense was one of the best at getting to the quarterback last season. The Orange ranked sixth in sacks last year and that should continue this year too with seniors Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman returning after recording 20 combined sacks last season. The line will be by far the best part of this team and has the chance to be one of the premier units in the country in 2019.

Syracuse football best-case scenario

  • Aug. 31 – at Liberty – W
  • Sep. 7 – at Maryland – W
  • Sep. 14 – vs. Clemson – L
  • Sep. 21 – vs. Western Michigan – W
  • Sep. 28 – vs. Holy Cross – W
  • Oct. 10 – at N.C. State – W
  • Oct. 18 – vs. Pitt – W
  • Oct. 26 – at Florida State – W
  • Nov. 2 – vs. Boston College – W
  • Nov. 16 – at Duke – W
  • Nov. 23 – at Louisville – W
  • Nov. 30 – vs. Wake Forest – W

Record: 12-1 (7-1 ACC) 

This would be rather ambitious and it would probably warrant a top ten ranking going into bowl season, but it isn’t impossible with the weak schedule that it presents itself for Syracuse this upcoming season.

Liberty could be a sneaky tough road game but I don’t see the upset happening. Maryland could give also give them problems as well, but the pass rush and what could be a dynamic air attack on offense should give them the edge in those two road games to start off the season.

Having to play Clemson whether at home or on the road is never fun but the rest of the ACC schedule is definitely manageable. There are plenty of games on the schedule that could surely trip them up and many of them will be close. But if things bounce their way I can see them winning all of them.

Syracuse football best-case scenario

  • Aug. 31 – at Liberty – W
  • Sep. 7 – at Maryland – L
  • Sep. 14 – vs. Clemson – L
  • Sep. 21 – vs. Western Michigan – W
  • Sep. 28 – vs. Holy Cross – W
  • Oct. 10 – at N.C. State – L
  • Oct. 18 – vs. Pitt – W
  • Oct. 26 – at Florida State – L
  • Nov. 2 – vs. Boston College – W
  • Nov. 16 – at Duke – L
  • Nov. 23 – at Louisville – W
  • Nov. 30 – vs. Wake Forest – W

Record: 7-5 (4-4 ACC)

With a new quarterback replacing one that was fantastic last season, a step back is a possibility for a football program that is not used to the type of success it had last season.

The linebackers weren’t the best last season either and they lose two guys that combined for 207 tackles last season. Against what should be solid rushing attacks at Duke and Pitt, that could spell trouble.

The secondary had problems of their own last season as the team ranked No. 114 in opponent passing yards per game despite being one of the elite programs at getting to the quarterback. When you have such a disparity in numbers like that, it’s the secondary that wasn’t getting the job done. The secondary returns all their starters so they will be experienced but if they don’t improve, the Orange are going to have to compete in some shootouts that might not fall their way.

Losing Dungey also means that the Orange will lose their second-leading rusher too as Dungey was just as prolific on the ground as he was in the air. Losing that production could mean losing more games this season as well.

That said, this is a talented team that will compete for double-digit wins for the second year in a row.

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