Syracuse
Last year: Syracuse went 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC in its first year under coach Scott Shafer, who was the defensive coordinator for previous coach Doug Marrone (now the Buffalo Bills head coach). The Orange edged Minnesota, 21-17, in the Texas Bowl. Syracuse lost its first two games against Penn State and Northwestern before easily evening its record with blowouts of Wagner and Tulane. The Orange entered ACC play after that and had some good performances (13-0 shutout of Wake Forest, 20-3 defeat of Maryland) and some not-as-good-ones (56-0 loss to Georgia Tech, 17-16 loss to Pittsburgh). Of course, 'Cuse was also blown out by Florida State and Clemson, but that happened to a lot of teams a year ago. In the regular-season finale, Syracuse needed a win to get bowl eligible and did so, nipping Boston College, 34-31. At QB, Oklahoma transfer Drew Allen started the first three games but struggled and was benched in favor of freshman Terrel Hunt. Hunt went on to complete 61.2 percent of his passes for 1,637 yards, 10 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Jerome Smith gained 914 yards with 12 touchdowns on the ground and the Orange's leading receiver was Ashton Broyld (a running back) with 52 catches for 452 yards but zero touchdowns. WR Jarrod West had 397 receiving yards and scored a touchdown and WR Chris Clark recorded 365 receiving yards and a trio of touchdowns. Defensively, Syracuse allowed 25.4 points per
game and mixed several good games with several bad games. Interestingly, it ended up being the only FBS defense to not allow a 100-yard rusher all season.
Offense: The Orange return eight starters including Hunt, who should start to develop a more downfield passing game this season. He is already a dual threat for Syracuse, running for 500 yards and seven touchdowns a season ago. Broyld is back as is WR West. Brisly Estime (26 catches, 257 yards, 1 TD) and Jeremiah Kobena (16 receptions, 206 yards) provide depth at wideout. Smith is gone at RB after a solid career, but Syracuse has a capable stable of backs, including Prince Tyson-Gulley (456 yards, four TDs), George Morris II (334 yards, one TD), and Devante McFarlane (292 yards, one TD). Syracuse returns four on the offensive line.
Defense: The unit returns seven starters, including leading tackler Durell Eskridge (78). The free safety also had four picks. Syracuse must find a replacement for defensive tackle Jay Bromley, who had 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, and also linebacker Marquis Spurill (14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks), but do return LBs Cameron Lynch (69 tackles, 12 TFL, four sacks) and Dyshan Davis (seven TFL, 2.5 sacks).
Special teams note: Riley Dixon averaged more than 42 yards per punt last season, but the Orange were inconsistent in field goals (a combined 11 of 17 from '14 returners Ryan Nortman and Ross Krautman -- who got hurt after two attempts) and also in the return game.
Schedule, notes, outlook: Villanova, at Central Michigan, Maryland, Notre Dame (MetLife Stadium, New York), Louisville, Florida State, at Wake Forest, at Clemson, N.C. State, Duke, at Pittsburgh, at Boston College. Six home games for the Orange, seven if you count the one in New York, though we know that game will probably have as many if not more Fighting Irish fans than Orange fans. Syracuse should win its first two games and then will probably have a decent battle on its hands vs. the Terps and Irish. The ACC slate starts off pretty rough vs. new ACC member Louisville and defending champ Florida State. At least those games are at home. After the Clemson game, Syracuse might have an outside shot of winning three of its last four, maybe all four. If the defense can get more consistent despite a couple key losses and Hunt can keep defenses more honest with a better passing attack, Syracuse should have a pretty successful season.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
Boston College
Last year: Like the Orange, the Eagles went 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC in 2013. Boston College lost to Arizona, 42-19, in the AdvoCare V100 Bowl. Also like Syracuse, BC had a new head coach in Steve Addazio and had a surprisingly successful season a year after going just 2-10 in 2012. Addazio coached at Temple for two seasons before coming to BC and went 9-4 in 2011 and 4-7 in 2012. BC played pretty solidly during the season, rarely getting blown out. It won its first two games easily over Villanova and Wake Forest and then got dumped by USC. In their next game, the Eagles lost to Florida State but played the Seminoles just about as close as anyone all year, losing 48-34. BC then beat Army and started ACC play dropping games to Clemson and North Carolina. After that, BC regrouped and won four straight games -- Virginia Tech, New Mexico State, N.C. State, and Maryland -- to get to 7-4. BC lost in the regular-season finale to Syracuse and then was beaten pretty soundly by the Wildcats in the bowl game. Under center, senior Chase Rettig was efficient, completing 61.6 percent of his passes for 1,995 yards, 17 touchdowns, and eight picks. His yardage was way down from 2012 but he threw a lot fewer passes because BC focused on its running game, with star tailback Andre Williams gaining more than 2,100 yards. Rettig's completion percentage was up about seven percent, however, and he threw five less picks. He went undrafted but was signed as a free agent by the Packers. Williams was a beast, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and he scored 18 touchdowns. At receiver, Alex Amidon built on a breakout 2012 season, catching 77 balls for 1,032 yards and five TDs. No other player even caught 15 passes from Rettig. Defensively, BC got better from 2012 (how could it not), but still gave up 28.9 points per game. One defensive number that increased greatly for the Eagles was sacks, which went from six to 35.
Offense: The offense has only four returning starters and must replace both Rettig and Williams, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Giants. Florida graduate transfer Tyler Murphy grabbed the No. 1 QB spot at the end of spring practice. The 6-foot-2, 213-pounder started six games for the Gators last year and played in nine in what was a disastrous 4-8 season in Gainesville. Murphy completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five picks. The dual-threat signal caller ran for three TDs, too. The Eagles' leading returning tailback is Myles Willis, who gained 346 yards and accounted for two TDs a year ago behind Williams. Tyler Rouse (125 yards) and David Dudek (116 yards in 2012, only eight last season) could see time, too. The Eagles also bring in four-star freshman running back Jonathan Hilliman. Even though Williams is gone, don't expect the style of BC's offense to change. Addazio and coordinator Ryan Day love to run the ball. Amidon is gone and the top returning wideout for the Eagles is Dan Crimmins (10 catches, 61 yards). Spiffy Evans (seven catches) transferred and Harrison Jackson (five catches) tore his ACL in spring practice, leaving the Eagles very thin at the position. They do receive a pick-me-up in the form of Connecticut WR transfer Shakim Phillips, who played one season for BC in 2010 before transferring to UConn. Last year with the Huskies, Phillips recorded 28 catches, 406 yards, and three TDs. BC must replace two starters on the offensive line but the starting five are expected to be all seniors.
Defense: Six starters return to the defense and the top returner in tackles is linebacker Steve Daniels (88, three sacks, one interception). LBs Steele Divitto and Kevin Pierre-Louis -- 220 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and two picks combined -- will be missed. Another tough loss for the defense is end Kasim Edebali (15 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks). The Eagles do get back two nice cornerbacks in Manuel Asprilla (68 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two picks) and Bryce Jones (62 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two picks).
Special teams note: Nate Freese made all 20 of his field goals last season and was scooped up in the final round of the NFL draft by the Lions. BC also took a blow in the return game with the loss of Evans, but Willis did a solid job last season as well.
Schedule, notes, outlook: at Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, USC, Maine, Colorado State, at N.C. State, Clemson, at Wake Forest, at Virginia Tech, Louisville, at Florida State, Syracuse. The Eagles should win at least three of their four non-conference tilts but USC could be a challenge. ACC road games at Virginia Tech and Florida State will be tough undertakings and hosting Clemson, Louisville, and even Syracuse are also difficult contests. The offense is bound to take a step back with the loss of Rettig, Williams, and Amidon, the Eagles' three best offensive players a year ago. The defense could be better than last year but it will also be more stressed with the possible struggles of the offense. Just like at Temple, I expected Addazio to take a dip in his second season at BC. The team should get better as the year goes on and he could get the Eagles back to being consistent winners, but this year could be a little tough.
Win-loss prediction: 5-7 or 6-6
Last year: Syracuse went 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC in its first year under coach Scott Shafer, who was the defensive coordinator for previous coach Doug Marrone (now the Buffalo Bills head coach). The Orange edged Minnesota, 21-17, in the Texas Bowl. Syracuse lost its first two games against Penn State and Northwestern before easily evening its record with blowouts of Wagner and Tulane. The Orange entered ACC play after that and had some good performances (13-0 shutout of Wake Forest, 20-3 defeat of Maryland) and some not-as-good-ones (56-0 loss to Georgia Tech, 17-16 loss to Pittsburgh). Of course, 'Cuse was also blown out by Florida State and Clemson, but that happened to a lot of teams a year ago. In the regular-season finale, Syracuse needed a win to get bowl eligible and did so, nipping Boston College, 34-31. At QB, Oklahoma transfer Drew Allen started the first three games but struggled and was benched in favor of freshman Terrel Hunt. Hunt went on to complete 61.2 percent of his passes for 1,637 yards, 10 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Jerome Smith gained 914 yards with 12 touchdowns on the ground and the Orange's leading receiver was Ashton Broyld (a running back) with 52 catches for 452 yards but zero touchdowns. WR Jarrod West had 397 receiving yards and scored a touchdown and WR Chris Clark recorded 365 receiving yards and a trio of touchdowns. Defensively, Syracuse allowed 25.4 points per
game and mixed several good games with several bad games. Interestingly, it ended up being the only FBS defense to not allow a 100-yard rusher all season.
Offense: The Orange return eight starters including Hunt, who should start to develop a more downfield passing game this season. He is already a dual threat for Syracuse, running for 500 yards and seven touchdowns a season ago. Broyld is back as is WR West. Brisly Estime (26 catches, 257 yards, 1 TD) and Jeremiah Kobena (16 receptions, 206 yards) provide depth at wideout. Smith is gone at RB after a solid career, but Syracuse has a capable stable of backs, including Prince Tyson-Gulley (456 yards, four TDs), George Morris II (334 yards, one TD), and Devante McFarlane (292 yards, one TD). Syracuse returns four on the offensive line.Defense: The unit returns seven starters, including leading tackler Durell Eskridge (78). The free safety also had four picks. Syracuse must find a replacement for defensive tackle Jay Bromley, who had 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, and also linebacker Marquis Spurill (14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks), but do return LBs Cameron Lynch (69 tackles, 12 TFL, four sacks) and Dyshan Davis (seven TFL, 2.5 sacks).
Special teams note: Riley Dixon averaged more than 42 yards per punt last season, but the Orange were inconsistent in field goals (a combined 11 of 17 from '14 returners Ryan Nortman and Ross Krautman -- who got hurt after two attempts) and also in the return game.
Schedule, notes, outlook: Villanova, at Central Michigan, Maryland, Notre Dame (MetLife Stadium, New York), Louisville, Florida State, at Wake Forest, at Clemson, N.C. State, Duke, at Pittsburgh, at Boston College. Six home games for the Orange, seven if you count the one in New York, though we know that game will probably have as many if not more Fighting Irish fans than Orange fans. Syracuse should win its first two games and then will probably have a decent battle on its hands vs. the Terps and Irish. The ACC slate starts off pretty rough vs. new ACC member Louisville and defending champ Florida State. At least those games are at home. After the Clemson game, Syracuse might have an outside shot of winning three of its last four, maybe all four. If the defense can get more consistent despite a couple key losses and Hunt can keep defenses more honest with a better passing attack, Syracuse should have a pretty successful season.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
Boston College
Last year: Like the Orange, the Eagles went 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC in 2013. Boston College lost to Arizona, 42-19, in the AdvoCare V100 Bowl. Also like Syracuse, BC had a new head coach in Steve Addazio and had a surprisingly successful season a year after going just 2-10 in 2012. Addazio coached at Temple for two seasons before coming to BC and went 9-4 in 2011 and 4-7 in 2012. BC played pretty solidly during the season, rarely getting blown out. It won its first two games easily over Villanova and Wake Forest and then got dumped by USC. In their next game, the Eagles lost to Florida State but played the Seminoles just about as close as anyone all year, losing 48-34. BC then beat Army and started ACC play dropping games to Clemson and North Carolina. After that, BC regrouped and won four straight games -- Virginia Tech, New Mexico State, N.C. State, and Maryland -- to get to 7-4. BC lost in the regular-season finale to Syracuse and then was beaten pretty soundly by the Wildcats in the bowl game. Under center, senior Chase Rettig was efficient, completing 61.6 percent of his passes for 1,995 yards, 17 touchdowns, and eight picks. His yardage was way down from 2012 but he threw a lot fewer passes because BC focused on its running game, with star tailback Andre Williams gaining more than 2,100 yards. Rettig's completion percentage was up about seven percent, however, and he threw five less picks. He went undrafted but was signed as a free agent by the Packers. Williams was a beast, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and he scored 18 touchdowns. At receiver, Alex Amidon built on a breakout 2012 season, catching 77 balls for 1,032 yards and five TDs. No other player even caught 15 passes from Rettig. Defensively, BC got better from 2012 (how could it not), but still gave up 28.9 points per game. One defensive number that increased greatly for the Eagles was sacks, which went from six to 35.
Offense: The offense has only four returning starters and must replace both Rettig and Williams, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Giants. Florida graduate transfer Tyler Murphy grabbed the No. 1 QB spot at the end of spring practice. The 6-foot-2, 213-pounder started six games for the Gators last year and played in nine in what was a disastrous 4-8 season in Gainesville. Murphy completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five picks. The dual-threat signal caller ran for three TDs, too. The Eagles' leading returning tailback is Myles Willis, who gained 346 yards and accounted for two TDs a year ago behind Williams. Tyler Rouse (125 yards) and David Dudek (116 yards in 2012, only eight last season) could see time, too. The Eagles also bring in four-star freshman running back Jonathan Hilliman. Even though Williams is gone, don't expect the style of BC's offense to change. Addazio and coordinator Ryan Day love to run the ball. Amidon is gone and the top returning wideout for the Eagles is Dan Crimmins (10 catches, 61 yards). Spiffy Evans (seven catches) transferred and Harrison Jackson (five catches) tore his ACL in spring practice, leaving the Eagles very thin at the position. They do receive a pick-me-up in the form of Connecticut WR transfer Shakim Phillips, who played one season for BC in 2010 before transferring to UConn. Last year with the Huskies, Phillips recorded 28 catches, 406 yards, and three TDs. BC must replace two starters on the offensive line but the starting five are expected to be all seniors.Defense: Six starters return to the defense and the top returner in tackles is linebacker Steve Daniels (88, three sacks, one interception). LBs Steele Divitto and Kevin Pierre-Louis -- 220 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and two picks combined -- will be missed. Another tough loss for the defense is end Kasim Edebali (15 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks). The Eagles do get back two nice cornerbacks in Manuel Asprilla (68 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two picks) and Bryce Jones (62 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two picks).
Special teams note: Nate Freese made all 20 of his field goals last season and was scooped up in the final round of the NFL draft by the Lions. BC also took a blow in the return game with the loss of Evans, but Willis did a solid job last season as well.
Schedule, notes, outlook: at Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, USC, Maine, Colorado State, at N.C. State, Clemson, at Wake Forest, at Virginia Tech, Louisville, at Florida State, Syracuse. The Eagles should win at least three of their four non-conference tilts but USC could be a challenge. ACC road games at Virginia Tech and Florida State will be tough undertakings and hosting Clemson, Louisville, and even Syracuse are also difficult contests. The offense is bound to take a step back with the loss of Rettig, Williams, and Amidon, the Eagles' three best offensive players a year ago. The defense could be better than last year but it will also be more stressed with the possible struggles of the offense. Just like at Temple, I expected Addazio to take a dip in his second season at BC. The team should get better as the year goes on and he could get the Eagles back to being consistent winners, but this year could be a little tough.
Win-loss prediction: 5-7 or 6-6
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