Syracuse
Last year: 3-9 (1-7 ACC) Best win: at Wake Forest, 30-7 Worst loss: at Pittsburgh, 30-7
Coach: Scott Shafer (third year, 10-15)
Starters returning: 13 (8 offense, 3 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Terrel Hunt. The dual-threat senior broke his fibula last year and started just five games. His stats had taken a dive, however, from 2013. He completed 57.2 percent of his passes (61.2 in '13) for one TD and four INTs (10 TDs and eight picks in '13). He had improved his scrambling/running ability, however (six yards per carry vs. 4.7 ypc in '13). He will have to have a steady year for the Orange to have a chance of getting back to a bowl.
Defensive player to watch: LB Marquez Hodge. The junior played in nine games last year and had
38 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and three sacks. He would probably be the leading returning tackler if not for an injury.
Special teams player to watch: K Cole Murphy. As a true freshman, he was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, converting 13 of 16 field goals, two from 50 yards out.
Schedule: Rhode Island, Wake Forest, Central Michigan, LSU, at South Florida, at Virginia, Pittsburgh, at Florida State, at Louisville, Clemson, at N.C. State, Boston College.
Outlook: Except for that LSU game, Syracuse should fare well in the first half of the season, with four home games and two road games against average-to-below-average competition. The Orange better hope it can get to at least 4-2 in that first six, though, because the second half gets harder, with three road games, two on back-to-back weeks against Florida State and Louisville. If Syracuse doesn't have four wins in its first six games, I doubt it gets back bowling. Hunt has potential at QB, but he has to stay healthy and get smarter with the football. The O-line is experienced but the overall offensive unit lacks explosiveness. The defense is breaking in lots of new faces.
Win-loss prediction: 5-7 or 6-6
Boston College
Last year: 7-6 (4-4), lost 31-30 in OT in Pinstripe Bowl to Penn State
Best win: vs. No. 9 USC, 37-31 Worst loss: vs. Pittsburgh, 30-20
Coach: Steve Addazio (third year, 14-12)
Starters returning: 11 (3 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB Jon Hilliman. With a new QB, and the run-first emphasis of coach Addazio, the offensive production is likely to fall on this sophomore, who ran for 860 yards and 13 TDs a year ago.
Defensive player to watch: DE Kevin Kavalec. A year ago, the junior totaled 40 tackles, 10.5 loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Special teams player to watch: Ks Mike Knoll and Alex Howell. Whoever is the main placekicker must improve the overall kicking game. Howell, Knoll, and Joey Launceford combined to go 12 of 19 last year. Worst yet, they missed eight extra points, and Knoll missed one in OT of the bowl loss to Penn State.
Schedule: Maine, Howard, Florida State, Northern Illinois, at Duke, Wake Forest, at Clemson, at Louisville, Virginia Tech, N.C. State, at Notre Dame, at Syracuse.
Outlook: Sophomore Darius Wade is expected to be the Eagles' quarterback. He saw action in just three games a year ago, completing 3 of 8 passes. So, you can say he is inexperienced. Addazio will have to rely on the run game once again to get things rolling and he has had no problem doing that before. BC ranked eighth in the nation in rushing attempts per game last season. The offensive line is inexperienced, however, with no returning starters so BC might have to try to get something going through the air. The defense has been stout and might have to carry the team a bit early on. Luckily, the first half of the schedule is pretty forgiving. If BC can get to 4-2 in the first six, it should go bowling once again. The kicking game might have to be better to win some close games.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
Last year: 3-9 (1-7 ACC) Best win: at Wake Forest, 30-7 Worst loss: at Pittsburgh, 30-7
Coach: Scott Shafer (third year, 10-15)
Starters returning: 13 (8 offense, 3 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Terrel Hunt. The dual-threat senior broke his fibula last year and started just five games. His stats had taken a dive, however, from 2013. He completed 57.2 percent of his passes (61.2 in '13) for one TD and four INTs (10 TDs and eight picks in '13). He had improved his scrambling/running ability, however (six yards per carry vs. 4.7 ypc in '13). He will have to have a steady year for the Orange to have a chance of getting back to a bowl.
Defensive player to watch: LB Marquez Hodge. The junior played in nine games last year and had
Special teams player to watch: K Cole Murphy. As a true freshman, he was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, converting 13 of 16 field goals, two from 50 yards out.
Schedule: Rhode Island, Wake Forest, Central Michigan, LSU, at South Florida, at Virginia, Pittsburgh, at Florida State, at Louisville, Clemson, at N.C. State, Boston College.
Outlook: Except for that LSU game, Syracuse should fare well in the first half of the season, with four home games and two road games against average-to-below-average competition. The Orange better hope it can get to at least 4-2 in that first six, though, because the second half gets harder, with three road games, two on back-to-back weeks against Florida State and Louisville. If Syracuse doesn't have four wins in its first six games, I doubt it gets back bowling. Hunt has potential at QB, but he has to stay healthy and get smarter with the football. The O-line is experienced but the overall offensive unit lacks explosiveness. The defense is breaking in lots of new faces.
Win-loss prediction: 5-7 or 6-6
Boston College
Last year: 7-6 (4-4), lost 31-30 in OT in Pinstripe Bowl to Penn State
Best win: vs. No. 9 USC, 37-31 Worst loss: vs. Pittsburgh, 30-20
Coach: Steve Addazio (third year, 14-12)
Starters returning: 11 (3 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB Jon Hilliman. With a new QB, and the run-first emphasis of coach Addazio, the offensive production is likely to fall on this sophomore, who ran for 860 yards and 13 TDs a year ago.
Defensive player to watch: DE Kevin Kavalec. A year ago, the junior totaled 40 tackles, 10.5 loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Special teams player to watch: Ks Mike Knoll and Alex Howell. Whoever is the main placekicker must improve the overall kicking game. Howell, Knoll, and Joey Launceford combined to go 12 of 19 last year. Worst yet, they missed eight extra points, and Knoll missed one in OT of the bowl loss to Penn State.Schedule: Maine, Howard, Florida State, Northern Illinois, at Duke, Wake Forest, at Clemson, at Louisville, Virginia Tech, N.C. State, at Notre Dame, at Syracuse.
Outlook: Sophomore Darius Wade is expected to be the Eagles' quarterback. He saw action in just three games a year ago, completing 3 of 8 passes. So, you can say he is inexperienced. Addazio will have to rely on the run game once again to get things rolling and he has had no problem doing that before. BC ranked eighth in the nation in rushing attempts per game last season. The offensive line is inexperienced, however, with no returning starters so BC might have to try to get something going through the air. The defense has been stout and might have to carry the team a bit early on. Luckily, the first half of the schedule is pretty forgiving. If BC can get to 4-2 in the first six, it should go bowling once again. The kicking game might have to be better to win some close games.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
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