Syracuse has added Colgate to its football schedule, filling the 12th and final game for the Orange. Colgate is the second Division I-AA team on the schedule, as Maine was already on it.
What does this mean? Well, per NCAA rules, only one win vs. a football championship subdivision (I-AA) team can count towards bowl eligibility. So if the Orange beat Mane on Sept. 18 (which they should), then the game a week later against the Raiders of Colgate will make no different on the Orange's postseason outlook.
It should be interesting to see how that a game between Syracuse and Colgate that has no importance will be hyped up.
Taking a look at SU's finalized schedule, it looks like this (with my predictions next to the game):
Week 1: (Win) @ Akron
Week 2: (Loss) @ Washington
Weeks 3 & 4: (Wins) vs. Maine & Colgate
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: (Loss) @ South Florida
Week 7: (Win) vs. Pittsburgh
Week 8: (Win) @ West Virginia (shocker)
Week 9: (Loss) @ Cincinnati
Week 10: (Win) vs. Louisville
Week 11: (Loss) @ Rutgers
Week 12: (Loss) vs. Connecticut
This puts the Orange at 6-5, 5-5 for bowl eligibility. I am putting a lot of stock in Ryan Nassib for the Orange to win this many games. The SU offense should be much improved. The defense holds the team back, though.
I inserted this here because from what I am predicting, SU's postseason fate will fall upon the final game against Boston College. Unfortunately, I think Boston College will defeat the Orange on Senior Day, ending SU's season. Syracuse will go 6-6, but 5-6 for bowl eligibility.
Despite not making a bowl, it would an strong improvement for the second straight season under Doug Marrone.
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