Are the writers finally on board with a toaster-pastry appearance?
Another Bye Week for Syracuse Orange football is in the books. We hope you enjoyed your weekend off before we enter the season’s home stretch.
In case you weren’t aware, SU (5-1) is well on its way to postseason play in Fran Brown’s inaugural year. Before their bye, the Orange won back-to-back road contests for the first time in 12 years.
Let’s express this success in Pop-Tart terms with our weekly Pop-Tarts Bowl O’Meter update:
We’ve never been closer to a dance with the notorious toaster pastry. However, Thursday’s matchup against No. 19 Pittsburgh has HUGE implications for the nation’s greatest bowl game. A win would put the Orange at the heart of the Pop-Tart conversation, while a loss would relegate them to the dreaded “Wasabi Fenway Bowl.”
Here’s where the “experts” project Syracuse to play in the postseason before its primetime tussle with the Panthers.
ESPN – Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl vs Iowa Hawkeyes – Schlabach
Same bowl game as last week but with Iowa instead of Illinois. It’s been a rollercoaster season for the Hawkeyes, who sit at 4-3 after beginning the year inside the top 25. We’re aiming higher than the Pinstripe Bowl anyway.
Go Bowling Military Bowl vs No. 23 Army Black Knights – Bonagura
Keeping the exact same prediction as last week, I still think this would be a great alternative, if not the Pop-Tart Bowl. Army is still a perfect 7-0 and has one of the best run-offenses in the country. And it’s still possible the Black Knights could skip this game altogether and make the CFP.
Brett McMurphy – The Action Network
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl vs USC Trojans
Heading West to El Paso for a date with the Trojan Horse. USC is entering total freefall mode after dropping four of its last five against its Big Ten “rivals.” This matchup would be a shootout for the ages, with an offensive guru and HC Lincoln Riley game-planning against SU’s high-powered offense.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers
Our first prediction for a game post-New Year’s. While this might appeal to last year’s “Duke’s Mayo Bowl O’Meter,” we’re playing a different game now.
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl vs Arizona Wildcats
Brown vs. Babers in primetime. Let’s hope the future will be greater than the past! (Side note: Babers lost play-calling duties with the Wildcats three weeks ago, even though he’s the OC).
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We’re used to no Pop-Tart believers, but a win over Pittsburgh would put SU back on the toaster-pastry map. Where do you expect the Orange to play after Week 8?