Ohio Bobcats (0-0) vs. Syracuse Orange (0-0)
August 31, 2024 3:30 pm EDT
The Line: Syracuse Orange -17.5 / Ohio Bobcats +17.5; Over/Under: +46.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Ohio Bobcats and Syracuse Orange meet Saturday in week 1 college football action at JMA Wireless Dome. Here’s a Syracuse vs Ohio Prediction. This article will include a Syracuse vs Ohio Pick.
Ohio Bobcats Betting Preview
The Ohio Bobcats are coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons and enter year 4 under coach Tim Albin. Ohio has new coordinators Brian Smith and John Hauser. Ohio says goodbye to quarterback Kurtis Rourke, leading rusher Sieh Bangura and its top-2 receivers, so adjustments will have to be made. Parker Navarro and CJ Harris are grad students, so the starting quarterback will be experienced in terms of time on the roster.
Defensively, Bryce Houston returns after leading Ohio with 127 tackles, Bradley Weaver had 6 sacks and Austin Brawley had 2 interceptions. Ohio lost a lot of players in the transfer market, and the sort of roster turnover could lead to some growing pains. However, Ohio is coming off two of its best seasons in school history under Albin, so I wouldn’t write the Bobcats off just yet.
Syracuse Orange Betting Preview
The Syracuse Orange have won 5 or more games in each of the last 3 seasons and now begin the Fran Brown era. Brown is a first-time head coach and comes over from Georgia as a defensive backs coach. Off the top, Syracuse landed 3 massive players in the transfer portal; Devin Grant, who was a first-team MAC selection at Buffalo, Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord and Colorado State wide receiver Justus Ross-Simmons. The biggest name is obviously McCord, as he threw for 3,100 yards and 24 touchdowns at Ohio State last year and was a Big Ten third-team selection. It gives Syracuse a fighting chance in every game this season.
Defensively, Marlowe Wax returns after leading Syracuse with 110 tackles, Kevin Jobity Jr. had 2.5 sacks and Jayden Bellamy had 1 interception. Syracuse is expected to be a middle-of-the-road team in the ACC, and there are going to be growing pains with a first-time head coach. However, Syracuse has a legit quarterback and that makes the Orange dangerous.
Why the Syracuse Orange will win
- Syracuse has won nine of its last 10 season openers.
- Ohio has lost three of its last four season openers.
- Syracuse has covered the spread in each of its last five games against opponents from the Mid-American Conference.
- Ohio has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six season openers.
- Syracuse has won the first half in each of its last seven games against opponents from the Mid-American Conference.
- Syracuse has won the first quarter in each of its last four games against opponents from the Mid-American Conference.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Ohio’s last six road games against non-AP-ranked teams have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of Syracuse’s last four games against non-conference opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
Matchup/League Facts
- Syracuse ranked T25th among FBS teams for H2 points allowed per game last season (10.0).
- Syracuse ranked 27th among FBS teams for Q3 points allowed per game last season (4.1).
- Ohio ranked 1st among FBS teams for Q1 points allowed per game last season (0.8).
- Ohio ranked 3rd among FBS teams for H1 points allowed per game last season (5.7).
Syracuse vs Ohio Prediction
The Ohio Bobcats have a lot of production to replace, and starting the season on the road usually doesn’t help. There’s some hype around the Syracuse Orange this season due to the amount of talent on the roster and the high-level production snagged in the transfer portal.
Syracuse has become a sneaky contender in the ACC that could surprise some folks. If that’s true, these are games Syracuse should win comfortably. Syracuse is 7-3-1 ATS in its last 11 games as a double-digit favorite. Ohio is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games as a double-digit underdog. Give me Syracuse in a week 1 blowout win over Ohio.
