Colgate vs Syracuse Odds
| Colgate Odds | |
|---|---|
| Spread | Total |
+37.5 -110 | 49.5 -115o / -105u |
| Syracuse Odds | |
|---|---|
| Spread | Total |
-37.5 -110 | 49.5 -115o / -105u |
College football season is here, folks! In a battle for Upstate New York, the Syracuse Orange host the Colgate Raiders in an FBS-FCS matchup.
Syracuse looked like a legitimate top-25 program at times last season but faded late in the year, as expected. It enters the season without much expectation, considering Florida State and Clemson figure to reign supreme in the ACC.
Colgate is a decent FCS program that has struggled mightily the past few seasons, but Syracuse has crushed FCS schools in the Dino Babers era. The matchup is lopsided on paper, but could there be value from a betting perspective?
Let's dig into Colgate vs. Syracuse odds and picks in our NCAAF betting preview for Sept. 2.
Colgate Raiders
Colgate is truly outmatched against Syracuse despite the Orange being just a mid-to-low-tier program this season. Colgate's defense was horrific in 2022, and while it's likely to improve heading into 2023, the problem persists.
Colgate head coach Stan Kakosty has started his team with unfavorable matchups in his first two seasons in charge, and Syracuse represents another enormous test. Last season was tough for the Raiders, as they finished 3-8.
The Raiders had a heated battle for the QB1 spot, with sophomore Michael Brescia emerging victorious. Brescia is your typical mobile college quarterback, evidenced by his 753 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in his freshman season.
The problem for Brescia is that this style of football is likely to get demolished behind a pedestrian offensive line that allowed him to get sacked 27 times in 2022.
Michael Brescia with a dime for @ColgateFB 🎯 pic.twitter.com/uDDRmDZb6b
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 15, 2022
The primary concern for the Raiders is with the passing defense, though. While Syracuse doesn't have the same rushing ability it possessed with Sean Tucker last year, Colgate getting deep into the backfield doesn't seem likely.
If there's a bright spot for the Raiders, most of their offense is returning. As far as Brescia's weaponry within the receiving corps goes, Brady Hutchison and Treyvhon Saunders are still on the team.
The run is essentially a nonexistent part of the Raiders' game plan outside of Brescia's legs, so Syracuse shouldn't have a difficult time with the one-dimensional offensive scheme.
Syracuse Orange
Syracuse is the superior team in this fight, but it's lost a bit of an edge with the departure of Tucker, who's now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL.
Garrett Shrader, who has proven to be a capable quarterback, will continue to spearhead the Orange offense.
The main problem for Syracuse still exists with a weak offensive line. The Orange have had a tremendous offensive upside for most of Dino Babers' head coaching tenure but have lapsed time after time.
Syracuse has historically emphasized the run game, but this is likely to fall apart against the strength of the ACC. However, considering Colgate's lack of a formidable run defense, the Orange will likely have their way.
In place of Tucker is sophomore LeQuint Allen, who looks like a capable back but isn't the type of bell cow option that Babers has had previously. As a result, it seems like Shrader might be the team's No. 1 rushing option.
The style of football played under Babers may have to shift with a solid passing attack with top receiver Oronde Gadsden still in tow.
Garrett Shrader runs it in for the Orange TD!
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/64HWW0FWJ2
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) December 29, 2022
Compared to the past few seasons, Syracuse's defense is bound to take an enormous leap. It boasts substantial assets at all levels, including a few high-end portal grabs. The Orange have done a tremendous job in the secondary in the past, and this season figures to be more of the same.
Linebacker Stefon Thompson could be the biggest difference-maker for Syracuse, but he will need to stay on the field to have an impact.
Colgate vs. Syracuse
Betting Pick & Prediction
While Syracuse is overwhelmingly likely emerge victorious over Colgate, the spread is expectedly massive. I expect the Orange to utilize a run-heavy approach against the Raiders that will kill the clock. Colgate might also take this approach with the excellence of Syracuse's secondary in mind.
I believe Syracuse will put the hammer down in Week 1 and pull off at least a five-score win. Our projections have Syracuse as roughly a 38-point favorite, so if we can get a favorable line on Saturday before game time, we're taking it.
Pick: Syracuse -37 (Play to Syracuse -39.5)
