...everyone is so convinced (except Mike Golic) that Syracuse beating ND tomorrow is a done deal.
Just like everyone was so convinced Northwestern was going to beat ND.
Screw 'em all.
1. Why does anybody listen or watch ESPN? 2. Who gives a cap what they say anyway?
And I think we'd all be less than stunned to see a Brian Kelly-led ND team lose a game like this. However, these guys just believe what they want to believe and many don't pay that much attention. Sure, Syracuse nearly won at Clemson (against a backup QB) and lost a close one to Pitt, but here are the teams Syracuse has defeated:
6-5 Western Michigan
3-7 (FCS) Wagner
4-6 FSU
1-9 UConn
1-8 UNC (in 2OT)
6-3 NC State
5-5 Wake
2-8 Louisville
Four of those teams are dreadfully bad, two are regular bad (I'm including WM), one is a pleasantly surprising .500 and one is solid w/o being good enough to beat that .500 team at home. I'm not planning on a blowout, but Syracuse hasn't beaten a single unquestionably GOOD team. They've got one win against the Top 60.
want to give the players credit that's good, but the coach deserves some too.
Temple was having a once-in-a-program season against mediocre competition, and got to play a ranked ND team at home.
Syracuse is having a once-in-a-decade (or two) season against mediocre competition, and gets to play ND at a neutral site.
ND barely rose to the occasion against Temple. Hopefully they will fare at least as well today.
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The biggest difference I think (hope) is that this year's ND team is better.
Although they are only 3-7 on the season, they did beat Bowie State! And only lost to Sacred Heart by 27.
Link: https://wagnerathletics.com/schedule.aspx?path=football&
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And that doesn't mean jack squat for the actual game at hand, but statistically speaking Syracuse's schedule has been absolute garbage. The SECFan guys talked about how they have only played one top 65 team according to S&P+ (Clemson). They decided that Syracuse's schedule might even be worse than UCF's.
Hard to get so many calling this a likely upset. The could, conceivably, win a narrow one. But it is also very possible we win by 3 tds.
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Link: watch video secfans.com
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only in setting a line they think will result in equal betting on both sides.
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However, all the bettors have skin in the game and they seem to feel the Irish should win.
Link: https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/betting/super-bowl-lii-generates-record-shattering-betting-handle-of-158-6m/
But sharps can have an impact on line movement. They do have skin in the game, and are good predictors.
Perhaps instead of “Vegas” he should have said “bettors.” The gamblers who move sports lines are move likely to be compulsive gamblers than homers and haters.