Syracuse Orangemen Handicapping Review

 

By Tom Wilkinson

 

The 2004 Syracuse Orangemen had one of the most bizarre college football seasons in memory, not only on the field, but also against the sportsbooks and online sports betting boards. The Orangemen provided excellent sports handicapping lessons on reaction and value in 2004.

In their 2004 opener, Syracuse was on a special Sunday feature television game at Purdue and installed as 12.5-point dogs by the sports betting odds makers. This game was over by the end of the first quarter as Syracuse was bombed 51-0 and the topic of blistering posts at online sports betting blogs, in which they were basically written off. Beyond that, in the general media, a deathwatch began on head coach Paul Pasqualoni. Hardly the stuff of inspired sports handicapping information for prospective football picks.

In their next game, also on the road, Syracuse was a 15-point favorite against Buffalo. With few takers amongst the sports betting community, the Orangemen prevailed 37-17. Incredibly, in their next game, Syracuse was a 2-point home dog against Cincinnati, winning 19-7 for their second straight payoff to sports bettors.

Syracuse left such a horrible impression in their opener, however, that they still were quite a value for sports handicapping bargain hunters and were installed as 26 point dogs at Virginia, where they covered the sports betting odds in a 10-31 loss. The Orangemen next won and covered at home over Rutgers before facing highly touted Florida State in a Saturday Night feature TV game. Syracuse was a whopping 19-point home dog and almost won straight up, before folding late in a 13-17 loss. Incredibly, with an incredible amount of negativity surrounding their program, Syracuse had just beaten the sports betting odds for the fifth consecutive game after the Purdue debacle. Slowly, the general sports betting public’s disrespect towards Syracuse eroded, and the Orange appeared to be somewhat attractive 15.5-point dogs at West Virginia, where they failed 6-27. Many online sports betting blogs vowed “never again” when it came to football picks on Syracuse after that loss. Just when they were abandoned again by the sports betting public, Syracuse went on to win and cover three of their final four games to gain a share of the Big East title and a bowl berth, which they lost 15-51 to Georgia Tech, causing Pasqualoni to be fired after receiving assurances of his return following a stunning 43-17 win at Boston College as 11.5-point dogs that shocked multitudes of sports bettors.