Colgate Raiders @ Syracuse Orange Player Props, Picks and Predictions - 9/12/2025 7:00 PM EDT

We have your Colgate Raiders @ Syracuse Orange prop betting and game preview needs covered as the Colgate Raiders hit the road to face the Syracuse Orange.

Game Info

Date: September 12, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM EDT
Location: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY
TV: ACC Network

Colgate Raiders @ Syracuse Orange Preview

The Syracuse Orange, coming off an impressive 10-3 season in 2024 under head coach Fran Brown, are set to host the Colgate Raiders in what is anticipated to be a confidence-building matchup before ACC play. While Syracuse saw the departure of key offensive talents like quarterback Kyle McCord, running back LeQuint Allen, and tight end Oronde Gadsden to the NFL, the program under Brown is proving effective, and they are expected to overcome their relative inexperience in 2025. The Orange are projected to improve to a 2-1 record on the season with a dominant performance against Colgate.

On the other side, the Colgate Raiders endured a challenging 2024 campaign, finishing with a 2-10 record and landing at the bottom of the Patriot League. They have since brought in new head coach Curt Fitzpatrick, who boasts a strong winning record from his time at the Division III level, including a national championship. Colgate will return starting quarterback Jake Stearney, who struggled with more interceptions than touchdowns last season, along with top receivers Treyvhon Saunders and Brady Hutchison. However, the Raiders' offensive line allowed a significant 2.5 sacks per game in league play, and their defense consistently surrendered nearly 400 yards of offense per game, a figure that climbed to 450 yards in Patriot League contests. This game offers Syracuse an opportunity to fine-tune their strategies and build momentum before facing tougher conference opponents.

Historic Head-to-Head Stats and Analysis

The rivalry between the Colgate Raiders and the Syracuse Orange is one of the oldest in upstate New York football, dating back to November 1891. The all-time series is remarkably close, with Syracuse holding a slight edge at 32 wins to Colgate's 31, along with five ties. Colgate initially dominated the early matchups, winning the first three games and later enjoying a 10-game winning streak from the late 1920s to 1937.

However, the tide has turned dramatically in recent decades. Syracuse has won the last 17 consecutive meetings against Colgate, a streak that dates back to 1950. All of these 17 victories have occurred on Syracuse's home turf. Despite the long history, meetings between the two programs have been infrequent, with this being only the seventh matchup since 1961, including significant pauses in the rivalry. The most recent encounter in 2023 saw Syracuse deliver a resounding 65-0 shutout victory over the Raiders, highlighting the current talent disparity between the two programs.

Pick: Syracuse Orange Spread

Given the significant talent gap and recent history between these two programs, the Syracuse Orange are a strong pick to cover the spread in this matchup. Syracuse's dominant 65-0 victory in their last meeting in 2023 underscores the disparity. Colgate's struggles in 2024, including a 2-10 record, an ineffective ground game, a quarterback who threw more interceptions than touchdowns, and a defense that consistently gave up large yardage, paint a clear picture. Syracuse, even with new faces on offense, is expected to use this game to build confidence and sharpen their play before entering ACC competition. Predictions suggest a blowout, with some analysts forecasting a score around 48-7 in favor of the Orange, indicating they should comfortably cover any reasonable spread set for this game.