The Wiz of Odds

Cincinnati Overpowers Syracuse, 30-13

Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin spent Saturday in Syracuse, where the hometown Orange took on Big East rival Cincinnati. The Bearcats won, 30-13, marking the fourth consecutive loss for Syracuse, which will need a victory Saturday at Pittsburgh to become eligible for a bowl.

Cincinnati can clinch a share of its third Big East title in four years with a win Saturday against Connecticut. That, combined with a West Virginia loss to South Florida on Thursday night, would give the Bearcats the league's automatic BCS bowl berth.

There are more photos after the jump, and you can view Greg's full gallery by clicking here.

Syracuse

It took two years for Doug Marrone to turn around the Syracuse program, and after winning eight games in 2011 — including a victory in the Pinstripe Bowl — expectations are sky-high in New York.

Click the image to enlarge. Poster designed by Old Hat Creative.

Syracuse

The Orange opened with a 29-3 victory at Akron and now have to travel cross-country to play at Washington. At worse, Syracuse should be 3-1 after home games against Maine and Colgate. Then comes Big East play. Can the Orange squeeze three wins out of league play to become bowl eligible? It certainly appears possible.

As a run-up to the start of the season, the Wiz will display one poster each day until our supply is exhausted.

Then we turn it over to readers, who will vote on the poster of the year. In the meantime, send your team's poster schedule to jayzuma (at) gmail.com.

Last year, the site displayed 69 posters. This is poster No. 67 for 2010. Poster designed by Old Hat Creative.

Syracuse's Archbold Stadium: The Story of '78

A 28-minute documentary on the last game played in Syracuse's Archbold Stadium, as told by players, coaches and fans. It was created by Gordon Brookes and Erick Ferris. The Wiz gives it two thumbs up.

The film features interviews with Tom Coughlin, Floyd Little, Art Monk, Joe Morris, Bill Hurley, Craig Wolfley and Dave Jacobs.

Game of the Weak

Mike Hlas is an award-winning columnist with the Cedar Rapids Gazette and force behind The Hlog. Each week, he will break down the worst matchup in college football. Considering the increasing number of uncompetitive and uninteresting games, Mike's task is more difficult than getting Carrie Prejean to stay on the set of "Larry King Live."

Don't it always seem to go, you don't know what you've got till it's gone?

They didn’t pave paradise to put in a parking lot at Syracuse, because Syracuse was never paradise in the first place. But it was pretty darn good in football.

Until 2004, Syracuse's football team was known as the Orangemen. And the SU women’s teams were the Orangewomen. Then they all became the Orange.

It was a landmark decision.

Anyway, Syracuse football slipped on an orange peel after the 2004 season. Coach Paul Pasqualoni had one losing season in 14 years at the school, but new SU athletics director Daryl Gross must not have been taken with his coach. Especially after the Orange lost the Champs Sports Bowl in 2004 to Georgia Tech by the unseemly score of 51-14.

Syracuse

A once-proud program has fallen on hard times. Syracuse, which had only one losing season from 1983-2001, has won only 10 games in the past four seasons. Doug Marrone, who was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints, is the new coach. The team also has a new quarterback in Greg Paulus, the former Duke point guard who transferred to Syracuse as a graduate student this spring. He hasn't played football since his senior year of high school. Here's the good news: The Orange have eight home games, including seven of their first eight in the Carrier Dome. A reminder to click any poster schedule for an enlarged view. Thanks to Michael!