Orange continue fight for bowl berth

Chances are good Syracuse will play more than 12 games this season.

That's how defensive end Chandler Jones describes it, anyway.

"If we don't make any mistakes and do a good job executing, we'll make a bowl game," Jones said. "There's a high chance (we do)."

As of Wednesday, Cincinnati is favored to win by 16 points. Syracuse hasn't been a favorite save twice this season. That hasn't stopped the team from believing it can make a bowl, and even win out.

"Everyone is positive," Jones said. "The season's not over yet. Everyone just has to do what they do."

And what Jones does is pass rush, let blitzers get through and stop a few running backs. But he said there's much he can improve.

"I can play better," Jones said. "I think I need to talk more. I got my first-game jitters out of the way, so there's no excuse there."

Jones has one sack this season playing alongside his brother Arthur. He says they're both hungry to get to the Cincinnati quarterback on Saturday.

"We're doing the same thing every defensive end does in the country, and that's get back to the quarterback as quickly as possible," Chandler said. "I think I need to improve on speed and play-recognition."

That will be key to beating Cincinnati and getting the one marquee win Syracuse may need to end its five-year bowl-less stretch.

"I think they're just excited because it's the next game," coach Doug Marrone said. "They're excited because it gives us a chance to get back to .500, what we're fighting for."

The last time the Orange had an even record eight games into the season was two coaches ago in 2004.

"It gives us a chance to get our first Big East win, so that's really how we've spoken to the team," Marrone said. "If they're getting more excited about one game over the other, then I'm not doing a very good job."

But Syracuse is excited. The Orange is excited because Cincinnati is ranked No. 5 nationally. The team is excited because the Bearcats have the nation's top offense. It's excited because it knows it can — and has — beat a formidable Big East opponent. They're eighth game last season was a 28-12 win over Louisville.

It's still going to come down to Jones's original analysis if Syracuse makes a bowl game.

"I think it's execution," he said. "That's the main word. Everyone has to play their best."

WHO'S IT GONNA BE?

Cincinnati's quarterback issues haven't derailed its Big East championship hopes or its potential for a national championship appearance.

The Bearcats sit 7-0 after giving way to backup quarterback Zach Collaros when Tony Pike broke his arm. Collaros quickly cleaned up two games, showing that Cincinnati is just as good with or without Pike.

And Syracuse may hope Pike returns on Saturday. The injured signal caller is adjusting to a new cast on his non-throwing arm. His presence would mean getting back into the flow of the Cincinnati offense, dealing with the pain of getting hit, and trying to beat a team with nothing to lose. That's a dangerous combination.

Collaros meanwhile is in the flow, understands how to win and proved that he's a pretty good backup. The start will likely be Collaros's, but Pike is still a possibility.

Sportswriter Daniel J. Cassavaugh covers Syracuse football for the Times. You may reach him at dcassavaugh@wdt.net.