College Football Betting Odds

Syracuse Suspends Top WR - June 10th, 2008

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

There hasn't been much good news for Syracuse football fans in recent years, and now the Orange might be without who was supposed to be arguably their top returning offensive player.
 
Syracuse wideout Mike Williams, the team's leading receiver last season, has been suspended by the school over an academic issue.

Head coach Greg Robinson declined to offer details Monday night. He confirmed that Williams "is not enrolled at the university due to an academic issue." He said privacy laws prevent him from discussing the situation.

Asked if the academic issue will force Williams to miss the 2008 season, Robinson repeated that he was not at liberty to discuss the situation "due to privacy laws. I can't go further other than to say he's not enrolled at the university."

 

If Williams, a second-team All-Big East Conference selection, does not return for his junior year, it will leave the Orange without their top two offensive threats from 2007. As a team, Syracuse scored 24 touchdowns in 2007, with Williams and Taj Smith accounting for 15 scores.
 
Williams caught 60 passes for 837 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore, including at least one TD catch in a school-record nine straight games.

In Syracuse's 2007 season finale against Cincinnati, Williams set career bests with nine catches for 160 yards.
 
This isn't the first academic issue for Williams. Robinson suspended him for the final game of the 2006 season against Rutgers for an academic issue. This past spring when Williams missed a practice, Robinson said he was excused to attend to some academic work.
 
Syracuse went 2-10 in 2007, the second 10-loss season  in three years under Robinson, who is squarely on the hot season this season. The Orange aren't expected to contend in the Big East this year, either.

The Orange were second-to-last in the nation in rushing offense averaging just 62.75 yards per game, so the loss of Williams to the passing game is a big hit.

Bet on NCAA futures at WagerWeb.com


Bet on College Football at WagerWeb.com