Two surging teams dressed in orange will collide Saturday for the top spot in the ACC Atlantic Division. A College Football Playoff berth could also be on the line when the 6-0 Syracuse Orange heads to Death Valley for a matchup with the 7-0 Clemson Tigers. Let’s dive deeper into our Syracuse-Clemson prediction.
Clemson wants to keep on track with a fifth straight win over Syracuse, which looks to reach 7-0 for the first time since its last undefeated season in 1987.
Both teams have exceeded expectations in being undefeated through Week 7, but only one of them will be left standing going into Week 8.
The Tigers are 14-point favorites at home.
Syracuse vs. Clemson Prediction and Odds
No. 5 Clemson hosts No. 14 Syracuse in what sets up as the game of the year in the ACC up to this point. Clemson is 5-0 in ACC play, headlined by a road win over Florida State last week. The Orange are 3-0 in conference, including a win over N.C. State last week.
Clemson has won an ACC-record tying 37 straight at home and can surpass Florida State’s conference mark with a victory. Syracuse has not won this many games in a row since eight in 2001. Clemson leads the FBS with a 13-game winning streak after closing last season with six consecutive victories.
Despite Syracuse’s impressive start to the season, the bookmakers aren’t buying it. The public is, however, with 64% of the bets on this game on the Orange. With a total of 49.5, points are definitely expected from the Clemson side, but can Syracuse’s offense do enough to keep up?
Is Clemson a Deserving 14-point Favorite?
After a 2021 season that raised multiple questions about quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, the junior has been phenomenal for the Tigers this season. With 20 Big Time Throws and only three turnover-worthy plays in 2022, Uiagalelei has the offense clicking on all cylinders, and with three or more touchdown passes in two straight games, he can become the first Tigers quarterback to do that in three consecutive games since Trevor Lawrence in 2020.
While Uiagalelei has been fantastic behind center for the Tigers, running back Will Shipley has been Clemson’s best offensive player. Second in the ACC in all-purpose yards, Shipley has scored eight touchdowns.
During its winning streak, Clemson has averaged over 36 points per game, and facing a stout Syracuse defense, the onus will be on Shipley and Uiagalelei to carry the Tigers as 14-point favorites. Syracuse is second in the ACC in rushing defense, giving up only 95 yards per game. The Orange also have allowed just 13.2 points per game this season, sixth fewest in FBS.
Is Syracuse’s Offense Legit?
The Orange’s success this season can be directly linked to improved quarterback play and improved defense against the pass. Sophomore Sean Tucker burst onto the scene in 2021 as one of the best running backs in the country, but the play of quarterback Garrett Shrader has been the big difference. With a 4:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, the Mississippi State transfer has seen his adjusted completion percentage rise more than 10% from his career mark.
With Tucker at running back and a dangerous target in the slot with tight end Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse’s offense has multidimensional this season. Gadsden has nearly twice as many targets as any wide receiver, holding the highest rating of any tight end, per Pro Football Focus.
While Shrader’s numbers look great on paper, he has just seven Big Time Throws and eight Turnover Worthy Plays. In his entire three-year college career between, Shrader has just 24 Big Time Throws, with 30 Turnover Worthy Plays.
How Good is Clemson’s Defense?
Facing a Clemson defense that ranks in the top 31 nationally against both the run and the pass, Shrader will need to limit the turnovers if Syracuse has any chance to stay in this game.
The heralded Clemson defensive line is one of the best in the country and leads a team that ranks fourth in Havoc. Bryan Breesee should be back at full strength this week after being limited the past three weeks due to the loss of his sister and a medical issue. One of the best players in college football, look for Breesee to be a big spark for the Tigers defense.
With Breesee, edge rusher Xavier Thomas, cornerback Sheridan Jones and safety Andrew Mukuba all working back to 100%, this defense will be at full strength for the first time all season.
Syracuse vs Clemson Prediction
From a numbers standpoint, Syracuse is going to look pretty good. When looking at whom the Orange have played, however, it becomes clear why the bookmakers have so much faith in Clemson. Syracuse has faced just two teams with a winning record. They beat a Purdue team that outgained them by 180 yards and then beat an N.C. State team playing with its backup quarterback.
While the Orange are much improved from a team that won five games all of last season, this is a huge step up in competition, and simply put, Clemson should roll in this spot. With the masses all over Syracuse getting 14 points, the play is on Clemson in a game the Tigers should win going away.
Best NCAAF Bets: Clemson -14 (-112, FanDuel)
