First look: Top storylines, betting odds for Clemson vs. Syracuse football game
Continued control of divisional destiny is at stake when No. 14 Syracuse visits No. 5 Clemson this weekend in an undefeated ACC contest.
Here’s an early look at the matchup between the Tigers and the Orange, the only two Atlantic Division teams that remain perfect in ACC play through eight weeks.
Clemson vs. Syracuse game, TV info
Who: No. 14 Syracuse (6-0, 3-0 ACC) at No. 5 Clemson (7-0, 5-0 ACC)
When: noon Saturday
Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson
TV: ABC
Vegas odds: Clemson Syracuse point spread
Clemson opened as a consensus 13.5-point favorite against Syracuse on Sunday, according to VegasInsider. The Tigers have been favored in all nine meetings against the Orange since Syracuse joined the ACC but are just 3-6 against the spread in those matchups, per Odds Shark.
Last week for Clemson
Clemson weathered a shaky late-game performance from its defense to get past Florida State 34-28 on Saturday night. The Tigers scored 27 unanswered points to go up 34-14 but needed a late onside kick recovery to secure the victory after FSU scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (four total touchdowns) and running back Will Shipley (career-high 238 all-purpose yards) starred once again as Clemson won a 13th consecutive game dating back to last year. That remains the country’s longest active winning streak.
The close Clemson win — as well as Tennessee’s upset of Alabama and Michigan’s blowout of Penn State — hurt the Tigers’ status in the AP Top 25, though. Clemson dropped from No. 4 to No. 5 in Sunday’s new poll.
Last week for Syracuse
Predicted to finish last in the ACC’s Atlantic Division this summer, Syracuse continued an impressive bounce-back season by defeating N.C. State 24-9 at home in a Top 25 matchup. The Orange is now 6-0 for the first time since 1987 and just the third time since 1935.
Undefeated Syracuse jumped from No. 18 to No. 14 in Sunday’s AP poll.
Last meeting, game trends
In last year’s divisional meeting, then-unranked Clemson escaped Syracuse with a 17-14 road win after Orange kicker Andre Szmyt missed a game-tying 48-yard field goal with 38 seconds left. The Tigers had led 17-7 early in the fourth quarter before Syracuse mounted a late comeback attempt.
Clemson leads the all-time series with Syracuse 8-2, with all but one of those games coming since the Orange moved from the Big East to the ACC in 2013. The Tigers have won four straight since Syracuse’s memorable upset win over then-No. 2 Clemson in 2017 and eight of nine since 2013.
Players to watch
Clemson OL Mitchell Mayes: With true freshman right tackle Blake Miller struggling with a few penalties, top backup Mayes got double-digit snaps against FSU and earned compliments from coach Dabo Swinney for his play at right tackle and left guard.
Clemson LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.: The son of a former NFL Pro Bowler, Trotter continues to make a name for himself at Clemson’s middle linebacker position. His career-high 13 tackles against FSU were the most by a Tiger in a single game this year.
Syracuse RB Sean Tucker: Tucker shattered Syracuse’s single-season rushing record with 1,496 yards last season and was an All-America pick by multiple outlets. His stats so far this season: 107.3 yards per game, 5.2 yards per carry and seven total TDs.
Syracuse QB Garrett Shrader: Shrader’s stats don’t jump off the page, but he’s been the perfect veteran quarterback for Syracuse’s offense. The Mississippi State transfer and Charlotte native averages 239 passing yards per game and has a 12-to-3 touchdown-interception ratio.
