Syracuse Orange vs. Clemson Tigers Preview
Where: Memorial Stadium — Clemson, SC
When: Saturday, November 5, 2016 – 3:30 PM ET
Line:Syracu (+26.5) vs. Clemson Tigers (-26.5); total: 66.5 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
TV Broadcast: ABC and ESPN2
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Betting on the Syracuse Orange (+26.5)
Syracuse is in a good position entering Saturday’s game. They are returning from a bye week and a victory over Boston College one week before. Eric Dungey had great rhythm in the win, completing 32 of 38 throws for 434 yards and three touchdown passes.
With a bowl game berth still within reach, that rhythm has to remain in tact. The sophomore should be able to do so, as he has a very productive receiver in Amba Etta-Tawo, who’s currently fourth in the nation in receiving yards, with 1,074, along with seven TD grabs. The transferee from Maryland is proving to be a great addition in to the Orange’s core of pass-catchers, eclipsing the 100-yard plateau six times in eight outings this season.
Defensively, the team is giving up too much. Opponents are outproducing them in points (31.6 to 26.6), rushing yards (1,037 to 1,594), and rushing yards per attempt (3.3 to 4.9). Junior linebacker Zaire Franklin has been the brightest spot in the gloomy Syracuse defense, as he leads the team in efficiency, with 7.5 tackles for loss, three pass deflections, two sacks, and one interception. Franklin is either first or second in the team in those stats.
The Orangemen are 2-8 SU (4-6 ATS) in their last 10 games on the road.
Betting on the Clemson Tigers (-26.5)
The Clemson Tigers are looking good with an 8-0 card, but for every big, impressive win over an Auburn or a Louisville type of team, they have close wins over inferior teams, like North Carolina State and Florida State.
That said, they should be able to handle the Orange well. In their meeting last season, DeShaun Watson slithered the defense for 361 passing yards and two TDs, while also running for 105 yards and one score. The dual-threat QB will look to do the same Saturday, as he will be facing Syracuse’s bottom-ranked defense that is currently 105th in yards allowed per game, with 450.8.
Expect Watson to also continue distributing the ball efficiently, with four of his receivers averaging 40 or more yards per game, and three have four or more TD catches this season.
As for the defense, Clemson has been walling opposing offenses really well. Along with stopping teams from converting on third down in 87 out of 123 tries (70.7 percent), the Tigers D is ranked 14th in fewest yards allowed per game (317.4), 11th in points allowed per game (17.6), and ninth in opposing QBs completion percentage (50.5 percent). The pass rushers are also doing a good job, averaging four sacks per contest.
Clemson is 19-1 SU (11-9 ATS) in their last 20 games at home.
Writer’s Prediction
Clemson (-26.5) wins and doesn’t cover.
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