Syracuse vs. Clemson Prediction & Odds
Number fourteen Syracuse travels to fifth-ranked Clemson in a battle of undefeated ACC teams at 12:00 PM ET on Saturday. Can the Orange cover the spread as 13.5-point road underdogs?
Syracuse is 6-0 on the year, and their best wins were over Purdue and North Carolina State. The Orange have yet to lose a game outright this year and they are 5-1 ATS on the season.
Clemson is 7-0 on the year with their best wins coming against Wake Forest and North Carolina State. The Tigers are looking to remain unbeaten on Saturday. The Tigers are 4-3 ATS on the year.
Game Matchup and Betting Odds
353 Syracuse Orange +13.5 at 328 Clemson Tigers -13.5; O/U 49.5
12:00 PM ET Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
Syracuse vs. Clemson Public Betting Information
The public is favoring the Orange in this game. Our CFB Public Betting Page shows that 65% of public bets are on Syracuse +13.5. Do note that those numbers are subject to change and could be different once game time rolls around.
Syracuse Game Notes
The Orange have three playmakers on offense: quarterback Garrett Shrader, running back Sean Tucker, and wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II. Tucker is second in the ACC with 644 rushing yards. He’s averaging a healthy 5.2 yards per carry and he’s scored 6 rushing touchdowns this year. QB Garrett Shrader has run for 300 yards on the season, good for second on the team. He’s also been good as a passer, as he’s thrown for 1,434 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He’s 26th in the country with a QBR of 76.3.
Oronde Gadsden II is Syracuse’s best receiver and he ranks second in the conference with 507 receiving yards on 31 catches. Gadsden’s claim to fame was catching the game-winning touchdown pass against Purdue in Week 3. He’s continued to produce since then topping 100 receiving yards in two out of the Orange’s last three games. The Orange are probably going to have to score to cover this game and with these three players, they have a puncher’s chance.
Clemson Game Notes
There were questions about Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei heading into this season. He seems to have put those to rest so far in 2022. Uiagalelei is second in the ACC in passing yards with 1,665 and he’s fourth in the conference with a passer rating of 154.4. His touchdown pass-to-interception ratio is elite at 17-2, and he’s added some value on the ground, running for 337 yards and 4 touchdowns on 4.2 yards per carry. If Syracuse is going to win this game by 14 or more, DJ Uiagalelei will have to excel in a big way.
To maintain some semblance of balance, Clemson will likely attempt to establish the run. Tigers running back Will Shipley is having a great season so far, running for 567 yards and 8 touchdowns on 5.9 yards per carry. Shipley is currently third in the ACC in rushing yards and third in rushing touchdowns. He’ll have his work cut out for him against a Syracuse defense that’s 34th in the country in opponent rushing yards per attempt at 3.4.
Syracuse vs. Clemson Betting Trends
Syracuse is 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following an ATS win.
Syracuse is 9-4 ATS in their last 13 conference games.
Clemson is 3-8 ATS in their last 11 home games.
Syracuse is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against Clemson.
Syracuse vs. Clemson Betting Prediction
Although I mentioned a trio of offensive players in my game notes for Syracuse, I think their defense could be the story of this game. Syracuse’s defense is ninth in points allowed per game (15.8) and 18th in opponent yards per play (4.8). I think Syracuse has enough offense to score with Clemson, and enough defense to prevent a blowout. I think 13.5 points is a lot for Clemson to give to an undefeated conference foe, so I’ll take the Orange in this one.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 8 PREDICTION: SYRACUSE ORANGE +13.5