Clemson vs. Syracuse fearless prediction and game preview.
Clemson vs. Syracuse Broadcast
Date: Saturday, September 14
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
Network: ABC
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Clemson (2-0) vs. Syracuse (1-1) Game Preview
Why Clemson Will Win
How tired is this team of hearing about its problems with Syracuse over the last two seasons?
Yeah, the Tigers lost to the Orange two years ago and needed to pull a fourth down play out of their hat to win last season – the full focus will be there on the national stage.
Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne are the stars of the show, but get ready for the other side of the ball to shine.
For all the excitement about Syracuse being the only other ranked team behind Clemson up until last week, there was a major question mark about the offense. QB Tommy DeVito was mediocre in the win over Liberty, and the running game was nowhere to be found – partially because the game got out of hand right away – against Maryland.
The Orange have to deal with a Tiger defensive front that appears to have reloaded instantly, shutting down Texas A&M to a dead stop last week and, overall, allowing just three points until a desperation fourth down play in the final moments.
Why Syracuse Will Win
How did Syracuse do so well against Clemson over the last two seasons? The amazing pass rush beat up Kelly Bryant two years ago and knocked out Trevor Lawrence last season. Can the killer Orange defensive ends step it back up again after a down week?
There wasn’t anything happening in the backfield against the quick-hitting Maryland offense, but when the terrific ends are working, they can take over the game.
The Clemson offensive line is terrific, but it’ll give up plays behind the line. Great at taking the ball away so far, the Orange D needs to come up with a few big plays – Lawrence has thrown three picks so far – and the O has to convert on every chance.
On the other side, the Orange offense might be having a few issues, but the line is doing a decent job of keeping everyone out of the backfield. It was mostly in comeback mode in the blowout, but DeVito threw for 330 yards and three scores last week. Now he needs to have the game of his life.
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What’s Going To Happen
With the jam-packed house and the excitement of getting the No. 1 team in its house, this should be the game for Syracuse to rise up and start to produce …
Or it’ll get destroyed by the team that’s ready to put away this whole Syracuse problem.
Expect the latter.
The Orange offense will come out hot for a quarter, but the running game won’t work as everything stalls in the second quarter.
Travis Etienne – who saved the day last season with 203 yards and three touchdowns – will rip off big run after big run on the way to yet a business-like Clemson win.
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Clemson vs. Syracuse Prediction, Line
Clemson 40, Syracuse 16
Line: Clemson -27.5, o/u: 61
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5
Must See Rating: 3
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Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
2019 Clemson Football Schedule
2019 Record: 2-0
2019 Preseason Prediction: 11-1
2019 Preseason ACC Prediction: 8-0
2018 Record: 15-0
Aug. 29 Georgia Tech W 52-14
Sept. 7 Texas A&M W 24-10
Sept. 14 at Syracuse W
Sept. 21 Charlotte W
Sept. 28 at North Carolina W
Oct. 5 OPEN DATE
Oct. 12 Florida State W
Oct. 19 at Louisville W
Oct. 26 Boston College W
Nov. 2 Wofford W
Nov. 9 at NC State W
Nov. 16 Wake Forest W
Nov. 23 OPEN DATE
Nov. 30 at South Carolina W
2019 Syracuse Football Schedule
2019 Record: 1-0
2019 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2019 Preseason ACC Prediction: 4-4
2018 Record: 10-3
Aug. 31 at Liberty W 24-0
Sept. 7 at Maryland L 63-20
Sept. 14 Clemson L
Sept. 21 Western Michigan W
Sept. 28 Holy Cross W
Oct. 5 OPEN DATE
Oct. 10 at NC State L
Oct. 19 Pitt W
Oct. 26 at Florida State L
Nov. 2 Boston College W
Nov. 9 OPEN DATE
Nov. 16 at Duke W
Nov. 23 at Louisville L
Nov. 30 Wake Forest W
