First look: Top story lines, betting odds for Clemson vs Syracuse football game
After five games played, Clemson is 3-2 overall with a 2-1 mark in ACC action.
The Tigers rebounded from a loss on the road against N.C. State by beating Boston College on Oct. 9 on a last-second fumble recovery leading into the bye week. The break came at the right time, with the group needing to heal up a lengthy injury list that head coach Dabo Swinney quipped has enough players to play in and win some bowl games.
Clemson vs Syracuse game, TV info
Who: Clemson (3-2 ACC, 2-1) vs. Syracuse (3-2, 0-1)
Where: Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
TV: ESPN
Vegas odds: Point spread for Tigers, Orange
Clemson opened as a 17-point favorite over Syracuse. Over the past three seasons, the Tigers have outscored the Orange 115-50, with an average win margin of 21.67 points.
Clemson continues to build
Before the break, Clemson played its most complete game offensively against Boston College. The Tigers found a rhythm in the run game, which included a 59-yard touchdown run from Kobe Pace. Once that got going, it opened up the passing game with seven Tigers recording at least one catch and three more who were targeted. Joseph Ngata led the group with 111 yards on four catches and eight targets, the longest being a 54-yard grab.
The offense’s 438 total yards is the Tigers’ most against an FBS opponent this season and more resembles the Clemson of past years. Still, there were some drops, overthrows and miscues, but it’s a start. The Tigers will try to build on that.
Syracuse turning the corner
After a one-win season a year ago, Syracuse is off to its best start since 2019 with a 3-2 record after the first five games of the season. The Orange have used a strong running game and stout defense to power the team’s prowess in hopes of turning things around. A little bit of momentum seems to have been lost with the squad losing back-to-back games to Florida State and No. 16 Wake Forest — the latter a 40-37 overtime defeat Saturday.
The Orange have a chance to get back on the winning side at home against Clemson. The last time the Orange played the Tigers in New York, though, they lost 41-6 in 2019.
Three Syracuse Orange players to watch
Sean Tucker, RB: A midseason addition to the Maxwell Award watch list, Sean Tucker has helped the Orange as the team’s leading rusher and receiver. He’s had 100-yard rushing performances in all but one game this season, highlighted by a four-touchdown performance against Albany for an average of 131.83 per outing.
Codey Roscoe, DL: The Orange have the most quarterback sacks in the ACC with 22, and Codey Roscoe has played a key part in it. He has a team-leading 6½ sacks to go along with 31 tackles, 9½ for loss.
Mikel Jones, LB: A key cog in Syracuse’s defense, Mikel Jones has 54 tackles on the season with 6½ for loss and two quarterback sacks. As a unit, the defense has held opposing offenses to 114.0 rushing yards per game, fourth-fewest in the conference behind N.C. State, Pitt and Clemson, respectively.
Three Clemson Tigers to watch
D.J. Uiagalelei, QB: After throwing for 207 yards against Boston College, D.J. Uiagalelei took a step in his growth process. There were still some mistakes that were set to be addressed as the team heads into the back stretch of the regular season.
Kobe Pace, RB: With Will Shipley out, Kobe Pace stepped up as the starter and led the Tigers’ rushing effort against Boston College with his first-ever 100-yard game. The running backs group is young, but Pace can help be the igniting force as only a sophomore.
Xavier Thomas, DE: Xavier Thomas’ college career may not have gone the way he’d planned, but he’s making the most of his final season. Following a standout performance against Boston College, the Florence native is part of a stout defensive line ready to continue its dominance following the open date.
This story was originally published October 11, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "First look: Top story lines, betting odds for Clemson vs Syracuse football game."
