Clemson vs. Syracuse Pick 9/14/19

No. 1 LSU Clemson Tigers (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) vs. Syracuse Orange (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS)
Date/Time: Saturday September 14th, 2019. 7:30PM (EST)
Where: Carrier Dome Syracuse, N.Y.
TV: ABC

Point Spread:CLEM -26/SYR +26 (WagerWeb)
Over/Under Total: TBA

So far this year, I have been perfect on my Clemson predictions and have gone 5-1 overall with my college plays. In week 1, I urged bettors to lay the 35 points with Clemson in a mismatch against Georgia Tech who is ushering in a new era of stylistic football with Head Coach Geoff Collins. Then last week, I urged bettors to take the 17 points with A&M in a matchup that I expected to cause Clemson troubles. The Aggies did not make things easy blowing multiple opportunities to make the game close but ultimately pulled through with a cover in the closing seconds. This week we turn our focus back towards no. 1 Clemson once again as they go on the road for the first time this season to battle the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome and discuss why this will be a good opportunity to jump back on board with Tigers despite a 26 point spread.

Syracuse exposed at the hands of Maryland

If you missed last week’s games then perhaps you missed one of the biggest surprises in the ACC when unranked Maryland throttled 21st ranked Syracuse 63-20. The Terrapins offense exploded for 650 total yards, and it was primarily due to the ground attack that was able to rack up 354 rushing yards. Now I am not one to base predictions off last week’s performance because if you are serious about betting, then you should know that last week’s perception can often be misleading. However, Syracuse could not stop the run, and honestly, they looked slow on the defensive side of the football which creates enormous problems for this weekend’s matchup against the top-ranked Tigers.

For some reason, the public’s perception is that Clemson’s offense still revolves around QB Trevor Lawrence. While Lawrence is an exceptional talent and worthy of the hype surrounding his potential, Clemson’s passing attack has not been overwhelming in their opening two appearances. Instead, the offense has relied on the explosive rushing threat of Travis Etienne to provide the sparks to open things up. Etienne has been explosive on the ground with 258 yards on 28 carries for three touchdowns and has caught five passes for an additional 55 yards through the first two games. Etienne’s explosive rushing plays got the offense rolling against Georgia Tech in the opener. Despite a tough matchup against Texas A&M last week, Etienne once again ignited the offense with plays in the passing game. The common theme in both games was that Etienne’s speed caused problems for opposing defenses and I expect that will be the case again on Saturday against this Syracuse defense. If you also consider the speed of the Tigers’ receivers, the speed of Clemson is going to be a considerable benefactor towards exposing Syracuse’s defense once again.

Clemson offense poised for breakout against Syracuse

I mentioned above that Clemson’s passing offense has struggled slightly over the opening two games. QB Trevor Lawrence has forced some unnecessary throws, and there have been missed opportunities. With that said, the opportunities have been there, and the balance that Clemson’s offense provides will open up opportunities again on Saturday. If Etienne gets a few big plays on the ground as I expect, I believe the passing attack will flourish down the field. QB Trevor Lawrence is due for a breakout game after throwing just two touchdown passes and three interceptions through the first two games. Clemson’s wide receivers led by Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross have exploitable matchup opportunities against Syracuse’s corners. If Clemson capitalizes on the opportunities, the Tigers offense should thrive.

Clemson vs. Syracuse betting trends

The Tigers have covered the number in 4 of their last five games and currently own the nation’s longest winning streak. Meanwhile, Syracuse has also been a strong betting team with a 6-2 mark ATS over the last eight games. Syracuse has also covered the mark in 10 of their last 15 games as an underdog. The Orange also own the better mark against Clemson covering the spread in 4 of the previous five meetings.

Jay’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: Clemson -26