Week 8 of college football brings the #14 ranked Syracuse Orangemen to Death Valley. The Tigers have already been on upset alert three times this season, and surprise surprise, here we go again.
It’s one thing for a fan base to want to shout it from the hills, and now their players are chiming in. “It’s our time to take them down,” boasted QB Garrett Shrader. Coach Dino Babers is no fool, however. He knows what’s ahead of him.
“We are playing a fine Clemson team, Coach Swinney does a fantastic job no doubt about it, some of the finest athletes in the conference, in the country. Not only do they have fine individuals, they are a good football team. They have an amazing streak going on down there. We are going to play them at their place which is a very, very difficult task, but our guys are in good spirits and we are looking forward to the opportunity.” Coach speak, don’t you love it?
All week, we have looked at stats, stats and more stats, and the conclusion is. The 13.5 point spread is warranted. However, the Tigers are still on upset alert.
Coach Dabo Swinney was visibly upset with the last 6 minutes of the Florida State game and how it made the score look a LOT closer than the game actually was. The defense is ready to make a statement.
QB DJ Uiagalelei has come into his own, completing 64% of this passes, throwing for 1,665 yards, 17 touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also rushed for 337 yards and four more touchdowns. Everyone knows his stats from 2021. RB Will Shipley has rushed for 567 yards (5.9 ypc) and eight touchdowns to go along with 16 receptions for another 136 yards. Kobe Pace has been slowed by injuries, allowing Phil Mafah a chance to shine. On the season, Mafah has 45 rushes for 189 yards.
Last week against Florida State, DJ completed 15 of 23 passes for 203 yards, In those targets, freshman Antonio Williams was targeted two times, catching both for 76 yards and a 59-yard TD reception. OC Brandon Streeter has GOT to get the ball more to this young receiver. Joseph Ngata was target three times and Beaux Collins had ONE target. The reason? Tight coverage? Gameplan calling for TEs and RBs getting the targets? Maybe a little of both, but they have to find a way to get Williams the ball more. He leads all Clemson receivers with 24 catches for 334 yards and two touchdowns.
Shrader has a big wide receiver in 6-5 Oronde Gadsden. Gadsden has hauled in 31 passes for 507 yards and five touchdowns. Along with leading rusher Sean Tucker, this is the trio the Tiger defense has to know where they are at all times. Tucker lit up the Tigers last year for 157 yards on 22 rushes as the Tigers pulled out a 17-14 victory in the Syracuse Dome. Special alert, Orange fans, you’re not in Kansas anymore. You’re in Death Valley where the Tigers own a 37-game home winning streak and also own the NCAA current winning streak at 13 games.
The last time Syracuse visited Clemson was in 2020, and the Orangemen left with a 47-21 loss. The results in 2022 are more likely to resemble 2020 rather than 2021. Yes, the “stats” show the Syracuse defense hovering around the top of a lot of categories, but just like with the offense, they are a bit tainted. Purdue threw for over 400+ yards against this defense, and Syracuse was lucky to have played NC State without Devin Leary.
Syracuse is playing only it’s 2nd road game of the year, having traveled to UConn for its only contest away from the friendly confines of the Carrier Dome. Their trip to the Valley is not going to end well for them. The defense held a players-only meeting this week and Dabo will have his charges pumped and ready to go, AND it’s Homecoming.
Clemson 37- Syracuse 16
Grayson Mann: (Staff Writer/Analyst)
Clemson’s Syracuse matchup reminds me of a Wake Forest matchup from 2021. Tucker and company have a team that’s drastically improved, but is no match for the Tigers. DJ will make big plays and give Clemson enough of a lead to hold off the top fifteen orange.
Clemson 31 Syracuse 10
Gary McDaniel: (Publisher/Analyst)
Clemson comes home to the “Valley” after back to back weeks in the “business suits” and handling both BC and FSU… Tigers come into this third ACC Atlantic Top20 Matchup this season. Already having dispatched NCST and WF. Now the Orange of Syracuse show up undefeated and ready to step up and be the team in the ACC Atlantic. 6-0 and rolling.. Dino Babers has his team on track for an upset in Clemson…. NOT SO FAST…. My friend as Coach Corso says.. Clemson is starting to peak at the right time and seem in a taking care of business mode.. the defense is starting to show it salty highly ranked (pre season) self over the past few weeks (sans 4th qrtr at FSU) and the offense continues it’s game to game consistency… The Valley will be rocking EARLY on Saturday.. the Tigers come down into the Valley of Death and serve up Orange treats all day..
Clemson 31 Syracuse 13
