This is the Syracuse Orange best team in a long time and they have the record to prove it. They are 6-0 for the 1st time since 1987. The Orange are coming off of a 15-point win over then-ranked number 15 NC State. While the Clemson Tigers have won 13 straight games and 37 straight games at home, they looked beatable last week against Florida State. The Tigers are 0-6 ATS in their 6 games as double-digit favorites since the start of last season. This spread is way too high for a game that should be low scoring. Take the points with the undefeated Orange.

I'm sorry, Syracuse, but I don't believe in you. I don't want to diminish the start that the Orange have gotten off to, but this is far and away the best defense they'll have faced this season, and they'll be doing so in a hostile road environment. I have some fear that Clemson will get too conservative on offense, but the Tigers should be closer to 20 point favorites than 14.

There's a lot of confidence around the college football world that the Tigers have turned the corner thanks to the consistent play of quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, and that's true in terms of making the College Football Playoff. While that's true, I don't think that this game will be driven by offense. The Tigers defense will slow down the Orange rushing attack which, while effective, is really just star running back Sean Tucker and quarterback Garrett Shrader. Clemson's front seven is legit, and Syracuse's offense isn't versatile enough to make enough adjustments to stay in this for a full four quarters.