Syracuse Orange v. Clemson Tigers Prediction & Preview (9/30/23)

Syracuse (4-0) begins its ACC schedule when it hosts Clemson on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome

Opponent: Clemson Tigers (2-2, 0-2 ACC)

Date & Time: Saturday, Sept. 30, 12:00 p.m.

Location: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.

TV: ABC

We have been here before. In fact, we have been here twice in the last five years.

Syracuse (4-0) looks to validate their strong start to the football season with a victory over a name-brand opponent and Clemson (2-2) once again will fill the role of the opposition. The ACC foe has hit some bumps getting to this point, leaving them looking a little unlike their usual indestructible selves.

The only two Orange teams to win at least their first four games since 1991 were handed their first loss by the Tigers. In 2018, the Orange had won their first four games, while last year, they opened up with six straight wins. Both teams lost on the road to Clemson. I guess that would make this metaphorically being here again, as Saturday’s meeting is at the JMA Wireless Dome and not Death Valley.

Actually, the Orange had been there before last year.

In the 2018 game, the Tigers turned the ball over three times. SU proved opportunistic, converting those miscues into ten points and taking a fourth quarter lead of the same size.

Last October, Clemson once again played like the ball was radioactive. This time, they gifted Syracuse the ball four times and, once again, the Orange made them pay with seven points that helped them lead by 14 late in the second quarter and 11 heading into the fourth.

Of course, Clemson came back to win both times, using the same well-trod path to victory.

Travis Etienne rolled up 132 of his 203 rushing yards and punched in two of his three scores in the fourth quarter to finish off the Tigers’ 2018 comeback win. Four years later, Clemson’s Will Shipley scampered for 115 of Clemson’s 186 second half rushing yards and one of the two fourth quarter scores that put them in front.

Shipley, who totaled 172 yards on 27 carries last year, and Phil Mafah, who added 94 more, as well as that other fourth period touchdown, are both back for the Tigers, who average 199 yards per game on the ground this season. That duo combines for almost 132 of those yards at 5.9 yards per carry.

Last week, the Orange defense was pushed back far too frequently by an Army rushing attack they knew was coming. Seven times in the first half, SU allowed a first down or touchdown on the ground when the Black Knights needed three yards or fewer.

Army had a unique playing style that forced adjustments from the Syracuse defense. That will not be the case on Saturday, but the Orange defense remains the same, particularly that no one on their defensive two-deep clocks in at more than 279 pounds and the six listed defensive linemen average under 268 pounds.

On the other side of that line, every starting offensive lineman for the Tigers clocks in at a minimum of 310 pounds.

We have been here before, so it is hard not to believe that Clemson’s size advantage will wear down the Orange defense and pave their way to victory. The Tiger ground game proves to be too much and SU loses their fourth one-possession game in the last six seasons to them, 24-19.

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