No. 2 Clemson has an inside track for a College Football Playoff spot, and they just need to keep taking care of business when they host Syracuse on Saturday afternoon. This should be one of the easier conference games the Tigers play all year, but the Orange have shown glimmers of hope under first-year head coach Dino Babers. Clemson has had issues getting stuck in close games with teams they should handle easily, but the talent difference here is vast.
Syracuse vs. Clemson 2016: Start time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
The Tigers should be able to put this one away without too much trouble.
Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Syracuse has actually won two games in a row, and are coming off a bye week, so they should be well-rested and motivated. The offense has predictably gotten better under Babers, but the defense is still a major issue, ranking 87th in Defensive S&P+. The talented trio of Deshaun Watson, Wayne Gallman, and Mike Williams should be more than enough to give the Syracuse defense fits.
On defense, Clemson’s line should be able to wreak havoc on Syracuse’s game plan. It’s difficult to have success throwing the ball when rushers are in the backfield all the time, and the Tigers should get there early and often.
How to watch, stream, and listen
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN2
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: Clemson is favored by 26.5 points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Shakin’ the Southland for Clemson fans and Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician for Syracuse fans.
Three big things to know
1. Syracuse has already pulled off one major upset in Dino Babers’ first season in charge, knocking off Virginia Tech. This would be a much bigger upset, especially since it’s on the road and not in the Carrier Dome. Clemson has been playing a dangerous game by playing down to competition this year, but they’re probably safe here.
2. Deshaun Watson will get most of the headlines, but take some time to appreciate the play of Clemson's defensive line, especially Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence. They are destructive forces who can collapse a team's offensive game plan by themselves, and having them play next to each other is simply unfair.
3. That said, we're entering what should be the final month of Deshaun Watson's college career. He hasn't had the stellar season he did last year, but he's still an amazing talent and he'll be facing a bad Syracuse defense. Chances are good for some major highlights in this game.
See More:
