sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Back to the Future Day!
Back to the Future Part II, released in 1989, starts out set in 1985 where the previous film in the series left off. Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, along with Doc Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, and Jennifer Parker, played by Elisabeth Shue, travel to the future in Doc's DeLorean to save Marty and Jennifer's future children. The date they travel to is October 21, 2015, the date which would become the first "Back to the Future" Day. In the years leading up to the day, photoshopped images appeared online that claimed the day of the DeLorean's twenty-first-century time travel had arrived. But true fans of the film series knew they had to wait until 2015.
SU News
Syracuse linebacker Mikel Jones poses for a photo following SU's win over Virginia. Jones looks to be one of a handful of Orange players primed to be draft picks this year. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com
Clemson is always loaded with NFL talent. These 10 Syracuse players look like future pros (PS; $; Leiker)
Clemson has had at least one NFL Draft pick every year since 2003 and has sent over 80 players to the league in that time frame.
Syracuse football has had just 32 picks in the same amount of time. It didn’t have any players taken in the 2022 draft, with its last player selected being defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu in the third round of the 2021 draft.
Saturday’s matchup between SU and Clemson, though, should be chock-full of future professional talent. The Orange is in the midst of a historic season and looks like it could see its biggest NFL draft class since Justin Pugh, Ryan Nassib and Shamarko Thomas were picked in 2013.
Here are 10 SU players who fans could see playing on Sundays within the next couple years.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/10/20/syracuse-football-clemson/ (washingtonpost.com; Wang)
Syracuse football coach Dino Babers had not been on the same staff with Robert Anae before this season but admired his work from afar, particularly during the past few years at Virginia, where Anae oversaw an offense that set several program records.
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Babers and Anae also shared many mutual connections given their backgrounds in the Western Athletic Conference. Babers, for instance, served as a graduate assistant at Hawaii, his alma mater, in 1984 two years before Anae, a former player at BYU, accepted the same position.
So with the Orange seeking a new offensive coordinator this past offseason and Anae conveniently available, Babers wasted little time completing a partnership that has contributed considerably to 14th-ranked Syracuse (6-0, 3-0 ACC) matching its best start since 1987.
College football best bets: UCLA, Oregon should light up the scoreboard
Next up is a showdown with No. 5 Clemson (7-0, 5-0) in Death Valley, with the winner securing the inside track for the Atlantic Division title and a berth in the ACC championship game. It’s the first matchup in Memorial Stadium history in which both teams are unbeaten this late in the season.
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Syracuse vs. Clemson: 2022 Football Game Preview (youtube; video; ACCDN)
The No.5 Tigers will face their biggest test yet as Atlantic foe No.14 Syracuse comes to Death Valley. The Tigers are on a 4-game winning streak and lead the overall series 8-2. The Orange are one of nine FBS squads still unblemished, and head coach Dino Babers is searching for his second career win over Clemson. The Tigers are firing on all cylinders and boast a high-scoring attack (38.6 PPG) and yet another stingy defense (19.7 PPG). 'Cuse also deploys an explosive offense (36.0 PPG) and top the ACC in points per game allowed (13.2). It will be an epic battle Saturday at noon, you can get all you need to know right here!
Clemson vs Syracuse: Game Prediction, Preview (SI; Driskell)
There is a huge matchup in the ACC this weekend when the No. 5 Clemson Tigers (7-0) and the No. 14 Syracuse Orange. It's a battle for supremacy in the Atlantic Division. Clemson has bounced back from its down 2022 campaign, and the Orange have already surpassed their 2021 win total and are one of the nation's surprise teams.
Where: Memorial Stadium (Clemson, S.C.)
When: 12:00 PM ET
TV: ABC
Line: Clemson -13.5, O/U 49.5
Despite Clemson being the dominant team in the ACC going back to the 2015 season, one team that has consistently given the Tigers a tough game is Syracuse. Head coach Dino Babers led Syracuse to an upset win over Clemson in 2017, and the Tigers needed a late comeback to beat the Orange in 2018. Last season we saw Clemson win a hard fought 17-14 contest.
This is Syracuse's best team since 2018 when the Orange won 10 games, and Clemson will look to get back to the College Football Playoff.
Here are the IB staff predictions.
This will be a bit of a sloppy game but I am going with the Tigers to win this one. Not only is Clemson playing on its home turf, the matchup isn't a good one for Syracuse. Neither team is very dynamic on offense, but Clemson has shown the ability to score points at a higher rate than the Orange.
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Bleav in Syracuse Episode 53: Clemson Preview (SI; podcast; Bleav)
Bleav in Syracuse podcast episode 53, presented by Bet Online and Hofmann Sausage Company, is out! The Orange travels south to face fifth ranked Clemson in a battle for ACC Atlantic control. The guys break down the game, including keys to victory and make predictions for the outcome. . You can subscribe and listen on your favorite podcasting platforms as linked below.
Syracuse Faces 'Difficult Task' Attempting to End Clemson Tigers' Home-Winning Streak - Sports Illustrated Clemson Tigers News, Analysis and More (SI; Priester)
Dino Babers knows his face is facing its biggest challenge of the season this week.
No. 14 Syracuse (6-0, 3-0) will travel to Memorial Stadium for a noon kickoff against No. 5 Clemson (7-0, 5-0) in a battle of unbeaten teams for control of the Atlantic Division.
The Tigers have not lost at home since the 2016 season, and Babers knows ending the Tigers' 37-game home winning streak will not be easy.
“We’re playing a fine Clemson team," Babers said. "Coach Swinney does a fantastic job. There’s no doubt about it. Some of the finest athletes in the conference and in the country. Not only do they have fantastic individuals, they’re a good football team. They have an amazing streak going on down there, and we’re going to play them at their place, which is a very, very difficult task.
“Our guys are in good spirits and we’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
However, while the Orange have yet to beat Clemson at home with Babers at the helm, they have come close. Syracuse held a 23-13 lead over the Tigers in 2018 before the Tigers came storming back to win 27-23. In 2017, the Orange pulled off the upset at home 27-21.
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Syracuse football: players not fazed by upcoming challenge in Clemson (TNIAAM; Ostrowski)
It’s the time of year that Syracuse Orange fans both love and dread: Clemson week. The ‘Cuse players are just as aware of the hype behind their next game as the rest of us. Here’s what they said about this battle of undefeated programs:
The lowdown on Syracuse from an Orange beat writer (theclemsoninsider.com; Potter)
The Clemson Insider recently caught up with Emily Leiker to get some insight on Syracuse ahead of Clemson’s game against the Orange. Leiker covers Syracuse football for Syracuse.com.
Leiker hit on a number of topics during the following question-and-answer session, including quarterback Garrett Shrader’s improvement as a passer, the influence of a pair of new offensive assistants, a top-10 Orange defense and more heading into Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium.
Note: This interview has been edited for clarity
I’m not sure even how many of the Syracuse faithful honestly expected their team to still be unbeaten coming to Clemson in late October. So what’s the vibe within the program and among the fan base there?
People are very excited. You’re correct in assuming not many people thought this was how this season was going to go. I think people thought it would go better than last season, but by no means as well as it’s gone. So lots of energy. Lots of excitement both inside and out of the program. I think inside the program as well, there is a very high level of confidence. They feel very sure of themselves and that they deserve to be where they are, which, to this point, they’ve shown they do. So high energy around Syracuse. It’s probably the highest energy they’ve had around here during football season in a few years. I think folks are looking more forward to seeing the rest of football season than basketball season starting.
Garrett Shrader has gone from having the lowest completion percentage among ACC quarterbacks last season to the second-highest clip so far this season. What’s gone into his drastic improvement in the passing game?
I think it’s kind of two-pronged. First of all, last year, he came in as the starter four games into the season. It wasn’t his team, I’d say he felt like. One thing we learned a lot from him in August is he felt like he was better connected with the guys coming off the offseason. He really felt like he knew his personnel and this was his team, and that was a sentiment that a lot of the other players and offensive coaches gave as well. So I think he was able to do more work (this offseason), build more of a rapport and more trust with his receiving corps and the rest of the offense and kind of just had more time under his belt to be this good.
Also, you have the introduction of former Virginia offensive coordinator Robert Anae and quarterbacks coach Jason Beck, who we all know did wonders for Brennan Armstrong during his time at Virginia. They have really come in and just tuned Shrader around. I think Beck and Shrader get a long really well, so he’s really been able to calm Shrader down and get him more accurate with his throws, which has been the biggest thing to keep him from scrambling all the time. That was one of the complaints a lot of people had last year in the fan base, I know, is that he was scrambling too much, and they wanted him to slow down and consider throwing the ball. And we’ve seen that this season. So I think it’s kind of been those big two things and also just the experience level of everyone on the team. This is a very mature, veteran team at this point, and it feels like all of the pieces have finally clicked in place.
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No. 14 Syracuse football at No. 5 Clemson best bets for week 8 (itlh; Adler)
Syracuse football is perfect through the first half of its 2022 regular season, and the No. 14 Orange (6-0) now looks to spring a huge upset of No. 5 Clemson (7-0) this Saturday on the road.
This Atlantic Coast Conference collision is pivotal for several reasons. Number one, the ‘Cuse and the Tigers are the sole remaining undefeated squads in the ACC. Additionally, Syracuse football and Clemson are the top-two teams in the league’s Atlantic division.
Whichever group comes out on top could end up having the inside track on capturing the Atlantic division and getting to Charlotte, N.C., for the 2022 ACC championship game on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Of course, there are lots of games remaining in this year’s regular season for the ‘Cuse, so even if Syracuse football can conquer Clemson, the Orange still has to square off with the likes of Notre Dame at home, Pittsburgh on the road, Florida State at home, No. 13 Wake Forest on the road, and Boston College on the road.
This past Saturday, the ‘Cuse defense was mighty impressive in holding a top-15 N.C. State group to just a trio of field goals. The Tigers, on the other hand, squeaked out a six-point triumph at Florida State in week seven.
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2022 Syracuse / Clemson Preview (RX; HM)
2022 Syracuse / Clemson Preview
Clemson leads series, 8-2; Last meeting: CU, 17-14 (2021)
Head Coaches:
Syracuse - Dino Babers (35-43 in seventh season at Syracuse; 72-59 in 11th season overall)
Clemson - Dabo Swinney (157-36 in 15th season at Clemson and overall)
Notes: Clemson seeks its fifth consecutive victory in the series as unbeaten Atlantic Division teams meet in what looms as one the biggest games of the 2022 season • The Tigers’ current 13-game winning streak is the longest in the nation, while Syracuse owns a 6-0 record for the first time since 1987 • Clemson has won eight of the nine ACC meetings between the schools, but the Tigers have had their share of difficulty versus the Orange during that stretch • In addition to last season’s nail-biter, Syracuse handed the then-defending national champions their only regularseason loss of the 2017 season by a 27-24 score at the Dome and had Clemson on the ropes in Death Valley the following year before RB Travis Etienne’s 2-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds left lifted the Tigers to a 27-23 win • The schools first met in the 1996 Gator Bowl, with Syracuse winning 41-0.
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Syracuse's Devaughn Cooper attempts to escape NC State's Tyler Baker-Williams grasp at the JMA Wireless Dome on October 15.
Syracuse football dominates NC State and reaches No. 14 ranking (thenewshouse.com; Sherman)
It was a big week for Syracuse football. With a sold-out crowd and two top 25 teams in the country facing off in the JMA Wireless Dome, the Orange could have let the pressure get to them. However, Syracuse convincingly beat No. 15 NC State 24-9 for their first 6-0 start since 1987.
Sophomore wide receiver Oronde Gadsen II was a standout in this major win for the Orange. Tallying a career-high in receiving yards with 141, receptions with eight and tying his single-game career high with two touchdowns. Due to his strong week, Gadsden was named ACC Wide Receiver of the Week.
Star running back Sean Tucker also had a strong performance. He recorded 112 total scrimmage yards to go along with a 25-yard rushing touchdown to put the game out of reach for the Wolfpack.
The defense had a stellar performance, limiting NC State to 5-16 on third downs and only allowing 3.7 yards per play. Offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron earned his second ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honor this season. He allowed no pressures or sacks on quarterback Garrett Shrader. In addition, Bergeron recorded eight knockdown blocks in the game.
As a result of their dominant home performance, Syracuse is now ranked 14th, their highest ranking since November 2018.
After defeating their first-ranked opponent, the Orange now go down south this week to face the undefeated, No. 5 Clemson Tigers Saturday at noon.
Men’s and women’s basketball have season’s Tip-off event
Less than 24 hours before Syracuse football beat NC State, there was another major event in the JMA Wireless Dome. Men’s and women’s basketball had their Orange Tip-off event, which included 3-point contests, a dunk contest and inter-squad scrimmages.
With attendance allowed, fans were able to get a glimpse of some new freshman talent including star point guard for the men’s team Judah Mintz and star guard for the women’s team Lexi McNabb, whose mother was a star basketball player at Syracuse and her father played both basketball and football at Syracuse.
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3 offensive keys to a Clemson win over Syracuse (clemsonwire.usatoday.com; Turri)
Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program are currently undefeated with a 7-0 (5-0 ACC) record as they head into a home matchup against a tough Syracuse team.
The Tigers are coming off of a solid 34-28 win over Florida State, where the team dominated most of the game but took their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter, allowing FSU to make things a little more interesting. No.5 Clemson cannot afford to do the same Saturday against No.14 Syracuse and will have to play their best football.
The offense will need to continue to perform, while the defense will have to step up to stop a top-tier running back in Sean Tucker a week after getting thrashed on the ground by the Seminoles.
Here are three offensive keys for the Tigers to keep their undefeated season alive against Syracuse.
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Syracuse vs. Clemson Prediction: Undefeated ACC Teams Meet in Death Valley (athlonsports.com; Kinne)
Only two unbeaten teams remain in the ACC, and they meet up when Syracuse travels to Death Valley to take on Clemson. The 14th-ranked Orange are one of the nation's surprise teams and find themselves at 6-0 after knocking off NC State in the Dome last Saturday.
Clemson won't have its open date until next weekend, so the fifth-ranked Tigers got their seventh win when they beat Florida State in Tallahassee in their most recent game. The Tigers were leading 34-14 going into the fourth quarter before the Seminoles reached the end zone twice to make the score a respectable 34-28.
Clemson has an 8-2 all-time lead in the series and has been victorious in the last four contests.
TV: ABC
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Clemson -14
Where the Syracuse offense has taken off is in the passing game. Quarterback Garrett Shrader has gone from completing 53 percent of his pass attempts in 2021 to just a tick under 70 percent this fall. His average yards per attempt has jumped 3.3 yards, and he has a 12:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. While Tucker is a major pass-catching threat, the prime beneficiary of the new-look Shrader has been Oronde Gadsen II. The redshirt freshman leads the team with 31 catches for 507 yards and five TDs.
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Syracuse Orange v. Clemson Tigers Prediction & Preview (10/22/22) - The Juice Online (the juice; Sears)
After surviving the first true test of the season and defeating the NC State Wolfpack 24-9, Syracuse travels to South Carolina to take on the #5 Clemson Tigers in Death Valley.
SU caught some lucky breaks in the previous game such as NC State star QB Devin Leary missing the contest, and getting a couple of beneficial calls in the fourth quarter. To beat the Tigers, they’ll need to play their best and most disciplined game of the year. Here’s what to watch for Saturday.
Fearless Prediction: Clemson 30, Syracuse 17
The Juice Online Season Record: 6-0
DJ Going To Be A Handful
Junior quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei has been fantastic for the Tigers, throwing for 17 touchdowns against only two interceptions and completing 64.0 percent of his throws in seven games so far this year. He’s taken a massive step up from last year when, in 13 games, completed only 55.6 percent of his passes for 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sound familiar?
Like SU’s own Garrett Shrader who’s made massive leaps in his development this year, Uiagalelei is a dual-threat QB, as he’s rushed for four touchdowns his previous two years and has four rushing scores on the year already, to go with 337 rushing yards. The Syracuse front seven will definitely have their hands full, and bet on cornerbacks Garrett Williams and Duce Chestnut to be tested coming down off of their receivers to make run stops in the flat.
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Jones discusses Tigers’ defense, matchup with Syracuse (thetigercu.com; Pensy)
Fourth-year cornerback Sheridan Jones discussed his return from injury, the progression of the Clemson defense and this Saturday’s upcoming noon kickoff against No. 14 Syracuse in his press interview on Monday.
Battling a stinger injury, Jones returned to the field against Florida State last Saturday for the first time since the Tigers’ Week 3 matchup with Louisiana Tech.
“(I) just had to be smart and take it day by day,” Jones said. “I wanted to make sure everything was good before I came back.”
Against Florida State, Jones recorded a season-high four tackles. Clemson's training staff was part of the recovery process that allowed him to return and play.
“We have a great training staff. They make sure everything is well,” Jones said. “They make sure my body’s feeling well, getting treatment every day, so I can be able to make plays on Saturday.”
The defense as a whole didn’t play its best against Florida State, giving up 14 points in the fourth quarter and a season-high 206 rushing yards.
“I feel like we just need to finish strong,” Jones said. “We were up 20, and we just have to finish the game.”
Jones added that the veterans emphasized that the Tigers won the game and they just need to keep the energy up, despite the poor finish. They will be taking this energy into the Tigers’ next game against ACC-rival Syracuse.
Clemson has won eight of 10 matchups against Syracuse. Last year marked the first time Clemson entered the matchup unranked. This year, however, will mark the first time Syracuse enters this game ranked.
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Elite 2026 DL Preston Carey, offered by Syracuse, calls visit 'electric' - The Juice Online (the juice; Cheng)
One of the top recruits in the 2026 class is Saint Anthony’s (NY) High defensive lineman Preston “PJ” Carey.
Only a freshman, he already holds offers from blue bloods Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Penn State and Texas A&M, among others. He was on the Syracuse campus to take in the Orange’s 24-9 win over NC State this past weekend, and was also extended an offer on the trip that Carey described as ‘electric’ on the latest episode of The Juice on the Cuse Podcast, presented by SNY.tv.
“It was upbeat the whole time from the time I stepped in the door to the time we rushed the field when they sealed the win against NC State,” Carey said. “It was just great vibes all around. It was great to see New York football in its truest form.”
Carey is a Long Island, NY native, and that geography is one big advantage that Syracuse has right now.
“Syracuse growing up is the top football program in New York, so to be able to be recruited by them, and offered by them, and just to be in that environment is amazing,” Carey said. “You can’t deny after that great of a visit that Syracuse is definitely up there for me.”
The Orange put on a show for Carey and approximately two dozen other recruits. SU led from its opening drive until the game was over, as it defeated its first ranked opponent this season.
The football team also had the entire Syracuse fanbase behind them, as the JMA Wireless Dome was sold out.
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On The Block On Demand 10-20 (ESPN; radio; Axe)
Brent discusses the key ingredient that could lead to victory for the Orange over Clemson. Later, Josh and Jordan join Brent for the Mount Rushmore Draft of quotes.
No. 14 Syracuse vs No. 5 Clemson: Previewing an undefeated ACC Battle - Gridiron Heroics (gridionheroics.com; Miller)
No. 14 Syracuse will travel to No. 5 Clemson on Saturday for what will be Death Valley’s first meeting between 6-0 teams or better in its 81-year history. The Orange will look to break the Tigers’ 37-game home win streak, CFB’s longest active such streak. With the Atlantic Division on the line, this battle of undefeateds will highlight the 12:00 slate on Saturday.
Syracuse enters as 13.5-point underdogs against a Clemson team led by junior quarterback DJ Uiagaleilei, who has finally emerged as the elite passer, and Heisman Trophy candidate, Clemson fans expected as a five-star prospect. This will only be the Orange’s second away game of the season and its first road ACC matchup. However, Syracuse is used to the noise, as its last game against NC State reached 121 dB in the JMA Wireless Dome, the 7th-highest in college football recorded history. Now, SU will be on the opposing side of that raucous.
“This will be the first opportunity for our offense to operate the way other people’s offenses operate at the JMA,” Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said.
Here’s everything to know before Saturday’s undefeated ACC contest.
Syracuse defense is the real deal
SU ranks first in the ACC and sixth in the nation in scoring defense, with opponents averaging just 13.17 PPG. SU’s secondary is led by highly touted prospect Garrett Williams, who ranked second in PFF’s early 2023 cornerback draft rankings.
Sophomore corners Duce Chestnut and Alijah Clark start alongside Williams, reuniting at SU after playing together at Camden High School in New Jersey. Together, this close-knit unit has led Syracuse to the ACC’s best pass defense, allowing just 173.8 yards per game. Williams and Chestnut ranked second and third in passes defended in 2021, each garnering NFL interest as a result.
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https://rubbingtherock.com/2022/10/20/clemson-football-picks-5/ (rubbingtherock.com; Coleman)
Each week this season the RubbingtheRock.com staff will pick the score of the Clemson football game against the spread and we’ll also pick a wild card game in a “friendly” competition.
The staff managed a solid 5-3 record against the spread last week, including 4-0 on the Clemson – Florida State game, where the Tigers dominated the middle 8 and covered the spread against the Seminoles.
The points race looks like this:
Houston 145.46
Chancey 39.55
Beef (-154.54)
Marty (-345.45)
Two of us are in the black and the other two, well that’s the kind of season Beef and I are having.
The spread we used for the Clemson game was the Tigers -13.5.
Without further ado, here are the picks for week 8.
Houston Burnett (8-5-1, 7-5-1 ATS)
Syracuse will never be a team that I feel is a natural fit that should have ever been picked for the ACC. 6-0 or not it is just weird, but I digress. As far as the game, I think when you dive into some of The Orange’s prior games, some of their success is a bit of fool’s gold. That gets exposed on Saturday.
PREDICTION
SYRACUSE ORANGE
14
CLEMSON TIGERS
30
Houston’s wild card pick is Oklahoma State +7.5 against Texas.
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https://orangefizz.net/2022/10/whats-at-stake-when-syracuse-takes-on-clemson/ (orangefizz.net; Unsworth)
No. 14 Syracuse heads to No. 5 Clemson hoping to break a 37-game Tiger home winning streak. Dabo Swinney’s team has been excellent in Death Valley over the past few years, and this year is no different. The Tigers are holding opponents to just 12 points per game at home. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei is completing 68% of his passes on his turf.
It’s no secret Clemson is an overwhelming favorite. Syracuse has never won in Memorial Stadium. Most sports books have SU as a two-touchdown underdog, which stands to reason that their modeling systems expect the Orange to struggle to keep the game close. Many experts, analysts and writers have Clemson winning by a larger margin (you’ll get the Fizz staff’s predictions tomorrow).
However, none of that matters when Syracuse and Clemson step on the field at noon. The winner of this matchup takes the top spot in the ACC Atlantic. A win moves SU into the top 10, and squashes all the doubters. The Orange would be a virtual lock for a New Year’s Six bowl, unless something were to really go sideways down the stretch of the season. A loss, well, is just a loss. It’s Clemson, right? The same Clemson team that hasn’t lost at home since 2016. The pressure is really on the Tigers, who have to win (and win convincingly) to stay in the top five with Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee all standing strong and ‘Bama creeping behind. A shaky performance from Uiagalelei or a bad defensive day will lead critics to question their potential.
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https://1045theteam.com/does-emily-leiker-think-syracuse-will-upset-clemson-on-saturday/ (ESPN; 1045theteam)
I am loving what I am seeing from the Syracuse University football team so far this season. Head Coach Dino Babers has him team off to a 6-0 start fresh off of a win over NC State at the Dome. The crowd was electric with over 50,000 fans in attendance. Now Cuse will head to Death Valley to take on a Clemson team that is also undefeated and ranked #5 in the country.
It will be a noon kick and features the top two teams in the ACC conference at 7-0 and 6-0. I think Clemson will win but Syracuse will compete and keep it close. Obviously I would love for Syracuse to win and get into the top ten but it will be tough trying to beat Dabo Swinney at home. This will be a true test for the Orange as I talk about in my quick take from The Times Union:
After several lean years, it’s nice to see Syracuse University stand behind head coach Dino Babers. Some schools might have changed coaches, but SU stayed the course with Babers and it’s paying off this season. The Syracuse football team is good again, but a big test looms on Saturday at Clemson when the two unbeatens meet at Memorial Stadium. If the Orange can knock off No.5 Clemson, Notre Dame comes to Syracuse October 29th, and that would almost certainly produce another sellout at the JMA Wireless Dome.
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2022 Syracuse / Clemson Preview (RX; HM)
ACC News
https://www.si.com/college/virginia...downs-georgia-tech-16-9-for-first-acc-victory (SI; Newton)
It was the epitome of an ugly win, but Tony Elliott has his first ACC victory as a head coach.
The Cavalier offense put up just three points in the second half, but thanks to a superhuman effort by the UVA defense to smother backup quarterback Zach Gibson and the Yellow Jackets, Virginia (3-4, 1-3 ACC) defeated Georgia Tech (3-4, 2-2 ACC) 16-9 on Thursday night in Atlanta to snap a three-game losing streak and finally win its first ACC game of the season.
The UVA offense got off to a horrific start, turning the ball over twice in its first five plays. The first was a Perris Jones fumble and the second was a Brennan Armstrong pass that went off the hands of Keytaon Thompson and was intercepted by LaMiles Brooks, who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown, Georgia Tech's sole touchdown of the game.
The Virginia defense allowed only three points in the game to a Georgia Tech offense that was forced to rely on backup quarterback Zach Gibson after starter Jeff Sims exited the game with an injury in the first half. The Yellow Jackets punted 10 times, seven of which were three-and-outs, and also committed two turnovers. The first was a crucial takeaway for the UVA defense, as Georgia Tech nearly took advantage of the Perris Jones fumble to score a touchdown, but Fentrell Cypress II broke up Sims' pass in the end zone and Coen King ran under the ball for an interception.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJcs9Xvu_l8 (youtube; video; ACCDN)
The Virginia Cavaliers defeated Georgia Tech, 16-9 to improve to 3-4 on the season. Brennan Armstrong threw for 255 yards, including a 44 yard touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks to make him the all-time touchdown passing leader at Virginia with 57 TD’s. Armstrong also rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown in the win. Wicks led all receivers with 99 yards on 4 catches and Keytaon Thompson added 89 yards on 7 receptions for the Hoos. Zach Gibson completed 10 of 25 passing attempts for 99 yards after coming on in relief for Yellow Jackets quarterback Jeff Sims who left the game with an injury.
https://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2022/10/thursday-results-2022-oct-20th.html (RX; HM)
Thursday Results 2022 Oct 20th
Virginia vs Georgia Tech
https://youtu.be/ezn8CuxMycQ
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https://apnews.com/article/college-...top-25-today-2e1a6aff64018d7559cfec5e4956319b (apnews.com; AP)
Boston College (2-4, 1-3 ACC) at No. 13 Wake Forest (5-1, 1-1), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
Line: Wake Forest by 20 1/2, according to FanDuel .
Series record: BC leads 14-12-2.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The Demon Deacons are coming out of a bye week trying to stay within reach of No. 5 Clemson atop the league’s Atlantic Division race after losing to the Tigers in late September. The offense is rolling behind Sam Hartman and has scored at least 31 points in every game. The Eagles are also coming off an off week hoping for better offensive production considering they scored 14 or less in each of their three league losses.
KEY MATCHUP
Wake Forest’s secondary vs. BC WR Zay Flowers. Flowers leads the ACC in catches (42) and receiving yards (556) to go with five touchdowns. Flowers has posted two 100-yard games this year, including a 151-yard effort in a loss to Louisville. The Demon Deacons have surrendered 14 passing touchdowns, the second-most in the ACC to North Carolina’s 18.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BC: QB Phil Jurkovec. Jurkovec had a big performance against Louisville (304 yards, three TDs) but followed with just 188 yards against Clemson.
Wake Forest: RB Justice Ellison. He’s had three straight solid outings, going for 73 yards against Clemson, 114 yards with a touchdown against Florida State and 96 yards with a score against Army.
https://apnews.com/article/college-...ghting-irish-72b35e5740bb27669b657bedc11f7672
FACTS & FIGURES
Wake Forest’s 247 points this year are the most through six games in program history. ... The Demon Deacons have won 11 straight games in the month of October. ... The Eagles have lost the past two meetings, with Wake Forest’s win last year securing the Atlantic Division title. ... Boston College hasn’t beaten an AP Top 25 opponent since 2014. ... BC ranks 10th in the Bowl Subdivision ranks by committing just 38.7 yards in penalties per game. ... BC has surrendered a league-high 22 sacks. ... Hartman’s 88 career passing touchdowns is two shy of Clemson’s duo of Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence for fourth on the ACC’s all-time list.
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https://www.salisburypost.com/2022/10/21/acc-football-previews-no-13-deacs-aim-to-ground-eagles/ (salisburypost.com; AP; Beard)
Wake Forest had regrouped from its only loss with a pair of strong performances when its off week arrived. The 13th-ranked Demon Deacons must pick things back up, starting with Saturday’s visit from Boston College.
The Demon Deacons (5-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) responded to a crushing double-overtime loss to No. 5 Clemson by winning at Florida State. Then came a home win against Army in which they surrendered just 10 points against the triple-option run attack after giving up 56 the year before.
“In some ways I felt like the last three weeks we probably played really good football,” coach Dave Clawson said. “And when you’re playing well, you don’t necessarily want a break but I think it was as good as much mentally for our players as physically.”
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https://saturdayblitz.com/2022/10/20/acc-football-power-rankings-week-8-2022/ (saturdayblitz.com; Pryor)
I finally found what I never knew I always wanted
I couldn’t see; I was blind ’til my eyes were opened
I didn’t know there was a hole
Something missing in my soul
‘Til you filled it up with your love, yeah
(Yeah, yeah)
What I Never Knew I Always Wanted by Carrie Underwood
Who knew we needed the Orange versus the Tigers in a battle of the undefeated? Well, we at headquarters have constructed special glasses to handle all of that Orange that will take the field this Saturday.
Drake Maye has been a revelation at North Carolina, and Georgia Tech has a pulse in the post-Geoff Collins era. Yellow Jackets, take note from your neighbors to the north, Clemson. Hiring the interim coach is not always a bad idea.
So, to Textile Bowls, agriculture schools versus private schools, and everything hoity-toity in North Carolina, here are the ACC Power Rankings heading into Week 8.
Georgia Tech will likely lose its last two games against #22 North Carolina and #1 Georgia, but the four before that are winnable. Hey, you do the math. Could Key fool around and coach his way to being the permanent head coach?
The Cardinals aren’t great against the run, and Pitt wants to run a lot. If the Panthers can play their ball style, they will be problems in the Coastal for the rest of the season.
The Deacons have winnable games until they play UNC for the Tobacco Road Directional Trophy. Okay, so that’s not a real trophy. Maybe it should be.
Maye’s emergence is why the Tar Heels are first in the ACC Coastal. The thought was that the division was Miami’s to take. The Tar Heels are doing their best Lee Corso impression, “Not so fast, my friend.”
The Oranges have two things that travel well, a running game and good defense. Do they have the horses to compete with Clemson? No, they don’t. However, if they can keep it close late, anything can happen.
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https://www.courier-journal.com/sto...gh-3-things-to-know-betting-line/69568311007/ (C-J; Cubit)
Louisville football is through half of its season and comes out of the bye with a home night game against Pitt on Saturday.
The Cardinals (3-3, 1-3) went into the bye on a high note after beating Virginia 34-17 while missing three crucial starters. The contest was the back half of back-to-back road games for Louisville, which went 1-1 at that time. The Panthers (4-2, 1-1 ACC), too, had last weekend off after a 45-29 win over Virginia Tech.
Here are three things to know about the Week 8 clash:
The Cardinals round out the month of October with a home game against No. 13 Wake Forest before hosting James Madison — ranked 25th last week before dropping out of the top 25 — then traveling to fifth-ranked Clemson to start the month of November. U of L’s schedule concludes with No. 23 NC State and a road game against rival Kentucky, ranked 19th.
Despite never having played James Madison before, Louisville’s series history against the other five teams is a combined 36-42. Of those five, the Cardinals have winning records against the Demon Deacons (6-3) and the Wolfpack (7-4).
Knowing how both important and tough the last half of the season is, Cardinals head coach Scott Satterfield is encouraged by the momentum his team built in the 34-17 win over Virginia with several starters out.
“For us, you go out and play well, if you can get some wins against these ranked teams, it’s certainly going to help us,” he said. “I think it’s a great challenge for our guys. We know we have to go out and play great ball. You can’t not be good at one phase. You have to be really good at all three phases. We have to take care of the ball. We have to create some turnovers, and all these things have to happen in order for us to get these wins.”
Head coach Scott Satterfield said everyone except Evans “would be available and ready to go” with Evan still being questionable. Evans practiced Sunday but was limited.
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https://www.cbssports.com/college-f...ond-half-of-a-landscape-shifting-2022-season/ (cbssports.com; Patterson)
Most seasons, the college football schedule unfolds in stages. The preseason is all about hype and anticipation. The first weeks of the regular season -- mostly comprised of nonconference games -- allow for wild overreactions. And then September turns to October where preseason thoughts are forgotten, early season overreactions have been put the test in conference play and the sport begins to separate itself into tiers with teams preparing to sprint to the finish line.
This moment, here in the middle of October, is the best time of the year in college football. It's late enough that we have an idea of how these teams compare to one another but with enough time left for multiple twists and turns that might flip our understanding of the college football landscape upside down.
For those who champion the regular season as the great selling point of college football, the next eight weeks is our playoff. It's a playoff of survival to see who from this group of more than a dozen contenders will be able to maintain their status through the end of conference championship weekend.
Every Power Five conference has three or four undefeated or one-loss teams heading into Week 8, but there's not enough room in the championship races for all of those 18 teams to play for trophies at the end of the season. The stakes of competition across the next eight weeks, in games that will all be played on campus, provide a playoff atmosphere that will last more than two months.
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Other
The beef on brewhouse sandwich with horseradish sauce at Bullfinch Brewpub, Syracuse, NY (Jared Paventi | jaredpaventi@gmail.com)
https://www.syracuse.com/food/2022/...life-into-syracuse-mall-dining-in-review.html (PS; $; Paventi)
Pigs can’t fly but the hog wings at Bullfinch Brewpub at Destiny USA certainly catch some air.
Pig wings are made from whole-muscle ham shanks, a cut that is packed with full-flavored bone-in dark meat. They get a dunk in pineapple-and brown sugar-rich barbecue sauce before serving. And, let’s be honest, pig wing sounds a lot better than ham shanks.
The six hog wings ($16) were hearty and made for a substantial starter. They were accompanied by a side of ranch, not the promised housemade blue cheese, but we would have rather had a side of the barbecue sauce for dipping as it really complemented the meat.
Bullfinch’s elevated pub menu aims at distinct flavors difficult to find in this market. For instance, you order chicken wings in mild, medium or hot sauces. You can also order them dry rubbed in Old Bay or tossed in coconut sweet chili sauce.
Bullfinch slid into the spot vacated by Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in 2020 before the pandemic took hold. Back when it opened in 2012, Gordon Biersch hired Marcellus native Dave Collins to run the brewing operation at Destiny USA. Fast forward a decade and Collins is working for himself as the owner and brewer at Bullfinch. In between, he squeezed in a few years in Buffalo helping to launch Resurgence Brewing, which has grown to include distribution across the Thruway. During our Saturday visit, he roamed the dining room, chatting with guests, seating parties and taking food and drink orders. Chef Corey Collins—no relation to his boss—comes to the kitchen from The Refinery, a gastropub in Auburn.
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Back to the Future Part II, released in 1989, starts out set in 1985 where the previous film in the series left off. Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, along with Doc Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, and Jennifer Parker, played by Elisabeth Shue, travel to the future in Doc's DeLorean to save Marty and Jennifer's future children. The date they travel to is October 21, 2015, the date which would become the first "Back to the Future" Day. In the years leading up to the day, photoshopped images appeared online that claimed the day of the DeLorean's twenty-first-century time travel had arrived. But true fans of the film series knew they had to wait until 2015.
SU News
Syracuse linebacker Mikel Jones poses for a photo following SU's win over Virginia. Jones looks to be one of a handful of Orange players primed to be draft picks this year. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com
Clemson is always loaded with NFL talent. These 10 Syracuse players look like future pros (PS; $; Leiker)
Clemson has had at least one NFL Draft pick every year since 2003 and has sent over 80 players to the league in that time frame.
Syracuse football has had just 32 picks in the same amount of time. It didn’t have any players taken in the 2022 draft, with its last player selected being defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu in the third round of the 2021 draft.
Saturday’s matchup between SU and Clemson, though, should be chock-full of future professional talent. The Orange is in the midst of a historic season and looks like it could see its biggest NFL draft class since Justin Pugh, Ryan Nassib and Shamarko Thomas were picked in 2013.
Here are 10 SU players who fans could see playing on Sundays within the next couple years.
Mikel Jones
Though Jones didn’t feature on any prominent preseason draft boards, it’s hard to imagine the linebacker won’t be drafted. If he’d had decided to leave last year for the NFL, he likely would have had been a post-draft signing, but with the resume he’s put together this season there are sure to be NFL teams pounding down his door. He’s statistically on-par, if not better, with Clemson’s Trenton Simpson, who most draft boards have going early second round, and will no doubt have everyone in the SU program vouching for his personality and leadership.Garrett Williams
Williams is likely to be the first off the board for Syracuse and could be the highest Orange draft pick of the Dino Babers era. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if he was the first to get real playing time, too. Cornerbacks have been popular early draft picks the last few years, and Williams has had the markings of a future pro for a year now. If he keeps up the level he’s been playing at this season, there’s no doubt he’ll be a top draftee.Sean Tucker
Tucker’s first post-game NFL tweet will be one for the Louvre, or at least some sort of sports history museum, regardless of if he’s pleased with his performance or not. Last year was a down year for running backs in the draft, with current New York Jets running back Breece Hall not being taken until the No. 4 pick in the second round. Tucker likely won’t be the first at his position off the board, and therefore will probably fall a bit lower than he maybe should on paper. But any waiting he and SU fans have to do to see him drafted will pay off when he’s playing on Sundays.Matthew Bergeron
The SU captain should be off the board early in the draft. He was already projected to be a draft pick in the preseason. Now, the Orange offensive line is up for the prestigious Joe Moore Award and has paved the way for the success of teammates like Shrader and Tucker. Bergeron would be a valuable pickup for any team.Andre Szmyt
Szmyt’s personal kicking coach said earlier this season that the last thing he needs out of his kicking game to make it to the next level is prove he can do kickoffs. While he’s not the go-to guy for Syracuse in that department this season, it shouldn’t completely keep him out of the league. The 2018 Lou Groza Award winner has cleared 11-of-12 kick attempts this season, and he’d be a solid addition to an NFL roster, though he’ll likely be a post-draft signing.Garrett Shrader
After three straight draft years that were big for quarterbacks (2019-21), this past NFL Draft didn’t see a QB taken until the third round. With all the young talent at the position in the league right now, it’s hard to see 2023 being another big year of quarterbacks being drafted. Shrader could come back to SU for another year, potentially raising his draft stock for 2024, or he could declare this year and likely go late in the draft or sign with a team after its conclusion. Either way, him solidifying his ability to be dual-threat this season gives him a shot to land somewhere.Duce Chestnut
Chestnut has another year to continue adding accolades to his already extensive list from a breakout freshman season. Like Williams, he’ll probably be the highest draft pick for Syracuse whatever year he declares, if not because of his talent then because of the position he plays. He’s looking on track to at least finish with a similar stat line as he did last year but will want to up those numbers next season to ensure his draft stock....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/10/20/syracuse-football-clemson/ (washingtonpost.com; Wang)
Syracuse football coach Dino Babers had not been on the same staff with Robert Anae before this season but admired his work from afar, particularly during the past few years at Virginia, where Anae oversaw an offense that set several program records.
Get the full experience.Choose your plan
Babers and Anae also shared many mutual connections given their backgrounds in the Western Athletic Conference. Babers, for instance, served as a graduate assistant at Hawaii, his alma mater, in 1984 two years before Anae, a former player at BYU, accepted the same position.
So with the Orange seeking a new offensive coordinator this past offseason and Anae conveniently available, Babers wasted little time completing a partnership that has contributed considerably to 14th-ranked Syracuse (6-0, 3-0 ACC) matching its best start since 1987.
College football best bets: UCLA, Oregon should light up the scoreboard
Next up is a showdown with No. 5 Clemson (7-0, 5-0) in Death Valley, with the winner securing the inside track for the Atlantic Division title and a berth in the ACC championship game. It’s the first matchup in Memorial Stadium history in which both teams are unbeaten this late in the season.
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Syracuse vs. Clemson: 2022 Football Game Preview (youtube; video; ACCDN)
The No.5 Tigers will face their biggest test yet as Atlantic foe No.14 Syracuse comes to Death Valley. The Tigers are on a 4-game winning streak and lead the overall series 8-2. The Orange are one of nine FBS squads still unblemished, and head coach Dino Babers is searching for his second career win over Clemson. The Tigers are firing on all cylinders and boast a high-scoring attack (38.6 PPG) and yet another stingy defense (19.7 PPG). 'Cuse also deploys an explosive offense (36.0 PPG) and top the ACC in points per game allowed (13.2). It will be an epic battle Saturday at noon, you can get all you need to know right here!
Clemson vs Syracuse: Game Prediction, Preview (SI; Driskell)
There is a huge matchup in the ACC this weekend when the No. 5 Clemson Tigers (7-0) and the No. 14 Syracuse Orange. It's a battle for supremacy in the Atlantic Division. Clemson has bounced back from its down 2022 campaign, and the Orange have already surpassed their 2021 win total and are one of the nation's surprise teams.
Where: Memorial Stadium (Clemson, S.C.)
When: 12:00 PM ET
TV: ABC
Line: Clemson -13.5, O/U 49.5
Despite Clemson being the dominant team in the ACC going back to the 2015 season, one team that has consistently given the Tigers a tough game is Syracuse. Head coach Dino Babers led Syracuse to an upset win over Clemson in 2017, and the Tigers needed a late comeback to beat the Orange in 2018. Last season we saw Clemson win a hard fought 17-14 contest.
This is Syracuse's best team since 2018 when the Orange won 10 games, and Clemson will look to get back to the College Football Playoff.
Here are the IB staff predictions.
BRYAN DRISKELL, PUBLISHER
Prediction: Clemson 26, Syracuse 16This will be a bit of a sloppy game but I am going with the Tigers to win this one. Not only is Clemson playing on its home turf, the matchup isn't a good one for Syracuse. Neither team is very dynamic on offense, but Clemson has shown the ability to score points at a higher rate than the Orange.
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Bleav in Syracuse Episode 53: Clemson Preview (SI; podcast; Bleav)
Bleav in Syracuse podcast episode 53, presented by Bet Online and Hofmann Sausage Company, is out! The Orange travels south to face fifth ranked Clemson in a battle for ACC Atlantic control. The guys break down the game, including keys to victory and make predictions for the outcome. . You can subscribe and listen on your favorite podcasting platforms as linked below.
Syracuse Faces 'Difficult Task' Attempting to End Clemson Tigers' Home-Winning Streak - Sports Illustrated Clemson Tigers News, Analysis and More (SI; Priester)
Dino Babers knows his face is facing its biggest challenge of the season this week.
No. 14 Syracuse (6-0, 3-0) will travel to Memorial Stadium for a noon kickoff against No. 5 Clemson (7-0, 5-0) in a battle of unbeaten teams for control of the Atlantic Division.
The Tigers have not lost at home since the 2016 season, and Babers knows ending the Tigers' 37-game home winning streak will not be easy.
“We’re playing a fine Clemson team," Babers said. "Coach Swinney does a fantastic job. There’s no doubt about it. Some of the finest athletes in the conference and in the country. Not only do they have fantastic individuals, they’re a good football team. They have an amazing streak going on down there, and we’re going to play them at their place, which is a very, very difficult task.
“Our guys are in good spirits and we’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
However, while the Orange have yet to beat Clemson at home with Babers at the helm, they have come close. Syracuse held a 23-13 lead over the Tigers in 2018 before the Tigers came storming back to win 27-23. In 2017, the Orange pulled off the upset at home 27-21.
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Syracuse football: players not fazed by upcoming challenge in Clemson (TNIAAM; Ostrowski)
It’s the time of year that Syracuse Orange fans both love and dread: Clemson week. The ‘Cuse players are just as aware of the hype behind their next game as the rest of us. Here’s what they said about this battle of undefeated programs:
Isaiah Johnson
- On playing for Syracuse as a transfer senior: “It’s a dream come true. When you start playing football as a young kid, you dream about playing that big Power 5 football, and playing on the big stages. So getting a chance to continue my football career at a Power 5, with better talent and more competition, is definitely something I’ve been looking forward to.”
- On the team exceeding expectations: “We just carry it as a chip on our shoulder.”
- On facing Clemson: “Everybody is excited for the opportunity ahead of us. 1-0 is what we keep telling each other, and that’s what has gotten us this far... These are the games you pray for.”
- “When it comes to injuries, there’s no 1s, there’s no 2s. Everybody’s ready to step up.”
- “All the older guys, especially ‘Kel, have been carrying me along... The Mob is like a family.”
- He ended our interview by shouting out his parents and family for supporting him along the way.
Marlowe Wax
- Not concerned with Clemson’s long home winning streak. “They don’t know what we bring to the table.”
- “It’s great right now, but if we lose the rest of the games and go 6-6, nobody’s going to care about starting 6-0... It’s all about what you finish with.”
The lowdown on Syracuse from an Orange beat writer (theclemsoninsider.com; Potter)
The Clemson Insider recently caught up with Emily Leiker to get some insight on Syracuse ahead of Clemson’s game against the Orange. Leiker covers Syracuse football for Syracuse.com.
Leiker hit on a number of topics during the following question-and-answer session, including quarterback Garrett Shrader’s improvement as a passer, the influence of a pair of new offensive assistants, a top-10 Orange defense and more heading into Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium.
Note: This interview has been edited for clarity
I’m not sure even how many of the Syracuse faithful honestly expected their team to still be unbeaten coming to Clemson in late October. So what’s the vibe within the program and among the fan base there?
People are very excited. You’re correct in assuming not many people thought this was how this season was going to go. I think people thought it would go better than last season, but by no means as well as it’s gone. So lots of energy. Lots of excitement both inside and out of the program. I think inside the program as well, there is a very high level of confidence. They feel very sure of themselves and that they deserve to be where they are, which, to this point, they’ve shown they do. So high energy around Syracuse. It’s probably the highest energy they’ve had around here during football season in a few years. I think folks are looking more forward to seeing the rest of football season than basketball season starting.
Garrett Shrader has gone from having the lowest completion percentage among ACC quarterbacks last season to the second-highest clip so far this season. What’s gone into his drastic improvement in the passing game?
I think it’s kind of two-pronged. First of all, last year, he came in as the starter four games into the season. It wasn’t his team, I’d say he felt like. One thing we learned a lot from him in August is he felt like he was better connected with the guys coming off the offseason. He really felt like he knew his personnel and this was his team, and that was a sentiment that a lot of the other players and offensive coaches gave as well. So I think he was able to do more work (this offseason), build more of a rapport and more trust with his receiving corps and the rest of the offense and kind of just had more time under his belt to be this good.
Also, you have the introduction of former Virginia offensive coordinator Robert Anae and quarterbacks coach Jason Beck, who we all know did wonders for Brennan Armstrong during his time at Virginia. They have really come in and just tuned Shrader around. I think Beck and Shrader get a long really well, so he’s really been able to calm Shrader down and get him more accurate with his throws, which has been the biggest thing to keep him from scrambling all the time. That was one of the complaints a lot of people had last year in the fan base, I know, is that he was scrambling too much, and they wanted him to slow down and consider throwing the ball. And we’ve seen that this season. So I think it’s kind of been those big two things and also just the experience level of everyone on the team. This is a very mature, veteran team at this point, and it feels like all of the pieces have finally clicked in place.
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No. 14 Syracuse football at No. 5 Clemson best bets for week 8 (itlh; Adler)
Syracuse football is perfect through the first half of its 2022 regular season, and the No. 14 Orange (6-0) now looks to spring a huge upset of No. 5 Clemson (7-0) this Saturday on the road.
This Atlantic Coast Conference collision is pivotal for several reasons. Number one, the ‘Cuse and the Tigers are the sole remaining undefeated squads in the ACC. Additionally, Syracuse football and Clemson are the top-two teams in the league’s Atlantic division.
Whichever group comes out on top could end up having the inside track on capturing the Atlantic division and getting to Charlotte, N.C., for the 2022 ACC championship game on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Of course, there are lots of games remaining in this year’s regular season for the ‘Cuse, so even if Syracuse football can conquer Clemson, the Orange still has to square off with the likes of Notre Dame at home, Pittsburgh on the road, Florida State at home, No. 13 Wake Forest on the road, and Boston College on the road.
This past Saturday, the ‘Cuse defense was mighty impressive in holding a top-15 N.C. State group to just a trio of field goals. The Tigers, on the other hand, squeaked out a six-point triumph at Florida State in week seven.
Best Syracuse football bets week 8
Here’s what I like from a betting perspective as the Orange travels to Clemson on Saturday, Oct. 22, with the kick-off scheduled for noon and television coverage on ABC....
2022 Syracuse / Clemson Preview (RX; HM)
2022 Syracuse / Clemson Preview
Saturday, Oct. 22nd, 2022
#14 Syracuse (6-0, 3-0 ACC) at #5 Clemson (7-0, 5-0 ACC), Noon; ACCNClemson leads series, 8-2; Last meeting: CU, 17-14 (2021)
Head Coaches:
Syracuse - Dino Babers (35-43 in seventh season at Syracuse; 72-59 in 11th season overall)
Clemson - Dabo Swinney (157-36 in 15th season at Clemson and overall)
Notes: Clemson seeks its fifth consecutive victory in the series as unbeaten Atlantic Division teams meet in what looms as one the biggest games of the 2022 season • The Tigers’ current 13-game winning streak is the longest in the nation, while Syracuse owns a 6-0 record for the first time since 1987 • Clemson has won eight of the nine ACC meetings between the schools, but the Tigers have had their share of difficulty versus the Orange during that stretch • In addition to last season’s nail-biter, Syracuse handed the then-defending national champions their only regularseason loss of the 2017 season by a 27-24 score at the Dome and had Clemson on the ropes in Death Valley the following year before RB Travis Etienne’s 2-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds left lifted the Tigers to a 27-23 win • The schools first met in the 1996 Gator Bowl, with Syracuse winning 41-0.
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Syracuse's Devaughn Cooper attempts to escape NC State's Tyler Baker-Williams grasp at the JMA Wireless Dome on October 15.
Syracuse football dominates NC State and reaches No. 14 ranking (thenewshouse.com; Sherman)
It was a big week for Syracuse football. With a sold-out crowd and two top 25 teams in the country facing off in the JMA Wireless Dome, the Orange could have let the pressure get to them. However, Syracuse convincingly beat No. 15 NC State 24-9 for their first 6-0 start since 1987.
Sophomore wide receiver Oronde Gadsen II was a standout in this major win for the Orange. Tallying a career-high in receiving yards with 141, receptions with eight and tying his single-game career high with two touchdowns. Due to his strong week, Gadsden was named ACC Wide Receiver of the Week.
Star running back Sean Tucker also had a strong performance. He recorded 112 total scrimmage yards to go along with a 25-yard rushing touchdown to put the game out of reach for the Wolfpack.
The defense had a stellar performance, limiting NC State to 5-16 on third downs and only allowing 3.7 yards per play. Offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron earned his second ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honor this season. He allowed no pressures or sacks on quarterback Garrett Shrader. In addition, Bergeron recorded eight knockdown blocks in the game.
As a result of their dominant home performance, Syracuse is now ranked 14th, their highest ranking since November 2018.
After defeating their first-ranked opponent, the Orange now go down south this week to face the undefeated, No. 5 Clemson Tigers Saturday at noon.
Less than 24 hours before Syracuse football beat NC State, there was another major event in the JMA Wireless Dome. Men’s and women’s basketball had their Orange Tip-off event, which included 3-point contests, a dunk contest and inter-squad scrimmages.
With attendance allowed, fans were able to get a glimpse of some new freshman talent including star point guard for the men’s team Judah Mintz and star guard for the women’s team Lexi McNabb, whose mother was a star basketball player at Syracuse and her father played both basketball and football at Syracuse.
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3 offensive keys to a Clemson win over Syracuse (clemsonwire.usatoday.com; Turri)
Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program are currently undefeated with a 7-0 (5-0 ACC) record as they head into a home matchup against a tough Syracuse team.
The Tigers are coming off of a solid 34-28 win over Florida State, where the team dominated most of the game but took their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter, allowing FSU to make things a little more interesting. No.5 Clemson cannot afford to do the same Saturday against No.14 Syracuse and will have to play their best football.
The offense will need to continue to perform, while the defense will have to step up to stop a top-tier running back in Sean Tucker a week after getting thrashed on the ground by the Seminoles.
Here are three offensive keys for the Tigers to keep their undefeated season alive against Syracuse.
Win the battle up front
One of the biggest surprise teams of the 2022 season is the Syracuse Orange. The Orange boast a strong defense this season under head coach Dino Babers. Statistically, they are one of the best defenses in the country, ranking No.8 in the country in total defense, allowing just 268.8 yards per game. The defense is tough on the ground allowing 95 yards a game, while being stingy through the air allowing 173.8 yards per game. There is a lot of talent on Syracuse’s defense, and they will be hungry to make some plays against a team like Clemson. For the Tigers’ offense to be successful this Saturday against a strong defense, the offensive line must win the battle up front....
Syracuse vs. Clemson Prediction: Undefeated ACC Teams Meet in Death Valley (athlonsports.com; Kinne)
Only two unbeaten teams remain in the ACC, and they meet up when Syracuse travels to Death Valley to take on Clemson. The 14th-ranked Orange are one of the nation's surprise teams and find themselves at 6-0 after knocking off NC State in the Dome last Saturday.
Clemson won't have its open date until next weekend, so the fifth-ranked Tigers got their seventh win when they beat Florida State in Tallahassee in their most recent game. The Tigers were leading 34-14 going into the fourth quarter before the Seminoles reached the end zone twice to make the score a respectable 34-28.
Clemson has an 8-2 all-time lead in the series and has been victorious in the last four contests.
No. 14 Syracuse at No. 5 Clemson
Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 29 at 12 p.m. ETTV: ABC
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Clemson -14
When Syracuse Has the Ball
With Sean Tucker at running back, opponents came into the year focusing on the Orange rushing attack. And though his numbers are a bit off of last year's pace, Tucker is still trending toward a 1,200-yard, 10-touchdown season. He also remains a major receiving threat out of the backfield with 23 catches on the season.Where the Syracuse offense has taken off is in the passing game. Quarterback Garrett Shrader has gone from completing 53 percent of his pass attempts in 2021 to just a tick under 70 percent this fall. His average yards per attempt has jumped 3.3 yards, and he has a 12:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. While Tucker is a major pass-catching threat, the prime beneficiary of the new-look Shrader has been Oronde Gadsen II. The redshirt freshman leads the team with 31 catches for 507 yards and five TDs.
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Syracuse Orange v. Clemson Tigers Prediction & Preview (10/22/22) - The Juice Online (the juice; Sears)
After surviving the first true test of the season and defeating the NC State Wolfpack 24-9, Syracuse travels to South Carolina to take on the #5 Clemson Tigers in Death Valley.
SU caught some lucky breaks in the previous game such as NC State star QB Devin Leary missing the contest, and getting a couple of beneficial calls in the fourth quarter. To beat the Tigers, they’ll need to play their best and most disciplined game of the year. Here’s what to watch for Saturday.
- Teams: Syracuse Orange (6-0, 3-0 ACC) v. NC State Wolfpack (7-0, 5-0 ACC)
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 22
- Game Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Memorial Stadium (Clemson, SC)
- Network: ABC
Fearless Prediction: Clemson 30, Syracuse 17
The Juice Online Season Record: 6-0
DJ Going To Be A Handful
Junior quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei has been fantastic for the Tigers, throwing for 17 touchdowns against only two interceptions and completing 64.0 percent of his throws in seven games so far this year. He’s taken a massive step up from last year when, in 13 games, completed only 55.6 percent of his passes for 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sound familiar?
Like SU’s own Garrett Shrader who’s made massive leaps in his development this year, Uiagalelei is a dual-threat QB, as he’s rushed for four touchdowns his previous two years and has four rushing scores on the year already, to go with 337 rushing yards. The Syracuse front seven will definitely have their hands full, and bet on cornerbacks Garrett Williams and Duce Chestnut to be tested coming down off of their receivers to make run stops in the flat.
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Jones discusses Tigers’ defense, matchup with Syracuse (thetigercu.com; Pensy)
Fourth-year cornerback Sheridan Jones discussed his return from injury, the progression of the Clemson defense and this Saturday’s upcoming noon kickoff against No. 14 Syracuse in his press interview on Monday.
Battling a stinger injury, Jones returned to the field against Florida State last Saturday for the first time since the Tigers’ Week 3 matchup with Louisiana Tech.
“(I) just had to be smart and take it day by day,” Jones said. “I wanted to make sure everything was good before I came back.”
Against Florida State, Jones recorded a season-high four tackles. Clemson's training staff was part of the recovery process that allowed him to return and play.
“We have a great training staff. They make sure everything is well,” Jones said. “They make sure my body’s feeling well, getting treatment every day, so I can be able to make plays on Saturday.”
The defense as a whole didn’t play its best against Florida State, giving up 14 points in the fourth quarter and a season-high 206 rushing yards.
“I feel like we just need to finish strong,” Jones said. “We were up 20, and we just have to finish the game.”
Jones added that the veterans emphasized that the Tigers won the game and they just need to keep the energy up, despite the poor finish. They will be taking this energy into the Tigers’ next game against ACC-rival Syracuse.
Clemson has won eight of 10 matchups against Syracuse. Last year marked the first time Clemson entered the matchup unranked. This year, however, will mark the first time Syracuse enters this game ranked.
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Elite 2026 DL Preston Carey, offered by Syracuse, calls visit 'electric' - The Juice Online (the juice; Cheng)
One of the top recruits in the 2026 class is Saint Anthony’s (NY) High defensive lineman Preston “PJ” Carey.
Only a freshman, he already holds offers from blue bloods Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Penn State and Texas A&M, among others. He was on the Syracuse campus to take in the Orange’s 24-9 win over NC State this past weekend, and was also extended an offer on the trip that Carey described as ‘electric’ on the latest episode of The Juice on the Cuse Podcast, presented by SNY.tv.
“It was upbeat the whole time from the time I stepped in the door to the time we rushed the field when they sealed the win against NC State,” Carey said. “It was just great vibes all around. It was great to see New York football in its truest form.”
Carey is a Long Island, NY native, and that geography is one big advantage that Syracuse has right now.
“Syracuse growing up is the top football program in New York, so to be able to be recruited by them, and offered by them, and just to be in that environment is amazing,” Carey said. “You can’t deny after that great of a visit that Syracuse is definitely up there for me.”
The Orange put on a show for Carey and approximately two dozen other recruits. SU led from its opening drive until the game was over, as it defeated its first ranked opponent this season.
The football team also had the entire Syracuse fanbase behind them, as the JMA Wireless Dome was sold out.
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On The Block On Demand 10-20 (ESPN; radio; Axe)
Brent discusses the key ingredient that could lead to victory for the Orange over Clemson. Later, Josh and Jordan join Brent for the Mount Rushmore Draft of quotes.
No. 14 Syracuse vs No. 5 Clemson: Previewing an undefeated ACC Battle - Gridiron Heroics (gridionheroics.com; Miller)
No. 14 Syracuse will travel to No. 5 Clemson on Saturday for what will be Death Valley’s first meeting between 6-0 teams or better in its 81-year history. The Orange will look to break the Tigers’ 37-game home win streak, CFB’s longest active such streak. With the Atlantic Division on the line, this battle of undefeateds will highlight the 12:00 slate on Saturday.
Syracuse enters as 13.5-point underdogs against a Clemson team led by junior quarterback DJ Uiagaleilei, who has finally emerged as the elite passer, and Heisman Trophy candidate, Clemson fans expected as a five-star prospect. This will only be the Orange’s second away game of the season and its first road ACC matchup. However, Syracuse is used to the noise, as its last game against NC State reached 121 dB in the JMA Wireless Dome, the 7th-highest in college football recorded history. Now, SU will be on the opposing side of that raucous.
“This will be the first opportunity for our offense to operate the way other people’s offenses operate at the JMA,” Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said.
Here’s everything to know before Saturday’s undefeated ACC contest.
Syracuse defense is the real deal
SU ranks first in the ACC and sixth in the nation in scoring defense, with opponents averaging just 13.17 PPG. SU’s secondary is led by highly touted prospect Garrett Williams, who ranked second in PFF’s early 2023 cornerback draft rankings.
Sophomore corners Duce Chestnut and Alijah Clark start alongside Williams, reuniting at SU after playing together at Camden High School in New Jersey. Together, this close-knit unit has led Syracuse to the ACC’s best pass defense, allowing just 173.8 yards per game. Williams and Chestnut ranked second and third in passes defended in 2021, each garnering NFL interest as a result.
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https://rubbingtherock.com/2022/10/20/clemson-football-picks-5/ (rubbingtherock.com; Coleman)
Each week this season the RubbingtheRock.com staff will pick the score of the Clemson football game against the spread and we’ll also pick a wild card game in a “friendly” competition.
The staff managed a solid 5-3 record against the spread last week, including 4-0 on the Clemson – Florida State game, where the Tigers dominated the middle 8 and covered the spread against the Seminoles.
The points race looks like this:
Houston 145.46
Chancey 39.55
Beef (-154.54)
Marty (-345.45)
Two of us are in the black and the other two, well that’s the kind of season Beef and I are having.
The spread we used for the Clemson game was the Tigers -13.5.
Without further ado, here are the picks for week 8.
Houston Burnett (8-5-1, 7-5-1 ATS)
Syracuse will never be a team that I feel is a natural fit that should have ever been picked for the ACC. 6-0 or not it is just weird, but I digress. As far as the game, I think when you dive into some of The Orange’s prior games, some of their success is a bit of fool’s gold. That gets exposed on Saturday.
PREDICTION
SYRACUSE ORANGE
14
CLEMSON TIGERS
30
Houston’s wild card pick is Oklahoma State +7.5 against Texas.
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https://orangefizz.net/2022/10/whats-at-stake-when-syracuse-takes-on-clemson/ (orangefizz.net; Unsworth)
No. 14 Syracuse heads to No. 5 Clemson hoping to break a 37-game Tiger home winning streak. Dabo Swinney’s team has been excellent in Death Valley over the past few years, and this year is no different. The Tigers are holding opponents to just 12 points per game at home. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei is completing 68% of his passes on his turf.
It’s no secret Clemson is an overwhelming favorite. Syracuse has never won in Memorial Stadium. Most sports books have SU as a two-touchdown underdog, which stands to reason that their modeling systems expect the Orange to struggle to keep the game close. Many experts, analysts and writers have Clemson winning by a larger margin (you’ll get the Fizz staff’s predictions tomorrow).
However, none of that matters when Syracuse and Clemson step on the field at noon. The winner of this matchup takes the top spot in the ACC Atlantic. A win moves SU into the top 10, and squashes all the doubters. The Orange would be a virtual lock for a New Year’s Six bowl, unless something were to really go sideways down the stretch of the season. A loss, well, is just a loss. It’s Clemson, right? The same Clemson team that hasn’t lost at home since 2016. The pressure is really on the Tigers, who have to win (and win convincingly) to stay in the top five with Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee all standing strong and ‘Bama creeping behind. A shaky performance from Uiagalelei or a bad defensive day will lead critics to question their potential.
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https://1045theteam.com/does-emily-leiker-think-syracuse-will-upset-clemson-on-saturday/ (ESPN; 1045theteam)
I am loving what I am seeing from the Syracuse University football team so far this season. Head Coach Dino Babers has him team off to a 6-0 start fresh off of a win over NC State at the Dome. The crowd was electric with over 50,000 fans in attendance. Now Cuse will head to Death Valley to take on a Clemson team that is also undefeated and ranked #5 in the country.
It will be a noon kick and features the top two teams in the ACC conference at 7-0 and 6-0. I think Clemson will win but Syracuse will compete and keep it close. Obviously I would love for Syracuse to win and get into the top ten but it will be tough trying to beat Dabo Swinney at home. This will be a true test for the Orange as I talk about in my quick take from The Times Union:
After several lean years, it’s nice to see Syracuse University stand behind head coach Dino Babers. Some schools might have changed coaches, but SU stayed the course with Babers and it’s paying off this season. The Syracuse football team is good again, but a big test looms on Saturday at Clemson when the two unbeatens meet at Memorial Stadium. If the Orange can knock off No.5 Clemson, Notre Dame comes to Syracuse October 29th, and that would almost certainly produce another sellout at the JMA Wireless Dome.
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2022 Syracuse / Clemson Preview (RX; HM)
ACC News
https://www.si.com/college/virginia...downs-georgia-tech-16-9-for-first-acc-victory (SI; Newton)
It was the epitome of an ugly win, but Tony Elliott has his first ACC victory as a head coach.
The Cavalier offense put up just three points in the second half, but thanks to a superhuman effort by the UVA defense to smother backup quarterback Zach Gibson and the Yellow Jackets, Virginia (3-4, 1-3 ACC) defeated Georgia Tech (3-4, 2-2 ACC) 16-9 on Thursday night in Atlanta to snap a three-game losing streak and finally win its first ACC game of the season.
The UVA offense got off to a horrific start, turning the ball over twice in its first five plays. The first was a Perris Jones fumble and the second was a Brennan Armstrong pass that went off the hands of Keytaon Thompson and was intercepted by LaMiles Brooks, who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown, Georgia Tech's sole touchdown of the game.
The Virginia defense allowed only three points in the game to a Georgia Tech offense that was forced to rely on backup quarterback Zach Gibson after starter Jeff Sims exited the game with an injury in the first half. The Yellow Jackets punted 10 times, seven of which were three-and-outs, and also committed two turnovers. The first was a crucial takeaway for the UVA defense, as Georgia Tech nearly took advantage of the Perris Jones fumble to score a touchdown, but Fentrell Cypress II broke up Sims' pass in the end zone and Coen King ran under the ball for an interception.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJcs9Xvu_l8 (youtube; video; ACCDN)
The Virginia Cavaliers defeated Georgia Tech, 16-9 to improve to 3-4 on the season. Brennan Armstrong threw for 255 yards, including a 44 yard touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks to make him the all-time touchdown passing leader at Virginia with 57 TD’s. Armstrong also rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown in the win. Wicks led all receivers with 99 yards on 4 catches and Keytaon Thompson added 89 yards on 7 receptions for the Hoos. Zach Gibson completed 10 of 25 passing attempts for 99 yards after coming on in relief for Yellow Jackets quarterback Jeff Sims who left the game with an injury.
https://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2022/10/thursday-results-2022-oct-20th.html (RX; HM)
Thursday Results 2022 Oct 20th
Virginia vs Georgia Tech
Football Highlights
https://youtu.be/ezn8CuxMycQMy analysis:
This game had defense, turnovers, a blocked punt... and very little offense. The score was 13-9 UVa over GT at halftime; in the second half, UVa outscored GT 3-0. The Yellow Jackets only had 206 total yards of offense (no, that's not rushing or passing, it's TOTAL). Things were so bad for GT that they couldn't even get yards returning kicks (zero kickoff returns and 2 punt returns for a total of 1 yard). The Cavaliers did much better, generating 410 yards - 255 through the air, 155 on the ground - but it came at the cost of 4 turnovers....
https://apnews.com/article/college-...top-25-today-2e1a6aff64018d7559cfec5e4956319b (apnews.com; AP)
Boston College (2-4, 1-3 ACC) at No. 13 Wake Forest (5-1, 1-1), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
Line: Wake Forest by 20 1/2, according to FanDuel .
Series record: BC leads 14-12-2.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The Demon Deacons are coming out of a bye week trying to stay within reach of No. 5 Clemson atop the league’s Atlantic Division race after losing to the Tigers in late September. The offense is rolling behind Sam Hartman and has scored at least 31 points in every game. The Eagles are also coming off an off week hoping for better offensive production considering they scored 14 or less in each of their three league losses.
KEY MATCHUP
Wake Forest’s secondary vs. BC WR Zay Flowers. Flowers leads the ACC in catches (42) and receiving yards (556) to go with five touchdowns. Flowers has posted two 100-yard games this year, including a 151-yard effort in a loss to Louisville. The Demon Deacons have surrendered 14 passing touchdowns, the second-most in the ACC to North Carolina’s 18.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BC: QB Phil Jurkovec. Jurkovec had a big performance against Louisville (304 yards, three TDs) but followed with just 188 yards against Clemson.
Wake Forest: RB Justice Ellison. He’s had three straight solid outings, going for 73 yards against Clemson, 114 yards with a touchdown against Florida State and 96 yards with a score against Army.
https://apnews.com/article/college-...ghting-irish-72b35e5740bb27669b657bedc11f7672
FACTS & FIGURES
Wake Forest’s 247 points this year are the most through six games in program history. ... The Demon Deacons have won 11 straight games in the month of October. ... The Eagles have lost the past two meetings, with Wake Forest’s win last year securing the Atlantic Division title. ... Boston College hasn’t beaten an AP Top 25 opponent since 2014. ... BC ranks 10th in the Bowl Subdivision ranks by committing just 38.7 yards in penalties per game. ... BC has surrendered a league-high 22 sacks. ... Hartman’s 88 career passing touchdowns is two shy of Clemson’s duo of Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence for fourth on the ACC’s all-time list.
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https://www.salisburypost.com/2022/10/21/acc-football-previews-no-13-deacs-aim-to-ground-eagles/ (salisburypost.com; AP; Beard)
Wake Forest had regrouped from its only loss with a pair of strong performances when its off week arrived. The 13th-ranked Demon Deacons must pick things back up, starting with Saturday’s visit from Boston College.
The Demon Deacons (5-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) responded to a crushing double-overtime loss to No. 5 Clemson by winning at Florida State. Then came a home win against Army in which they surrendered just 10 points against the triple-option run attack after giving up 56 the year before.
“In some ways I felt like the last three weeks we probably played really good football,” coach Dave Clawson said. “And when you’re playing well, you don’t necessarily want a break but I think it was as good as much mentally for our players as physically.”
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https://saturdayblitz.com/2022/10/20/acc-football-power-rankings-week-8-2022/ (saturdayblitz.com; Pryor)
I finally found what I never knew I always wanted
I couldn’t see; I was blind ’til my eyes were opened
I didn’t know there was a hole
Something missing in my soul
‘Til you filled it up with your love, yeah
(Yeah, yeah)
What I Never Knew I Always Wanted by Carrie Underwood
What do the ACC football power rankings look like?
This college football season has yielded many things we never knew we always wanted. Here at headquarters, we’ve pined about the good old days over many a mint julep with a side of shrimp and grits. This season some of that has returned. Syracuse is good this season. Florida State isn’t where they want to be, but they are better.Who knew we needed the Orange versus the Tigers in a battle of the undefeated? Well, we at headquarters have constructed special glasses to handle all of that Orange that will take the field this Saturday.
Drake Maye has been a revelation at North Carolina, and Georgia Tech has a pulse in the post-Geoff Collins era. Yellow Jackets, take note from your neighbors to the north, Clemson. Hiring the interim coach is not always a bad idea.
So, to Textile Bowls, agriculture schools versus private schools, and everything hoity-toity in North Carolina, here are the ACC Power Rankings heading into Week 8.
14. Virginia Cavaliers (2-4, 0-3)
The Cavaliers are full of contradictions and ironies. Tony Elliot, a former offensive coordinator, is over a significantly worse offense this season than last season. The crime he left is playing better without him. This issue raises two questions. Why didn’t Elliot consider retaining Robert Anae? Should Brennan Armstrong have hit the portal when the coaching change was made?13. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-5, 1-3)
Hokie fans have nightmares about struggling offenses whenever they see a Tennessee box score. Marshall transfer Grant Wells is playing well, but he ain’t Hendon Hooker. The Hokies are in the midst of a four-game losing streak and are averaging 20 points per game. You have to score more points in today’s fun to have a chance to win.12. Boston College Eagles (2-4, 1-3)
Jeff Hafley and the Boston College coaching staff are holding their team together with paper clips and duct tape. The Eagles have suffered so many injuries; it is tragic. The offensive line had to be retooled and has had many injuries. This two-game stretch is tough for BC. They fell to Clemson 31-3 and have Wake Forest this weekend.11. Louisville Cardinals (3-3, 1-3)
The season has not turned out as head coach Scott Satterfield envisioned at the beginning of the season. Quarterback Malik Cunningham should have had a breakout season, but he’s dealt with injuries. The defense hasn’t been great, nor has the offense. Does this mean Satterfield is on the hot seat?10. Duke Blue Devils (4-3, 1-2)
Duke has taken several steps back after winning three of its first four games. Its two consecutive losses have each been by a field goal, including an upset loss to Georgia Tech. The Blue Devils have not misplayed in its two losses. First-year head coach Mike Elko has learned quickly just how narrow the margins are for the Blue Devils to succeed in the ACC.9. Miami Hurricanes (3-3, 1-1)
Everyone needs to pump the breaks on Miami. Mario Cristobal has been the head coach of the Hurricanes for six games. The Hurricanes were changing offenses and lost 136 receptions from last season’s team, hoping that Clemson transfer Frank Ladson would have similar success; he has not. The Hurricanes have two winnable games against Duke and Virginia over the next two weeks.8. No. 23 North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-2, 1-2)
The Wolfpack losing quarterback Devin Leary is a bad beat. The Wolfpack has a championship-level defense; the offense won’t be able to score enough points without Leary. The running game has not blossomed, and the passing game misses Emeka Emezie more than anyone figured they would. NC State is off this week’s game against Virginia Tech on the 27th.7. Florida State Seminoles (4-3, 2-3)
The Seminoles are playing the better football but have not yet turned the corner. FSU let that game against NC State slip away. There is no way the ‘Noles should have lost that game when Devin Leary went out with an injury. The Clemson game showed them how far they have to go in recruiting better talent.6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-3, 2-1)
Singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow wrote, “a change will do you good.” That song lyric could not be more true for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Interim head coach Brent Key is undefeated as head coach; both wins are conference wins. Georgia Tech has the opportunity to run that streak this weekend as they host the struggling Virginia Cavaliers.Georgia Tech will likely lose its last two games against #22 North Carolina and #1 Georgia, but the four before that are winnable. Hey, you do the math. Could Key fool around and coach his way to being the permanent head coach?
5. Pittsburgh Panthers (4-2, 1-1)
The Panthers were off this week. According to a reliable source at the former Heinz Field, head coach Pat Narduzzi still believes he’s dreaming after Israel Abanikanda had a record-setting game against Virginia Tech. Coach refuses to accept the game of his dreams happened. Narduzzi and the Panthers could still feel like they are in LaLa Land against Louisville.The Cardinals aren’t great against the run, and Pitt wants to run a lot. If the Panthers can play their ball style, they will be problems in the Coastal for the rest of the season.
4. No. 13 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-1, 1-1)
The Demon Deacons could have been a contender if Wake Forest had pulled the upset against Clemson. However, they are fighting Syracuse for the second-best team in the Atlantic, if not the entire ACC. Sam Hartman has the Deacons’ defense humming, and the defense has played well, save the Clemson game.The Deacons have winnable games until they play UNC for the Tobacco Road Directional Trophy. Okay, so that’s not a real trophy. Maybe it should be.
3. No. 22 North Carolina Tar Heels (6-1, 3-0)
The North Carolina Tar Heels are off this weekend ahead of hosting the Pittsburgh Panthers in prime time on the 29th. North Carolina has found some semblance of defense in conference play through its first three games. UNC giving up 40 points in the fourth quarter seems like years ago. The brightest spot for the Tar Heels has been quarterback Drake Maye.Maye’s emergence is why the Tar Heels are first in the ACC Coastal. The thought was that the division was Miami’s to take. The Tar Heels are doing their best Lee Corso impression, “Not so fast, my friend.”
2. No. 14 Syracuse Orange (6-0, 3-0)
Everyone wants to find a reason why Syracuse is fraudulent. You can only play who is on your schedule, and you are what your record says you are. The Orange are undefeated and are in sole possession of second place in the ACC Atlantic division. Both will be tested this weekend against Clemson in Death Valley East.The Oranges have two things that travel well, a running game and good defense. Do they have the horses to compete with Clemson? No, they don’t. However, if they can keep it close late, anything can happen.
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https://www.courier-journal.com/sto...gh-3-things-to-know-betting-line/69568311007/ (C-J; Cubit)
Louisville football is through half of its season and comes out of the bye with a home night game against Pitt on Saturday.
The Cardinals (3-3, 1-3) went into the bye on a high note after beating Virginia 34-17 while missing three crucial starters. The contest was the back half of back-to-back road games for Louisville, which went 1-1 at that time. The Panthers (4-2, 1-1 ACC), too, had last weekend off after a 45-29 win over Virginia Tech.
Here are three things to know about the Week 8 clash:
Cardinals enter the eye of the storm
Having discussed it since the schedules were released, Louisville is now at the most rigorous point of its schedule. Every remaining team is or has been ranked in the AP Top 25 poll at one time. Pitt opened the season ranked but fell out after a Week 5 upset loss to Georgia Tech and rebounded with a dominant win over Virginia Tech.The Cardinals round out the month of October with a home game against No. 13 Wake Forest before hosting James Madison — ranked 25th last week before dropping out of the top 25 — then traveling to fifth-ranked Clemson to start the month of November. U of L’s schedule concludes with No. 23 NC State and a road game against rival Kentucky, ranked 19th.
Despite never having played James Madison before, Louisville’s series history against the other five teams is a combined 36-42. Of those five, the Cardinals have winning records against the Demon Deacons (6-3) and the Wolfpack (7-4).
Knowing how both important and tough the last half of the season is, Cardinals head coach Scott Satterfield is encouraged by the momentum his team built in the 34-17 win over Virginia with several starters out.
“For us, you go out and play well, if you can get some wins against these ranked teams, it’s certainly going to help us,” he said. “I think it’s a great challenge for our guys. We know we have to go out and play great ball. You can’t not be good at one phase. You have to be really good at all three phases. We have to take care of the ball. We have to create some turnovers, and all these things have to happen in order for us to get these wins.”
Who’s playing for Louisville?
After Louisville’s Week 6 contest against Virginia, the Cardinals were without four starters. Quarterback Malik Cunningham (concussion), running back Tiyon Evans (lower leg) and safety Kenderick Duncan (ankle) in addition to third string running back Jalen Mitchell (lower leg) didn’t play. Offensive lineman Adonis Boone (undisclosed) was helped off the field during the contest against the Cavaliers.Head coach Scott Satterfield said everyone except Evans “would be available and ready to go” with Evan still being questionable. Evans practiced Sunday but was limited.
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https://www.cbssports.com/college-f...ond-half-of-a-landscape-shifting-2022-season/ (cbssports.com; Patterson)
Most seasons, the college football schedule unfolds in stages. The preseason is all about hype and anticipation. The first weeks of the regular season -- mostly comprised of nonconference games -- allow for wild overreactions. And then September turns to October where preseason thoughts are forgotten, early season overreactions have been put the test in conference play and the sport begins to separate itself into tiers with teams preparing to sprint to the finish line.
This moment, here in the middle of October, is the best time of the year in college football. It's late enough that we have an idea of how these teams compare to one another but with enough time left for multiple twists and turns that might flip our understanding of the college football landscape upside down.
For those who champion the regular season as the great selling point of college football, the next eight weeks is our playoff. It's a playoff of survival to see who from this group of more than a dozen contenders will be able to maintain their status through the end of conference championship weekend.
Every Power Five conference has three or four undefeated or one-loss teams heading into Week 8, but there's not enough room in the championship races for all of those 18 teams to play for trophies at the end of the season. The stakes of competition across the next eight weeks, in games that will all be played on campus, provide a playoff atmosphere that will last more than two months.
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Other
The beef on brewhouse sandwich with horseradish sauce at Bullfinch Brewpub, Syracuse, NY (Jared Paventi | jaredpaventi@gmail.com)
https://www.syracuse.com/food/2022/...life-into-syracuse-mall-dining-in-review.html (PS; $; Paventi)
Pigs can’t fly but the hog wings at Bullfinch Brewpub at Destiny USA certainly catch some air.
Pig wings are made from whole-muscle ham shanks, a cut that is packed with full-flavored bone-in dark meat. They get a dunk in pineapple-and brown sugar-rich barbecue sauce before serving. And, let’s be honest, pig wing sounds a lot better than ham shanks.
The six hog wings ($16) were hearty and made for a substantial starter. They were accompanied by a side of ranch, not the promised housemade blue cheese, but we would have rather had a side of the barbecue sauce for dipping as it really complemented the meat.
Bullfinch’s elevated pub menu aims at distinct flavors difficult to find in this market. For instance, you order chicken wings in mild, medium or hot sauces. You can also order them dry rubbed in Old Bay or tossed in coconut sweet chili sauce.
Bullfinch slid into the spot vacated by Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in 2020 before the pandemic took hold. Back when it opened in 2012, Gordon Biersch hired Marcellus native Dave Collins to run the brewing operation at Destiny USA. Fast forward a decade and Collins is working for himself as the owner and brewer at Bullfinch. In between, he squeezed in a few years in Buffalo helping to launch Resurgence Brewing, which has grown to include distribution across the Thruway. During our Saturday visit, he roamed the dining room, chatting with guests, seating parties and taking food and drink orders. Chef Corey Collins—no relation to his boss—comes to the kitchen from The Refinery, a gastropub in Auburn.
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