The Syracuse Orange (4-4, 2-4) are back home looking to earn a third-straight ACC win. In order to do that, Syracuse will have to knock off the Clemson Tigers (5-3, 3-2), a team that still has a shot at the ACC Championship Game and the CFP.
Kickoff is Noon and Lowell Galindo, Kirk Morrison, and Dawn Davenport will have the call on ESPN2. Here’s what we’re watching for in this one:
Kevin: Defensive Disruption
With the Tigers coming into the game with some changes on the offensive line, can the Orange
defensive line be disruptive and keep freshman Tait Reynolds from getting comfortable. Dabo’s going to try and win ugly, but if Syracuse can force the Tigers into 3rd and long they can push Clemson into a one-dimensional offense and force Reynolds to beat them through the air.
Last week the Orange kept the pressure on Kevin Jennings and with Clemson down two starters on the offensive line, including their center, expect Vince Kehres to send more blitzes to rattle the freshman.
Dom: Don’t let Clemson establish the run
The Tigers’ obvious weakness is its passing game. Despite playing four different QBs under center this season for ‘Cuse, it still has over 700 more passing yards and 11 more passing touchdowns compared to Clemson over the same number of games. The Tigers are also dead last in passing yards per game in the ACC (even lower than Boston College). Bottom line: shut down the running game, and keep the pressure on Clemson to convert in the air.
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What will you be watching for on Saturday?
