Syracuse football is suddenly looking like a whole different team, slashing their underdog odds against Clemson from +3.5 to a tight +1.5 after snagging two massive wins in a row. These guys are playing with fire and heading into Saturday’s showdown with Clemson at the JMA Wireless Dome ready to keep that momentum rolling.
Orange Shocked SMU, Now They’re Rolling
Talk about a turnaround! Syracuse just pulled off an insane upset against the No. 19 SMU Mustangs this past Saturday. They were down 10 points at halftime, then SMU even took their first lead of the game with just nine minutes left. But the Orange? They kicked a field goal, then marched 68 yards downfield in 11 plays over 3:19. Noah Meyers punched in the winning touchdown with just 17 seconds left on the clock. What a finish!
Quarterback Steve Angeli was absolutely clutch. He threw for 200 yards, including that game-winning touchdown, completing 21 of 24 passes with zero interceptions. He even added a 26-yard rushing touchdown! The defense just barely hung on, even with SMU’s Kevin Jennings throwing for 352 yards and two scores. This win was HUGE. It gives Syracuse two ACC wins on the season, after losing their previous 11 ACC games, and pushes their record to 4-4. They only need two more wins for bowl eligibility, which felt like a pipe dream a few weeks ago.
Clemson’s Rocky Road and Syracuse’s History
Now, let’s talk about the competition. Clemson finally got back into the win column with a 36-24 victory over Florida State. That was the first time they scored over 30 points in ACC play this season, and it ended up being Mike Norvell’s last game as Florida State’s coach before he was fired. Clemson sits at 5-3 on the season, but it hasn’t been a smooth ride for them either. They lost big to LSU to open the year, got blown out by Miami, and even fell to James Franklin’s Virginia Tech team in Death Valley.
Here’s the kicker: Syracuse has beaten Clemson before. Last season, the Orange pulled off a 34-21 victory over the Tigers right there in Death Valley. Angeli was slinging it for 245 yards and two touchdowns in that game before he tore his Achilles. Justus Ross-Simmons grabbed two touchdown catches and Johntay Cook racked up 113 receiving yards. So, they know they can do it.
This Saturday’s marquee matchup kicks off at 12:00 pm ET and you can catch it on ESPN2. Syracuse is playing with house money and a ton of confidence right now. Can they keep the winning streak alive and make a real push for a bowl game? We’re about to find out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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