Syracuse (4-4, 2-2 ACC) at No. 3 Clemson (8-0, 5-0, No. 2 CFP), 3:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN2)
Line: Clemson by 28½.
Series record: Clemson leads 3-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Clemson’s undefeated season and run at a national championship. The Tigers hold a commanding lead, plus about all the tiebreakers, in the ACC Atlantic. A loss could be a detour on the way to the College Football Playoff. Clemson has won 43 straight games against non-ranked opponents. Syracuse is seeking another signature win - it defeated ACC Coastal leader Virginia Tech earlier this season - in coach Dino Babers first season.
KEY MATCHUP
Syracuse QB Eric Dungey against Clemson’s pass defense. Dungey leads the ACC with more than 328 yards passing a game this season while the Tigers are the league’s stingiest team against the pass at 181 yards a game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Syracuse: WR Amba Etta-Tawo leads the ACC with eight catches and 131 yards a game. Should be an emotional time for the Orange receivers since his older brother, Etta, was a rising defensive lineman at Clemson until a medical condition caused him to give up football.
Clemson: QB Deshaun Watson seems to be giving the Tigers exactly what they need when they need it most. He has led fourth-quarter or overtime game-winning drives in three of Clemson’s past four wins.
FACTS & FIGURES
Will be a matchup of two of college football’s top postgame coach. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney has had his dance moves and on-field interviews after victories picked apart the past few years. Syracuse’s Dino Babers made headlines with his dynamic postgame talk after the Orange upset Virginia Tech. … Clemson has won 22 straight regular-season games … Syracuse had given up 36 points a game its first six contests. It has allowed just 18.5 points the past two games, wins over Virginia Tech and Boston College. … Clemson is 8-0 for a second straight season and third time in its past six seasons. The Tigers went on to win the ACC title the other two seasons it opened 8-0 in 2011 and 2015.
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