Around CFB: Syracuse strives for back-to-back wins against Clemson
One-third through the college football season and only a dozen “Power Five” teams are 4-0.
Half of them are predictable. It would have been a major shock had Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Clemson, Stanford, Ohio State or Penn State not been undefeated after four games.
The rest still have so much to prove.
Of those, Syracuse has the chance to prove the most. Not only does Syracuse face Clemson on the road in a matchup of the top teams in the ACC’s Atlantic Division, but the Orange can show last year’s upset victory was not a fluke.
A year ago only Syracuse and Alabama dealt Clemson a loss. No doubt, the Tigers and their fans will remember.
"It's going to be extremely loud and that's how it's supposed to be in a big game when you're going into somebody's else place,” Syracuse coach Dino Babers, a former Texas A&M offensive coordinator, said earlier this week. “We'll get the full effect of what that fan base can do.”
Syracuse must overcome the odds and history.
The Orange, which opened as an 18.5-point underdog, has started 5-0 since 1987 and has never been 2-0 in ACC play.
Further, Clemson will be out to avenge last season’s 27-24 loss to Syracuse. No team has defeated Clemson in consecutive seasons since Florida State in 2013 and ’14,
Also, Clemson, which is averaging 40.8 points, this week announced that heralded freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence will replace Kelly Bryant as the starter.
But don’t discount Dino Babers. He’ll find a way to motivate his players.
Last year the Orange were unable to stay in their usual downtown hotel — the Crowne Plaza. Clemson stayed there instead.
According to an article in the Syracuse Post-Standard, Babers allowed his players to believe they were so disrespected they couldn’t stay in their own hotel in their own town.
What Babers didn’t tell them was that Clemson had offered to pay the hotel more than double what Syracuse was charged.
The hotel even called Babers beforehand to ask how he’d feel about Clemson staying there.
“Take the money,” Babers told them. “Take it all. We'll go somewhere else. It's not going to hurt us.”
An extra reason for motivation never does.
Heisman watch
1. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama, QB: The quarterback of a national championship contender is always in the Heisman discussion. When said quarterback is developing into the best player on that national championship contender he’s a good bet to win it. Tagavailoa just keeps getting better. He’s completed 72.5 percent of his passing attempts for 1,033 yards and 12 touchdowns with no interceptions. And hasn’t played in the fourth quarter.
2. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State, QB: Followed up a strong showing against TCU with a dominant performance in a glorified practice against Tulane. Haskins passed for 304 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 49-6 triumph. He’s completing 75.7 percent, while throwing for 1,194 yards and 16 touchdowns.
3. Will Grier, West Virginia, QB: He’s thrown for more than 330 yards in each of the Mountaineers’ three games (one was canceled because of weather). Last week Grier lit up Kansas State’s defense for 356 yards and 5 touchdowns. He’s completing 74.7 percent for 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns.
4. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin, RB: A model of consistency even though every defense the Badgers face keys on him. He’s rushed for at least 113 yards in every game. He’s amassed the nation’s second-highest rushing total of 628 yards and has 5 touchdowns.
5. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M, QB: Most would probably list Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray here, but he hasn’t faced nearly the quality of competition that Mond has. Yet, their numbers are quite similar. Mond has passed for 1,020 yards and 7 touchdowns and rushed for 201 yards and 4 scores. That’s 1,221 yards of total offense and 11 TDs. Murray has passed for 1,028 yards and 11 TDs and rushed for 240 yards and 3 scores. That’s 1,268 yards of total offense and 14 TDs. But while Mond has faced Clemson and Alabama the two best teams Murray has faced are probably Iowa State and Army.
Predicted playoff participants
1. Alabama: This is looking more and more like Nick Saban’s best team … and that includes the Dolphins.
2. Clemson: Elevating freshman QB Trevor Lawrence makes an explosive offense even more dangerous.
3. Ohio State: Losing Nick Bosa hurts, but the Buckeyes are deep and explosive enough to compensate.
4. Georgia: The Bulldogs are allowing an average of just 13.3 yards per game and face Tennessee’s anemic offense this week.
This week’s best games
Ohio State at Penn State: A clash of Top 10 teams could be a de facto Big Ten championship game.
Stanford at Notre Dame: Though both in the Top 10, neither have been particularly impressive. They find ways to win. Something’s got to give.
BYU at Washington: The visiting Cougars seek their second major upset in three weeks. Washington still looks like the best in the Pac-12 for whatever that’s worth.
Oregon at Cal: The Ducks must rebound after a catastrophic collapse in a loss to Stanford. There was once a time when Cal was the perfect opponent for a bounce back. Not anymore.
South Carolina at Kentucky: The No. 17 Wildcats are riding high after upsetting Mississippi State. South Carolina is no pushover, though. The winner probably finishes second in the SEC East.
Idle thoughts
- Winless UCLA travels to Colorado then faces Washington and Cal. The Bruins don’t figure to have a decent chance to win until facing Arizona on Oct. 20.
- Dan Mullen’s return to Starkville as Florida coach has lost some luster after Mississippi State scored just seven points in a loss to Kentucky last week. Rather than boo him Mississippi State fans should beg him to come back.
- Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin has caught heat for the Wildcats’ poor start. All will be forgiven with a victory over USC on Saturday. USC has won five straight over Arizona and has lost just twice to the Wildcats since 2001.
- West Virginia at Texas Tech. First team to 60 wins.
- Having seen Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa up close it’s clear he’s as good — or better — than hyped. There should be a network just to show his highlights. ESPN Tua.