The Duke Blue Devils and the Syracuse Orange meet in week 5 college football action from the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Duke Blue Devils vs. Syracuse Orange prediction.
Duke Blue Devils Recap
The Duke Blue Devils come into this game looking to add on to their 45-33 win over NC State last time out to sit at 2-2 this season. After this game, Duke will head on the road for a game against Cal.
Blue Devils Snap Two-Game Skid
Darius Mensah has thrown for 1,305 yards, 11 touchdowns and 2 interceptions on 67.3% passing while Anderson Castle leads Duke on the ground with 193 rushing yards and 3 TDs. Nate Sheppard also has 188 rushing yards and Jaquez Moore has 114 rushing yards as well. Cooper Barkate has a team-high 337 receiving yards on 17 receptions while Que’Sean Brown has 232 receiving yards and 16 grabs. Sahmir Hagans also has 179 receiving yards and 4 TDs while Andrei Anthony has 121 receiving yards and 3 TDs and Chase Tyler has 108 receiving yards. On defense, DaShawn Stone has a team-high 31 total tackles while Duke’s defense as a whole has 10 sacks and 3 interceptions.
Why the Duke Blue Devils will win
- Duke has won each of its last 10 September games as a favorite.
- Syracuse has lost each of its last eight games as an underdog against teams from North Carolina.
- Duke has covered the spread in each of its last four games against conference opponents.
- Syracuse has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six September home games against non-AP-ranked teams.
Syracuse Orange Recap
The Syracuse Orange come into this game looking to add on to their 34-21 win over Clemson last time out to improve to 3-1 on the year. After this game, Syracuse will head on the road for a game against SMU.
Orange Win 3 In A Row
Steve Angeli has thrown for 1,316 yards, 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions on 62.8% passing but is out for the season with an injury while Yasin Willis has rushed for 233 yards and 4 touchdowns and Will Nixon has 175 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Darrell Gill Jr. has 310 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns to lead Syracuse along with 14 receptions while Dan Fillari has a team-high 20 receptions for 240 yards while Johntay Cook has 234 receiving yards and Justus Ross-Simmons has 212 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. On defense, Gary Bryant III has a team-high 21 total tackles while Braheem Long Jr. has a pair of sacks so far this season.
Why the Syracuse Orange will win
- Syracuse has won each of its last four games as an underdog in New York.
- Duke has lost 20 of its last 25 road games against conference opponents.
- Syracuse has covered the spread in each of its last four home games against teams from North Carolina.
- Duke has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five games.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of Syracuse’s last nine September games as a home underdog have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of Duke’s last five games have gone OVER the total points line.
Duke Blue Devils vs. Syracuse Orange Prediction
I’m on Syracuse here. I just have not been impressed with Duke this season and while the Orange lost QB1 Steve Angeli last week to a season-ending injury, Rickie Collins stepped in and looked really good for the Orange against Clemson and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Duke put forth another clunker here. Give me Syracuse and the points.