Preview: Syracuse at Clemson

Syracuse (4-4, 2-2 ACC) at No. 3 Clemson (8-0, 5-0 ACC)
Game Details: Saturday, Nov. 5 | 3:30 p.m.
Location: Memorial Stadium | Clemson, S.C.
Game Links: Tickets | Listen
Television: ABC/ESPN2
Radio: Syracuse IMG Radio Network
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
Clemson Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Syracuse football team (4-4, 2-2 ACC) looks for its third straight victory when it takes on No. 3 Clemson (8-0, 5-0 ACC) on Saturday, Nov. 5. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. from Memorial Stadium.

In their last outing, the Orange scored a 28-20 win at Boston College on Oct. 22. Sophomore quarterback Eric Dungey threw for a career-high 434 yards and three touchdowns, his sixth 300-yard passing effort of the season.

Clemson is one of five undefeated teams remaining in college football. The 2016 national runners-up, Clemson is third this week in both the AP and Amway Coaches polls. The Tigers also checked in at No. 2 in the first College Football Playoff rankings announced Tuesday. In its last game, Clemson improved to 5-0 this year in games decided by seven points or less with a 37-34 triumph at Florida State on Oct. 29.

The game will be televised on nationally ABC and ESPN2 with Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Tom Luginbill (sideline) on the call. Fans should check their local listings for the network and channel information in their area.

BUCKLING DOWN
In its past two contests (both wins), the Syracuse defense has stepped up in a big way. After allowing 36 points per game through the first six games of the 2016 season, the Orange have held Virginia Tech and Boston College to 18.5 points per contest the last two times out. The unit has also shown marked improvement in several other categories (see below):

	First 6 games	Last 2 games	+/-
Record	2-4	2-0
Opp. PPG	36.0	18.5	-17.5
Opp. 1st Downs/Game	21.7	18.5	-3.2
Opp. Total Offense/Game	475.2	377.5	-99.7
Opp. Passing Yds/Game	273.5	185.5	-88.0
Opp. 3rd Down Pct.	36.0	31.0	-5.0
Opp. Red Zone Pct.	79.0	50.0	-29.0
Opp. Red Zone TD Pct.	63.0	25.0	-38.0

ETTA-TAWO ON THE VERGE OF TWO SCHOOL RECORDS
Redshirt senior Amba Etta-Tawo is 58 yards away from setting the SU single-season receiving yards record and seven catches short of breaking the school season record for receptions. Marvin Harrison (1,131 yards in 1995) and Alec Lemon (72 catches in 2012) hold those marks.

A graduate transfer from Maryland, Etta-Tawo has 1,074 receiving yards this season, which ranks fourth in the nation and first among Power-Five Conference players. He and Oklahoma's Dede Westbrook are the only P-5 receivers with more than 1,000 yards. Etta-Tawo is sixth in the country in receptions (8.3) and has 66 on the season.

SCOUTING CLEMSON
Clemson quarterback DeShaun Watson was a Heisman finalist in 2015 and has already been named one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented to the nation's most outstanding senior or fourth-year junior quarterback. Watson has thrown for 2,328 yards and 22 touchdowns. He's also rushed 88 times for 331 yards and a score. In the Tigers' win last week at Florida State, Watson accounted for 430 total yards, including 378 passing yards, and two touchdowns.

Mike Williams (46), Ray-Ray McCloud (34) and Artavis Scott (31) all have at least 30 receptions. Williams is Watson's favorite target and leads the Tigers in receiving yardage with 648. Deon Cain has a squad-best six TD receptions. Wayne Gallman is Clemson's top ground gainer with 571 yards and seven touchdowns.

Through eight games, Clemson ranks 11th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 17.6 points per game. The Tigers are 14th in total defense at 317.4 yards allowed per contest. They are also tied with Alabama for the national lead with 32 sacks. The defensive line duo of Carlos Watkins and Christian Wilkins have been dominant up front. Wilkins has 10 tackles for loss, including 3.5 sacks. Watkins is tops on the team with 4.5 quarterback takedowns. Safety Van Smith is the team's top tackler with 71 stops.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting marks the fifth pairing between Syracuse and Clemson. The Tigers own a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series, winning each of the past three games. Syracuse's only victory in the series came in the 1996 Gator Bowl, a 41-0 shutout at the end of the 1995 football season.

In last year's meeting, the top-ranked Tigers escaped the Carrier Dome with a 37-27 victory. Syracuse ran for 242 yards. 'Cuse quarterback Zack Mahoney carried the ball 10 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns.

The game represented Syracuse's second trip to Memorial Stadium. In its first contest in 'Death Valley' on Oct. 25, 2014, Syracuse forced four turnovers and held the Tigers to 16 points, but fell short in its upset bid. Behind Cole Murphy's two first-half field goals, Syracuse led 6-3 at the the break before being outscored 13-0 in the final two quarters.

UP NEXT
The Orange return to the Carrier Dome to host North Carolina State on 'Military Appreciation Day' Saturday, Nov. 12. Tickets are available online, by phone (888-DOMETIX), at Destiny USA kiosks and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

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