No. 9 UCLA at No. 10 Oregon highlights this week's slate.
A battle of Atlantic Coast Conference unbeatens piques our interest Saturday.
Upstart No. 14 Syracuse (6-0) comes to Death Valley to challenge fifth-ranked Clemson. The Tigers are 7-0 heading into the clash.
Dino Babers' Orange have one win over a ranked team, last weekend's 24-9 victory over N.C. State. The Wolfpack struggled without the services of injured starting quarterback Devin Leary. Syracuse averages 36 points per game.
Dabo Swinney's Tigers have a pair of wins over Top 25 teams and have rolled up 38.5 points a game.
Both teams have beaten N.C. State, though the Tigers did so with Leary in the lineup.
Clemson is again on the cusp of a College Football Playoff bid and should be locked in for this game.
FrontPageBets ponders the ACC showdown and another interesting game in the offing as our best bets.
Seven weeks into the season, Georgia and Ohio State are tied as frontrunners to win the College Football Playoffs.
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings and subject to change)
Clemson spread (13.5) and Over (50) vs. Syracuse
Kickoff: Noon
TV: ABC
The rationale: The pressure has been on quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and he has delivered with aplomb. The junior has thrown for 1,665 yards with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions. He also averages 4.2 yards a carry and has run for four touchdowns. Will Shipley is a reliable force on the ground with 567 yards and eight scores. A bevy of receivers give Uiagalelei options. Beaux Collins leads the way with five TDs. Syracuse's Garrett Shrader has been solid under center, tossing for 1,434 yards, 12 touchdowns and three picks. Orange RB Sean Tucker has accounted for 644 rushing yards and six TDs. WR Oronde Gadsden II is a playmaker with 507 yards and five scores. Defensively, Syracuse is eighth nationally yielding 268.8 yards per game. But the Tigers are by far the toughest team they have faced. Â
The pick: Clemson, 35-17
Oklahoma State money line (+200) and Over (64.5) vs. Texas
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
The rationale: The Cowboys are coming off a loss to resurgent TCU, 43-40. The play of dual threat QB Spencer Sanders (if healthy, shoulder injury) is the key in this one. He has passed for 1,639 yards with 13 touchdowns and three picks. He has run for 309 yards and eight scores. Coach Mike Gundy is mum on Sanders' health. Oklahoma State is putting up 45.8 points per contest. Texas has frontman Quinn Ewers back from injury and he rallied the Longhorns past Iowa State last week. Running back Bijan Robinson keeps piling up 100 yard rushing games. Still, the Cowboys ride in Stillwater.
The pick: Oklahoma State, 35-34Â
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Gerry Ahern is senior content editor for FrontPageBets. A 35-year veteran sports editor and digital media executive, he has led coverage of the biggest events in sports, from Super Bowls, to Final Fours, to Olympics, to the Masters.
