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Syracuse will be a heavy underdog next weekend when it goes on the road to Clemson.

(Associated Press)

The Syracuse football team has won its past two games as underdogs. That's good because the Orange will face its steepest odds of the season as it heads to Clemson next weekend.

The Tigers, fresh off a road victory over Florida State that most considered their biggest remaining hurdle on the road to an ACC championship, opened as a 28 1/2-point favorite over the Orange in Saturday's game, according to the website VegasInsider.com.

Syracuse is coming off an open week and back-to-back wins over Virginia Tech and Boston College.

That opening line is larger than the previous biggest that Syracuse faced this year by more than 11 points. Syracuse did win that game against Virginia Tech, when the Orange opened as a 17-point underdog.

Clemson is unbeaten in eight games this year and was ranked No. 3 in the county in Sunday's USA Today Coaches Poll, although they have not dominated games as frequently as you might expect from an elite team. Against a very strong schedule, the Tigers have won five games by eight points or less.

Clemson owns the all-around talent you expect from a national title contender. Their offense is led by quarterback Deshaun Watson, a Heisman Trophy contender when the year began, and wide receiver Mike Williams. Both are likely first-round NFL Draft picks on the latest Big Board from ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

Clemson's defense, meanwhile, is more highly-ranked nationally. The Tigers rank No. 14 in the country in yards allowed and are second in sacks with an average of 3.88 per game.

Syracuse is 0-3 against Clemson since joining the ACC, losing the last two games by 10 points each.

It's certainly a tall task for Syracuse. What's your impression of the opening line?