The Miami Hurricanes hold their fate in their hands—win, and they’re off to the ACC Championship Game. But blocking their path is a Kyle McCord-led Syracuse Orange squad capable of delivering a stunning upset.
Will the Hurricanes prevail and keep their hopes alive for a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff? Dive into our Miami (FL) vs. Syracuse prediction for insights on the spread and total.
Miami (FL) vs. Syracuse Betting Preview
All Miami (FL) vs. Syracuse odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Miami -7 - Spread
Miami -11 - Moneyline
Miami -380, Syracuse +300 - Over/Under
67.5 points - Game Time
Saturday, Nov. 30, 3:30 p.m. ET - Location
JMA Wireless Dome | Syracuse, N.Y. - Predicted Weather at Kick
N/A - How To Watch
ESPN
Miami’s path is clear: win one more and enter the ACC championship at 11-1 with a chance to win and earn a first-round bye. But Syracuse might be the quietest 8-3 team in college football and has experienced enormous success in its first year under Fran Brown.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The spread feels a bit high here, but the Orange are 11-point underdogs. The total shows the talent on offense, and with a total set at 67.5 points, sportsbooks imply a final score close to 39-28, in favor of the Hurricanes.
Miami (FL)’s Winning Probability
CFN’s FPM isn’t quite as high on the Hurricanes, giving them a 68.8% chance to win Saturday. The Hurricanes will then need to beat the SMU Mustangs to ensure themselves a spot in the College Football Playoff.
- at Syracuse: 68.8%
Syracuse’s Winning Probability
Syracuse has a 31.2% chance to win at home, per FPM. The Orange would move to 9-3 with a win and finish in the top 25 of the College Football Playoff rankings. While it certainly won’t be enough to challenge for an at-large bid, a 9-3 season would mark the most wins by a Syracuse team in 24 years.
- vs. Miami: 31.2%
Prediction for Miami (FL) vs. Syracuse
While the spotlight may be shining on the Hurricanes, it’s hard to ignore a quietly impressive Syracuse team.
The Orange have taken care of business against most of their evenly matched or less talented opponents, quietly building an 8-3 record. McCord continues to light it up through the air, currently leading Cam Ward on the national passing yardage leaderboard.
That firepower helps explain the high total in this matchup, as Syracuse’s pass-heavy offense faces a vulnerable Miami defense that has struggled to contain opposing attacks.
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Quarterback play will define this game. McCord and Ward are among the top two passers in the country, each on track to eclipse 4,000 yards this season. But both have been prone to costly mistakes, combining for 19 interceptions this year—several of which have been returned for touchdowns. Limiting turnovers will be critical.
Both defenses have struggled, and momentum-swinging plays could easily tilt the game. A team that manages a key defensive stop or turnover could find itself in control.
In the end, I lean toward Ward and Miami’s quick-strike offense. It’s hard to match up when your offense grinds out a 12-play, six-minute drive, only for the opposition to answer in three plays. If McCord is forced to press, he might be the first to make a costly error.
Expect plenty of points, but maybe not the 68 implied by the total. Expect Miami to win, but likely not cover.
Syracuse deserves more respect than being a double-digit home underdog against a Miami team that’s eked out several close victories. However, an outright win for the Orange still seems unlikely.
Give me Miami in another nervy finish.
Prediction: Miami (FL) 35, Syracuse 27
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