Syracuse football, which has lost five straight Atlantic Coast Conference games, heads to No. 18 Miami on Saturday afternoon as the 2025 season winds down.
The Orange is stuck in a rut. Quarterback play is not good. The run game is non-existent. The defense is struggling. Both the offensive and defensive lines aren't faring well. All in all, it's a rough time for our beloved 'Cuse, and now Syracuse football has to travel to Miami, a group that has dropped two of its past three.
The Hurricanes entered the 2025 campaign with College Football Playoff aspirations. Those hopes have been all but dashed, with Miami falling in recent weeks to Louisville at home by three points and then at SMU by six points in overtime.
With two ACC setbacks, Miami will have to win out and hope other league schools falter for the Hurricanes to reach early December's ACC championship game in Charlotte, N.C.
Syracuse football at No. 18 Miami odds, spread and total
When I wrote this article, FanDuel had the 'Cuse as a massive 28.5-point betting underdog on the road against the Hurricanes, with the over/under set at 46.5 points.
Syracuse football at No. 18 Miami how to watch
Date: Saturday, Nov. 8
Game Time: 3:30 pm EST
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
TV/Streaming: ESPN and fuboTV
Miami's record: 6-2 overall, 2-2 in the ACC
Syracuse's record: 3-6 overall, 1-5 in the ACC
Syracuse’s full 2025 schedule: Click here
Syracuse football at No. 18 Miami prediction and pick
Per SU Athletics, in their all-time series together, the Orange is a mere 8-15 against Miami. However, in the 2024 regular-season finale, the 'Cuse pulled off a huge upset of top-10 Miami, at the Dome, to ruin the Hurricanes' hopes for a CFP invite. In the ACC, Clemson and SMU ended up reaching last season's 12-team College Football Playoff.
Miami's offense, lately, has been nothing special, but the Hurricanes have an excellent defense. Entering week 11, Miami is giving up 15.6 points per game, tops in the ACC. The Hurricanes allow 285.1 yards per contest, which is second in the conference. That doesn't bode well for a Syracuse football offense that is No. 15 in the league in points per encounter, at 23.7.
While Miami isn't stellar these days, I don't envision any scenario where the Orange pulls off a road upset here. Reluctantly, I'll go with the Hurricanes to take care of the 'Cuse at home, 31-14.