Syracuse football versus No. 24 Tennessee how to watch, odds and prediction in week one

It's happening. Syracuse football embarks on its much-anticipated 2025 season this Saturday afternoon in Atlanta, when our beloved 'Cuse faces that other Orange-clad team.

Year two of the Fran Brown era comes as the 'Cuse eyes a second-straight campaign with at least 10 wins, although that will prove a daunting task for Syracuse football in 2025, given the team's challenging schedule.

Brown, last year in his first season as the squad's head coach, led the Orange to a 10-3 mark and a final No. 20 national ranking in the Associated Press top-25 poll. Ahead of 2025, the 'Cuse isn't ranked in either the preseason AP or Coaches top-25 ballot, and media members are sleeping on Syracuse football in the Atlantic Coast Conference's pecking order.

Alas, that's why the games are played on the field, and on Saturday, Syracuse football will look to knock off No. 24 Tennessee, a Southeastern Conference powerhouse program that, in 2024, went 10-3 overall, finished in the top 10 of the polls, and reached the 12-team College Football Playoff ("CFP").

Syracuse football vs. No. 24 Tennessee odds, spread and total

When I wrote this article, FanDuel had the 'Cuse as a 13.5-point betting underdog at a neutral site against the Volunteers, with the over/under set at 50.5 points.

Syracuse football vs. No. 24 Tennessee how to watch

Date: Saturday, Aug. 30
Game Time: 12:00 pm EST
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
TV/Streaming: ABC and fuboTV
Tennessee's record: 0-0, 0-0 in the SEC
Syracuse's record: 0-0, 0-0 in the ACC
Syracuse’s full 2025 schedule: Click here

Syracuse football vs. No. 24 Tennessee prediction and pick

The 'Cuse is seeking its first-ever win over the Volunteers. In their short all-time series together, Syracuse football is 0-3 against Tennessee, per SU Athletics. The teams haven't played each other in more than two decades. In their last meeting, the Vols handled the Orange, 33-9, at home in September of 2001.

Saturday's battle should prove a fun one. Syracuse football wants to show the world that it can hang with, and ultimately conquer, squads from the juggernaut SEC. Both teams have new starting quarterbacks. For the 'Cuse, it's Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli. For Tennessee, it's Joey Aguilar, a transfer from UCLA and Appalachian State.

Much like 2024, the Volunteers should have a stellar defense in the upcoming campaign. I'm not as sold on the Volunteers' offense. On the flip side, Syracuse football has to replace a lot of key producers on both sides of the field, so there's an uncertainty factor with the Orange's 2025 roster.

I think that this non-conference contest will be closer than the odds makers are forecasting. My heart says to pick my alma mater, but my head says to pick the Vols. I'll go with Tennessee over Syracuse football by a final of 27-24. I hope that I'm wrong.