Syracuse football versus No. 8 Miami how to watch, odds and prediction in week 14

The first regular season for Syracuse football under head coach Fran Brown, a highly successful one at that, wraps up on Saturday afternoon in a huge Atlantic Coast Conference collision for the Orange.

The 'Cuse, in its 2024 regular-season finale before heading to a bowl game, will welcome No. 8 Miami to the Hill. These ACC counterparts and former Big East Conference rivals haven't gone toe to toe since 2017, and Saturday's affair is a juicy one.

For the Orange and its first-year head coach Brown, the program has a chance to knock off a top-10 foe, get to nine regular-season triumphs, improve its standing in the ACC's pecking order, and hopefully, secure a berth to a high-quality bowl contest.

What's more, I assume that with a conquest of Miami this weekend, the 'Cuse would enter both the Associated Press and Coaches top-25 polls, which would be fun.

On the flip side, the Hurricanes, if they beat Syracuse football this Saturday in Central New York, will play SMU in the ACC championship game, which will take place early next month in Charlotte, N.C.

However, if the 'Cuse springs an upset of Miami, Clemson would face SMU in the ACC title affair, and the Hurricanes also could get left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff with a setback to Syracuse football at the JMA Wireless Dome in week 14.

Syracuse football vs. No. 8 Miami odds, spread and total

When I wrote this article, FanDuel had the Orange as a 10.5-point betting underdog at home against the Hurricanes, with the over/under set at 67.5 points.

Syracuse football vs. No. 8 Miami how to watch

Date: Saturday, Nov. 30
Game Time: 3:30 pm EST
Venue: JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.
TV/Streaming: ESPN and fuboTV
Miami's record: 10-1, 6-1 in the ACC
Syracuse's record: 8-3, 4-3 in the ACC
Syracuse’s full 2024 schedule: Click here

Syracuse football vs. No. 8 Miami prediction and pick

Per winsipedia.com, in their all-time series together, the 'Cuse is 7-16 against the Hurricanes. Here is Miami's resume so far in the 2024 term. The Hurricanes have defeated Florida, Florida A&M, Ball State, South Florida, Virginia Tech, California, Louisville, Florida State, Duke and Wake Forest.

Miami's sole loss in 2024, to date, was by five points at Georgia Tech on November 9. The Orange's defense, which has been up and down throughout the current campaign, will have its hands full on Saturday.

Entering week 14, the Hurricanes are averaging a ridiculous 44.7 points per game, which is No. 1 across the country. And while Miami's defense isn't as good, it's more than credible. The Hurricanes allow 22.3 points per contest, which is No. 4 within the ACC.

Saturday's encounter will include two of the top quarterbacks nationwide in the 2024 stanza. Senior Kyle McCord has already set several program records during his one season competing for the Orange.

His counterpart, Miami senior Cam Ward, is a contender for the Heisman Trophy. Per ESPN stats, Ward has completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 3,774 yards and 34 touchdowns against just seven interceptions.

During the 2024 season, the Hurricanes have had several close calls, so I do think that the 'Cuse has a legit shot to upset Miami. That being said, the Hurricanes offense is ridiculously explosive, which I think will prove too much for the Syracuse football defense.

I like the Orange to put up a strong fight, but in the end, I'll forecast Miami to prevail on the road by a final count of 38-30.