Clemson is favored heading into its matchup at Syracuse on Saturday, but what if the Orange beat the Tigers?

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy weighed in on that question this week during an episode of his Always College Football show.

McElroy was asked if Syracuse (4-0, 0-0 ACC) gets a win over Clemson (2-2, 0-2), what would it say about both programs?

“I think Syracuse is playing good football right now, but they’re completely untested. I don’t know what to expect,” McElroy said. “I think Clemson is still legit. Are they elite, crazy elite? No, I don’t think they are. I think they’re gettable, but you’re going to have to win the turnover battle and you’re going to have to neutralize what is I think a ridiculously good defensive front – really, really good. So if Syracuse can do that, I feel a whole lot better about their prospects. But it’s going to be a tough one, for sure, I think for Cuse there in the dome.”

Clemson holds a 9-1 mark against Syracuse under Dabo Swinney, including last year’s victory at Death Valley that saw Cade Klubnik replace DJ Uiagalelei in the second half and rally the Tigers from an 11-point deficit for a 27-21 win.

“Obviously we remember back to last year’s game, it was kind of a close game,” McElroy said. “They wouldn’t give (former Syracuse running back) Sean Tucker the ball. It was a weird game. Cade Klubnik came in, then they drew the late hit out of bounds, and the next thing you know they were within striking distance. But it was just kind of a herky-jerky game, and obviously the wheels came off for Syracuse from that point forward.”

Since Clemson blanked Syracuse 54-0 in 2016, four of the teams’ six most recent meetings have been decided by six or fewer points.

The Tigers are a 6.5-point favorite entering Saturday’s game at the JMA Wireless Dome. Kickoff is set for noon on ABC.

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