Syracuse vs Purdue Odds, Picks, and Predictions: Orange Prepared to Stay Undefeated

The Syracuse Orange will try to extend their season-opening winning streak to three games as they head out to Indiana to take on the Purdue Boilermakers. 

Syracuse has opened the season with two emphatic blowout victories over Colgate and Western Michigan, and the college football odds make it a favorite again in Week 3.

Purdue took an opening loss at home to Fresno State but bounced back with a road win over Virginia Tech last weekend.

While the Orange haven’t been challenged yet this season, they're facing a steep upgrade in competition as they face their first Power Five squad on Saturday.

We’ll break down how they’ll respond in our free college football picks for Syracuse vs. Purdue below.

Syracuse vs Purdue best odds

Syracuse vs Purdue picks and predictions

College football pundits, fans, and bettors don’t put a lot of stock in huge wins over overmatched opponents. Beating up on an FCS team or a bottom-of-the-barrel FBS school doesn’t make you a National Championship contender, but it’s also a mistake to discount these wins entirely, for one simple reason: not everyone can do it. 

Colgate and Western Michigan managed to score a combined seven points in 120 minutes against an impressive Syracuse defense. Meanwhile, the Orange put up 113 points in those two games, and that’s after slowing down in the second half against the Broncos, when they scored just a single field goal. These two teams were overmatched because Syracuse was that much better than them.

That should immediately tell us that this Syracuse team is — at the very least — a solid Power Five squad. We see teams struggle to blow out no-name opposition in college football all the time; the ability to do it consistently is usually restricted to the Top 40 teams in the country, give or take. 

Purdue has played a higher level of competition than Syracuse this year but has essentially shown that it's in the same league as both of its opponents. Fresno State shouldn’t be scoffed at, but Purdue lost to the Bulldogs by four points at home. Virginia Tech is similarly mediocre and was tied with the Boilermakers until the fourth quarter before Purdue scored a game-winning touchdown to capture a 24-17 win.

These are not comparable resumes, which explains why Syracuse is a road favorite for Saturday’s matchup. However, the 2.5-point spread doesn’t truly reflect the gap in talent between these two teams. On offense, the Orange have a dynamic dual-threat quarterback in Garrett Shrader, who has future NFL receiver Oronde Gadsden II leading a talented receiver corps. 

Purdue quarterback Hudson Card is also off to an excellent start but hasn’t faced a defense like Syracuse’s so far. The junior leads an offense that has yet to turnover the ball but only averaged 29.5 points per game against two lesser defensive units. We can expect the Boilermakers to score fewer points against the Orange, even if their turnover luck holds through Saturday.  

With low preseason expectations and wins over cupcakes, Syracuse has yet to receive even fringe Top 25 consideration. That will likely change on Saturday with an emphatic win over a Purdue team that is a bigger name but will still be overmatched against the Orange.

I’m taking Syracuse and laying the points, especially as it costs me less than a field goal to do so.

My best bet: Syracuse -2.5 (-105 at FanDuel)

Syracuse vs Purdue same-game parlay

Syracuse -2.5 (-105)

Under 57.5 (-105)

LeQuint Allen anytime TD (-190)

+455 at FanDuel

I expect Syracuse to win this game by at least a full score, so taking the Orange to cover the spread is a great way to start a parlay on Saturday’s contest. Beyond that, we can add in a couple of extra picks that reflect the style of game we should see between these two teams.

Last year, this was a wild contest, but I don’t expect similar fireworks this coming weekend. Syracuse’s defense should be able to keep the Purdue offense in check, while the Orange won’t be able to score points at will like they did against their weaker opponents.

Let’s take the Under here, as Syracuse may well win going away even if they only put up around 30 points.

Finally, let’s turn to a Syracuse player to round out our SGP. My pick is primary running back LeQuint Allen, who already has four scores on the year. Chances are that the Orange will continue to run the ball well, and Allen should pick up a score at some point in a goal-line situation. 

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Syracuse vs Purdue spread and Over/Under analysis

This game opened with Syracuse as a 3-point favorite over Purdue. The line has tightened slightly after bouncing around a bit, with the Orange -2.5 now being the consensus spread.

Syracuse is 2-0 against the spread this year, having covered as a large favorite in its first two games. Purdue is 1-1 ATS, covering last week as a slight dog against Virginia Tech.

I think the smart money is absolutely on the Orange this week. These two teams do not look similar after the first two weeks of the season, and while there may be some shock factor for Syracuse as they face a significant improvement in opposition, the Boilermakers will be playing their best opponent so far as well. I’m taking Syracuse minus the points.

The total on this game opened at a flat 57 points. Since then, it's risen to 57.5 at most books, with some even going up to 58. You can get -110 on the Over at 57.5, or -110 on the Under at 58, depending on your preference. 

Syracuse and Purdue have each gone Over once and Under once in their first two games of the year. Last year’s encounter between these teams finished with a 32-29 Syracuse win, hitting the Over on a 59.5-point total.

It’s worth noting that the Over only hit in that game after the two teams combined for a wild 42 points in the fourth quarter. Realistically, this should be a lower-scoring game, as both teams sport capable defenses — particularly Syracuse, which has allowed a total of seven points on the year.

The Orange won’t be able to run up and down the field against Purdue, while the Boilermakers may struggle to score at all. I’m leaning towards the Under.

Syracuse vs Purdue betting trend to know

Purdue is 0-6 ATS in its last six home games. Find more college football betting trends for Syracuse vs Purdue.

Syracuse vs Purdue game info

Syracuse vs Purdue latest injuries

Syracuse vs Purdue weather

Monitor gametime conditions with our College football weather info.

Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Pages related to this topic