Bookmaker   +13½ -110

Posted at 8:00 AM ET. Odds are subject to change

Syracuse +13½ over Tennessee (Neutral Site)

Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA

Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic

12:00 PM ET. Tennessee’s ranking and SEC pedigree have inflated this number. The Volunteers sit #24 in the country after last year’s playoff run, but Syracuse matched their win total in 2024 while knocking off both Georgia Tech and Miami. The Orange are not getting the respect they deserve.

Steve Angeli transfers in from Notre Dame to run Fran Brown’s system, but the focus has been solely on Syracuse’s quarterback situation. Tennessee is breaking in a new signal caller too, as Joey Aguilar steps into a role created by unexpected offseason transfers. He makes his first start in Josh Heupel’s tempo-driven system, and he faces a defense known for disguises, pressure, and physicality.

Syracuse averaged nearly 35 points per game last season, and if Angeli keeps them within range of that, Tennessee will have a difficult time covering two scores. The Volunteers have question marks of their own, yet are priced like a proven commodity.

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