Virginia gets Syracuse on Saturday night with a chance to reset after a rough one, and oddsmakers still like the Cavaliers to do exactly that.
FanDuel Sportsbook has Virginia favored by 8.5 points, with the moneyline sitting at -345. That number comes despite the bruising loss at Florida State, a game that exposed problems across almost every part of the roster and only added to the uncertainty around Tony Elliott’s team.
The Cavaliers are 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the ACC, but the trip to Florida State was a major setback. Now they head back to Scott Stadium for a primetime matchup in front of a Homecomings crowd, with the simple task of bouncing back and getting the season pointed the right way again.
Syracuse comes in at 2-2 and 0-2 in ACC play, and the Orange have had an even rougher start. Quarterback Steve Angeli has been held back by more interceptions than touchdowns, was benched late in the loss at Pitt, and Syracuse then turned to backup Amari Odom to start against UConn.
Odom delivered plenty of production in that one, throwing for 335 yards and five touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions, and Syracuse still had to hang on for a 42-41 win over the Huskies.
That kind of defensive showing is exactly why Virginia should be able to create some separation here. Giving up 40 points to a non-Power Four opponent is a major warning sign, and it opens the door for the Cavaliers to put together the kind of performance their last outing made easy to question.
The matchup history is short and even. Virginia and Syracuse have met only six times, and the series is tied 3-3.
The Cavaliers lost the most recent meeting, 22-20 on the road in 2022. Before that, Virginia beat the Orange 44-38 in triple overtime in Charlottesville in 2015.
At Scott Stadium, Virginia has been much sturdier. The Cavaliers are 3-0 at home, allowing just 4.7 points per game, while the offense has averaged 45 points per game there this season.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
In Other News...
Tony Elliott Faces A Bigger Virginia Problem Than One Bad Loss
Virginias rough afternoon against Florida State started with promise, as the Cavaliers jumped ahead 7-0 before the game unraveled into a one-sided loss. In the aftermath, Tony Elliott focused less on the score itself and more on the familiar issues that have been hanging around his team, from offensive inconsistency to the kind of defensive breakdowns that can erase a good start in a hurry.
Elliott used his postgame media session to stress accountability and preparation with Syracuse next on the schedule, and he made clear the Cavaliers cannot afford to treat this as just one bad night. The bigger concern is how quickly momentum vanished after the early lead, and how often Virginia allowed Florida State to turn contact into extra yards while the defense struggled to finish plays. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Just Saw A Florida State Team That Looks Very Different
Florida States 38-7 win over Virginia looked like a program taking a sharp step forward, and it came at a time when the Seminoles badly needed a statement. The defense smothered the Cavaliers, the pass rush piled up 10 sacks, and the ground game offered a physical edge that Virginia could not match. Tre Wisner helped steady the offense on the ground, giving the Seminoles a more balanced look than they had shown earlier in the season.
For Virginia, the frustrating part was how complete Florida State looked from start to finish. Quarterback Ashton Daniels was at the center of it, and Mike Norvell had every reason to sound encouraged afterward, because this was the Seminoles' best performance of the year by a wide margin. If Florida State can bring that level of disruption and efficiency going forward, this game may end up looking less like an outlier and more like the point where the season changed direction. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Got The Senior Night Boost It Needed Before A Brutal ACC Stretch
No. 15 Virginia got the kind of Senior Night lift it was looking for at Klckner Stadium, rolling past Syracuse 4-0 in a result that gave the Cavaliers a clean, convincing finish to a meaningful evening. Gio Canali, Aniyah Collier and Jordyn Hardeman all found the net as Virginia stayed sharp from the start and gave head coach Steve Swanson plenty to like from a group that has carried the program through another strong season.
Swanson was quick to praise the senior class after the match, and he also singled out Canali after her return from the U20 FIFA Womens World Cup. With a brutal ACC stretch ahead, Virginia could use this as more than just a celebratory win, because the Cavaliers will need that same mix of composure and punch when the schedule tightens and the margins get smaller. [Read more 🡒]