Clemson-NC State
Time: 2:30 PM CT
Spread: CLE -11
Total: 50
Betting odds c/o Bovada
The Clemson Tigers have been building momentum and now sit at No. 3 in the nation with a 7-0 record. It was accented last week by a humiliation of Al Golden and Miami, and this week the Tigers find itself 11-point favorites over NC State in a game that will air on ABC.
The 58-0 win over Miami took Clemson from No. 6 in the polls to its current ‘3rd.’ The Tigers were able to get 416 rushing yards and six rushing TDs. Wayne Gallman led all rushers with 22 carries for 118 yards and a score. Gallman leads the team this year with 702 yards on 128 carries with a team-high six TDs.
Deshaun Watson has been a good dual-threat QB with 1,553 yards on 69.3 percent passing and an additional 332 yards on 64 carries (5.2 yards per) with three TDs. Watson’s top three passing targets all have better than 200 yards, paced by Artavis Scott’s 40 receptions for 450 yards. Jordan Leggett’s been good at TE with six scores on the season via reception.
Watson is in his sophomore season and experienced good success last season when he threw 93 of 137 for 1,466 yards on a 67.9 percent completion ratio. Last season, he boasted a 10.70 yard per attempt average, and though this year is respectable, it has fallen off to 8.22 yards. He has been sacked at about the same rate, with eight on the season.
The increase in interceptions may be the most troubling, given he had just 2 on 137 attempts last year and this season has 7 on 189. Even so, Clemson has had no problem in railing off the ‘Ws.’
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NC State got back on track last week with a 35-17 win over Wake Forest to snap its two game losing streak. The Wolfpack improved to 5-2, and Clemson represents just one of two AP ranked opponents on its schedule (the other being FSU on Nov 14).
Wolfpack QB Jacoby Brissett has been sensational, with 1,332 yards on 67 percent passing, 10 TDs and just one INT, good for a passer rating of 145.5. Brissett has rushed for an additional 111 yards including a rushing TD. In the backfield, the Wolfpack have Matthew Dayes, who has 793 yards on 125 carries this season with 12 of the team’s 23 rushing TDs.
Dayes is a 5’9” 203 pound back in his junior season. Last year he ran for 573 yards averaging 5.5 yards per carry, a figure he has bested thus far with 6.3 yards per attempt. As to how much of that holds against a tough team like Clemson is anyone’s guess, however.
At WR the Wolfpack’s featured receiver is TE Jaylen Samuels who leads the team in receptions (34), yardage (355) and TDs (4). Samuels also serves as a back on some downs and has 23 carries for 143 yards with five TDs on the ground. He’s just 5’11” 236, but is an explosive athlete and key component in NC State’s attack.
With the line set 11-points in favor of Clemson, it is not unreasonable for the underdog prospecting bettor to like NC State’s chances at covering the spread on the heels of its strong offense. The thing that counteracts that is that the Wolfpack have yet to perform all that well against any teams of consequence this season.
| Clemson | Under is 8-1 in Tigers last 9 vs. a team with a winning record. Under is 7-1 in Tigers last 8 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game. Under is 7-1 in Tigers last 8 games following a SU win of more than 20 points. |
| North Carolina State | Wolfpack are 5-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Wolfpack are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game. Wolfpack are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game. |
| Head to Head | Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings. Tigers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings. Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings. |
