NCAAF Analysis: The Clemson Tigers have been developed into a very good college football program and a perennial contender to play in BCS Bowl games. Clemson’s problem is that they play in the Atlantic division of the Atlantic Coast Conference with one of the few elite power programs that is better than them – the defending national champion Florida State Seminoles. FSU is locked and reloaded for a repeat run to glory with Heisman Trophy-winning QB Jameis Winston.
The Florida State Seminoles will host the Clemson Tigers at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday night with coverage on ABC starting at 8 PM ET.
Road Opener a Tell?
Clemson was annihilated in their only previous road game this year as Georgia took them apart 45-21 as 10-point chalks. The game was no accident as UGA outgained Clemson 459 yards to 291. Clemson is coming off a bye week that followed a 73-7 home win over 1-AA South Carolina State.
Overlays in Seminole Nation
Florida State is 2-0 straight up, but 0-2 against the spread as they defeated Oklahoma State 37-31 at Arlington, TX in their season opener followed by a 37-12 home win over the 1-AA Citadel. Winston has a 157.4 QB rating and 3-to-2 TD/INT ratio. The Seminoles are no doubt loaded with 5-star recruits but have seemed to have had a championship hangover so far. Like Clemson, FSU is also coming off a bye week.
Matchup and Pick
Clemson has been a solid board value on the road with 13 payouts in their last 20 away games as four out of their last five road games have gone over the total. Florida State has been a solid value at home with ten payouts in their last 14 games at Doak Campbell Stadium with four out of their last six home games going under the total. Clemson has covered the spread in seven out of their last nine games with Florida State as five out of the last six meetings between the Seminoles and Tigers have gone over the total. Clemson has covered the spread in three out of their last four games at Florida State with just one out of those four meetings going under the total. The public will be thinking FSU big, which will enhance Clemson’s board value. Clemson is our call to cover.
