Can Clemson Stay Ahead of the Pack?

Viewed through the lens that a College Football Playoff spot is everything, there's no margin of error for the ACC.

The conference hasn't exactly distinguished itself this season, with the exception of Syracuse and, of course, the Clemson Tigers.

The sentiment now seems to be if the ACC titlist isn't unblemished at season's end, it's outta the loop for an Anointed Four invitation.

 

May be. But that's a way of life in big-time amateur sports.

North Carolina State is seen by those who aver such things as the team that could toss a proverbial monkey wrench into the Tigers' ambition to reach a third straight CFP championship game.

Bovada has set the line at Clemson -17 and the total at 58.

Why bet on the Wolfpack ...

NC State has the best passing offense in the ACC behind the best QB you don’t know. That could change when 23-year-old Ryan Finlay leads the Wolfpack into Death Valley.

Last year, dude had it working as he powered the Pack to its first 9-win season since 2010:

• He completed 65% of his passes,
• threw for 3,518 yards, and
• accounted for 20 touchdowns.

So far in 2018, there's no slowdown in sight:

• Finlay's thrown for 1621 yards and 10 TDs to date,
• State's sixth in the nation in passing yards with 335.4 per game, and
• the defense is 16th in the nation, allowing 16.8-points per game.

Then there's the fact they don't like the Tigers much, and the feeling's mutual.

 

Why bet on the Tigers ...

Dabo Sweeney's crew has won six in a row against the Wolfpack. However, the last two were decided by seven points each. One went to overtime. So, can Clemson cover the enormous 17-point spread?

The short answer is no. The Tigers will win, but the spread's just too rich.

 

Here’s the long answer:

• Clemson's out-gained its first three ACC opponents by almost 300 yards per game and out-rushed them by 210 yards per game;
• The Tigers have too much firepower to lose this game.
• Running back Travis Etienne is the unsung hero of this offense with six touchdowns in the past two games.

 

Instant analysis ...

The undefeated Wolfpack have had a friendly schedule. Their only matchup against a ranked team was cancelled. That leaves only wins over five unranked teams of James Madison, Georgian State, Marshall, Virginia, and Boston College on their résumé.

Clemson's had its way in this series recently, but State is 6-2 against the spread in their last head-to-head meetings.

ATS pick: North Carolina State +17

Result: Clemson 41 North Carolina State 7 ... Tigers cover

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Sportbet Columnist: Noah Williams

Noah lives and works with a simple philosophy of “Eat, Drink, Football.” This is embodied through a dedication to satellite TV, Indian delivery, Folgers in his cup, and Budweiser. He lives in a secret lair with his beautiful concubine.