The No. 2 Clemson Tigers (-27) are entering the ACC Championship Game as big favorites against the No. 24 Pittsburgh Panthers. The game will get going at 8:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to ABC.
Betting Preview: Clemson Tigers at Pittsburgh Panthers
Clemson is a big road underdog here and is currently receiving 27 points from bookmakers. If the Panthers fall behind in the early stages it would create a worthwhile live betting opportunity. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 55 points.
Sharp bettors are siding with the under, as this game’s total originally opened at 57.
Each of these teams has rewarded gamblers this year as the Tigers have gained 5.0 units and the Panthers are up 3.8 units.
The Tigers are 12-0 straight up (SU), including 8-0 SU against conference opponents. The Panthers are 7-5 SU overall and 6-2 SU in conference play.
These two conference adversaries did not get a chance to play each other last season.
The Tigers are hoping to remain undefeated following a 56-35 win over South Carolina last week where their secondary allowed the Gamecocks to air it out for 510 yards and five touchdowns. Deebo Samuel was unmatched for the Gamecocks in that one with 210 yards and three touchdowns on 10 catches. On the offensive side of the ball, Trevor Lawrence completed 27-of-36 passes for 393 yards and one touchdown. Travis Etienne (150 yards on 28 rush attempts, two TDs) and Tavien Feaster (63 yards on nine carries, one TD) led the ground attack while Tee Higgins (six receptions, 142 yards, one TD) and Hunter Renfrow (five catches, 80 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
On November 24, Miami (FL) knocked off this Pittsburgh team by a score of 24-3. The Panthers defense let the Hurricanes eat up the clock by running for 293 yards on 32 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Travis Homer was outstanding, putting up 168 rushing yards and a score on eight attempts for the Hurricanes. For Pittsburgh, Kenny Pickett completed 14-of-22 passes for 130 yards. Darrin Hall (47 rushing yards on 14 attempts) spearheaded the running attack while Rafael Araujo-Lopes (six receptions, 67 yards) and Maurice Ffrench (three catches, 13 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Clemson has run the ball on 53.1 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Pittsburgh has an overall rush percentage of 64.0 percent. The Tigers have produced 256.3 rush yards/game (including 256.5 per game versus Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 42 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Panthers are averaging 232.7 rush yards per game (260.5 in conference) and have 28 total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season can translate to this game, then it’s looking like the Tigers should hold an edge when it comes to efficiency in the ground game, since their running backs has logged 6.6 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 2.2 YPC to opponents. The Panthers have tallied 5.8 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 4.6 to opponents.
The Tigers offensive scheme has tallied 282.8 yards/game in the air overall (266.8 per game versus conference opposition) and has 29 passing TDs so far. The Panthers have recorded 153.4 pass yards per game (166 against ACC foes) and have 12 total pass scores.
Defensively, Clemson seems to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed 84.8 rush yards and 198.4 pass yards per game. The Pittsburgh D has allowed 225.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 174.3 yards per game to opposing runners. The Tigers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.91 to opponents, while the Panthers have allowed a 6.41 ANY/A.
Offensively, Lawrence is up to 2,237 passing yards on the year. He’s completed 68 percent of his 264 attempts with 20 passing scores and only four interceptions. Lawrence has a pristine 8.91 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 9.51 over the last two games.
In the hosts’ locker room, Kenny Pickett has managed to complete 142-of-235 passes for 1,509 yards, nine TDs and five INTs. Pickett’s ANY/A stands at an ultra-pedestrian 4.87 for the year and 7.47 over his past two games.
Clemson Tigers at Pittsburgh Panthers Free Pick
SU Winner: Pittsburgh, ATS Winner: Clemson, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Over/Under for Clemson’s last game was set at 58.5. The over cashed in the team’s 56-35 win over South Carolina.
- As a team, Clemson has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its past three contests and 6.1 over its last two.
- Pittsburgh has averaged 5.9 yards per carry over its last three matchups and only 2.6 over its past two.
- Both teams have lost eight fumbles this year.
- In its last three matches, Clemson is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Pittsburgh’s previous match was 45.5. The under cashed in the 24-3 defeat to Miami (FL).
- In its last three contests, Pittsburgh is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Tigers offense has created 18 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Panthers have put up 10 such plays.
- The Clemson defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Pittsburgh has given up 10 such plays.
- The Clemson offense has created 36 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Pittsburgh has created 29 such runs.
- The Tigers defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Panthers have given up 29 such runs.
- The Clemson D has 43 sacks on the year while Pittsburgh has just 28.
