The South Carolina Gamecocks (+25) aren’t traveling far to battle the No. 2 Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium. ESPN is scheduled to broadcast the action and the game gets underway at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Clemson Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina is a heavy road dog here and is currently receiving 25 points by oddsmakers. If the Tigers get behind early it’ll create a worthy betting opportunity in-game. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 59 points.
The game’s total has been driven lower after opening at 60.5. The original line has remained consistent.
The Gamecocks have gained 0.1 units so far in 2018 and are 6-4 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 6-4.
The Tigers are up 5.0 units this season. The team is 6-5 ATS and owns an even O/U record of 5-5.
The perfect Gamecocks are 6-4 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Tigers are 11-0 SU.
The Gamecocks are trying to maintain momentum after a solid 49-9 victory over Chattanooga last week. The passing game was on point as Jake Bentley completed 25 passes on 29 attempts for 339 yards and four touchdowns. Deshaun Fenwick (112 rushing yards on 17 attempts, one TD) and A.J. Turner (65 yards on eight carries, one TD) propelled the running attack while Deebo Samuel (five receptions, 112 yards, one TD) and Bryan Edwards (four catches, 69 yards) manned the receiving duties in the win.
Clemson just earned a blowout 35-6 win over Duke. The team’s defensive unit let the Blue Devils rush for 104 yards on 35 attempts. Deon Jackson was a bright spot in the loss, posting 51 rushing yards on 11 attempts for Duke. For Clemson, Trevor Lawrence completed 21-of-38 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns. Travis Etienne (81 rushing yards on nine attempts, two TDs) spearheaded the running game while Amari Rodgers (four receptions, 33 yards) and Justyn Ross (four catches, 76 yards, one TD) led the receiving corps in the win.
When looking at offensive play-calling, each team sports a similar (52-48) run-pass ratio on the season. The Gamecocks have rushed for 167.8 yards per game and have 15 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Tigers are putting up 247.7 rush yards per game and have 35 total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Tigers should hold an edge when it comes to RB efficiency. Their running backs has logged 6.6 yards per carry while the defense has allowed 2.2 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Gamecocks have tallied 4.6 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.5 to opponents.
The Gamecocks offense has averaged 262.0 yards in the air overall and has 24 passing scores so far. The Tigers have put up 272.7 pass yards per game and have 28 total pass TDs.
South Carolina has allowed opponents to run for an average of 190.1 yards and pass for 219.8 yards per game. The Clemson defense has allowed 170.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 84.3 yards per game to opposing runners. The Tigers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.10 to opposing QBs, while the Gamecocks have allowed a 5.88 ANY/A.
Offensively, Bentley is up to 2,005 passing yards this season, and has connected on 65 percent of his 244 attempts with 17 scores through the air and eight interceptions. He has a 7.58 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 10.31 over the last two outings.
The Gamecocks will likely try to maintain tempo by pounding the defense with their running backs. In addition to receiver Deebo Samuel (519 receiving yards and six touchdowns), A.J. Turner (213 rush yards, two rush TDs, 71 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) and Deshaun Fenwick (112 rush yards, one rush TD) have delivered in the South Carolina offensive scheme.
Trevor Lawrence has managed to complete 144-of-226 passes for 1,800 yards, 20 TDs and three INTs for Clemson. His ANY/A sits at 8.74 for the year and 7.03 over his last two games.
The Tigers also prefer to keep their RBs involved. In addition to Travis Etienne (47 receiving yards, one receiving TD), Tee Higgins (561 receiving yards and seven receiving TDs) and Amari Rodgers (five rush yards, 428 receiving yards, four TDs) have seen a lot of touches recently.
When these two teams faced one another last year, Clemson won easily 34-10.
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Clemson Tigers NCAA Tip
SU Winner: Clemson, ATS Winner: South Carolina, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- The Clemson offense has lost seven fumbles this season while South Carolina has let five get away.
- The Clemson defense has recorded more than double the sack total of South Carolina this year (40 versus 19).
- South Carolina, as a team, has produced 4.6 yards per carry across its last three games and 4.9 over its last two.
- Clemson has averaged 8.0 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.1 over its last two.
- Over its last three matches, Clemson is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for South Carolina’s last game was set at 49.5. The over cashed in the team’s 49-9 triumph over Chattanooga.
- Over its last three matches, South Carolina is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for Clemson’s previous game going into it was 60.5. The under cashed in the team’s 35-6 triumph over Duke.
- South Carolina has won four of its last five games SU, with a four-point loss to Florida on November 10th accounting for the only defeat over that span.
