The No. 19 Clemson Tigers will be eying their 11th consecutive 10-win season when they take on the Iowa State Cyclones in the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl on Wednesday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The Tigers (9-3) have won seven of their last eight games after going just 2-2 in September. Clemson would be just the third team to ever record double-digit wins for 11 straight years, joining Florida State (14 from 1987-2000) and Alabama (14 from 2008-2021). The Cyclones (7-5), who have won five of their last eight games, will make their school-record fifth consecutive bowl game appearance.
Kickoff is set for 5:45 p.m. ET. The Tigers are two-point favorites in the latest Clemson vs. Iowa State odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 45. Before making any Iowa State vs. Clemson picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,600 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters the third week of the 2021-22 college football bowl season on a 43-30 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Clemson vs. Iowa State, and just locked in its picks and Cheez-It Bowl 2021 predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college football odds and betting lines for Iowa State vs. Clemson:
- Clemson vs. Iowa State spread: Clemson -2
- Clemson vs. Iowa State over-under: 45 points
- Clemson vs. Iowa State money line: Clemson -125, Iowa State +105
- CLEM: The Tigers are 14-2 against the spread in their last 16 games in December
- ISU: The under is 5-0-1 in the Cyclones' last six bowl games as an underdog
Why Clemson can cover
The Tigers are led by freshman running back Will Shipley, who has rushed for 10 touchdowns this season. He needs just one more rushing TD to pass C.J. Spiller for sole possession of the second-most rushing touchdowns by a Clemson true freshman since 1972. He needs three rushing touchdowns to tie Travis Etienne (13 in 2017) for the Clemson class record. Shipley is also attempting to become the first Clemson player to rush for 100 yards or more in three straight games since Etienne's school-record six-game streak in 2019.
Sophomore defensive end Myles Murphy leads the Tigers in sacks with seven for 38 yards. He also is among the team leaders in tackles with 34, including 20 solo. He has forced one fumble and has broken up two passes. Murphy has at least 1.5 sacks in four of the past six games, including two sacks in a 30-20 win over Florida State on Oct. 30.
Why Iowa State can cover
The Cyclones, who have recorded five straight winning seasons in Big 12 play, have gotten a lot of production from tight end Charlie Kolar. The senior is second on the team in receiving with 58 catches for 723 yards and five touchdowns. He has had at least four receptions in every game but one, including a 12-catch, 152-yard and one touchdown performance in a 28-21 loss at Oklahoma on Nov. 20. Kolar is one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award for the second straight season, and is the only three-time All-American in school history.
Defensively, senior linebacker Jake Hummel leads the Cyclones in tackles with 76, including 37 solo. He also has one sack for 11 yards, one forced fumble, three pass breakups and one interception he returned 24 yards for a score. He led Iowa State in tackles six times this year, and has played in a school-record 62 games in his career.
How to make Clemson vs. Iowa State picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting 42 combined points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in nearly 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the model's Cheez-It Bowl pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Clemson vs. Iowa State? And which side of the spread cashes in nearly 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Clemson vs. Iowa State spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that finished the past five-plus years up nearly $3,600 on its FBS college football picks, and find out.