The ninth-ranked Clemson Tigers are looking to reach their seventh consecutive College Football Playoff, but must overcome a slow start to their season when they take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack in a key ACC matchup on Saturday. The Tigers (2-1) have been far from impressive so far, with a 10-3 loss to Georgia in the season opener and a 14-8 victory over Georgia Tech last week. The Wolfpack (2-1) are looking to open their conference slate and beat the Tigers for the first time since 2011. Clemson is also looking to win the ACC title for the seventh straight year.
The game from Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., is slated to start at 3:30 p.m. ET. Clemson has yet to allow a defensive touchdown this season, while North Carolina State has allowed just three. The Tigers are favored by 10.5 points in the latest Clemson vs. NC State odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 47.5. Before making any NC State vs. Clemson picks, you need to check out the college football predictions and analysis from the proven SportsLine computer 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 $3,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Week 4 of the 2021 season on a 72-58 run on all top-rated college football picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Clemson vs. NC State and just revealed its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the college football odds and betting lines for NC State vs. Clemson:
- Clemson vs. North Carolina State spread: Clemson -10.5
- Clemson vs. North Carolina State over-under: 47.5 points
- Clemson vs. North Carolina State money line: Clemson -420, North Carolina State +320
- CLEM: The Tigers are 13-3 against the spread in their last 16 games as a road favorite
- NCST: The Wolfpack are 7-1 ATS in their last eight home games
Why Clemson can cover
The Tigers have been led by their defense this year, which has not allowed a touchdown, marking the first time Clemson has gone three consecutive games without allowing an offensive touchdown since 1990. It marks the first time Clemson has accomplished the feat in the first three games of a season since 1950. Senior linebacker James Skalski leads the defense with 26 tackles, including 13 solo, with one pass breakup. In the season opener against Georgia, he finished with 14 tackles, including eight solo. During his five-plus seasons at Clemson, Skalski has 200 tackles, including 106 solo, with six pass breakups, 7 ½ sacks and one forced fumble.
Also helping power the defense is senior cornerback Mario Goodrich, who has made 19 tackles, including 12 solo. He also has one pass breakup. In the loss to Georgia, he made a season-high 12 tackles, including seven solo. In his three-plus seasons at Clemson, he has made 45 tackles, including 25 solo, with seven pass breakups and three interceptions.
Why North Carolina State can cover
This will be the 11th time the Wolfpack has faced a top-10 team under coach Dave Doeren, who is in his ninth season at North Carolina State. During Doeren's tenure, the Wolfpack has held opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing 38 times, including twice this season. Sophomore linebacker Drake Thomas leads the defense with 25 tackles, including 11 solo, with one interception. He had a season-high 10 tackles, including six solo, in the Sept. 11 loss at Mississippi State.
Offensively, sophomore running back Zonovan Knight is averaging 8.5 yards per rush, 15th-best in FBS and fifth among players with 20 or more carries. He leads the team with 298 yards rushing on 35 carries with two touchdowns. He has had a pair of 100-yard rushing games this season. He carried 16 times for 163 yards and one touchdown in the season-opening win over South Florida, and carried 11 times for 104 yards and a score in last Saturday's win over Furman.
How to make Clemson vs. North Carolina State picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 43 points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only get the model's Clemson vs. N.C. State pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Clemson vs. North Carolina State? And which side of the spread cashes in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Clemson vs. North Carolina State spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that finished the past five-plus years up nearly $3,000 on its FBS college football picks, and find out.
