NC State Wolfpack vs. Clemson Tigers Preview
Where: Memorial Stadium — Clemson, SC
When: Saturday, October 15, 2016, 12:00 PM ET
Line: NC State Wolfpack (+17.5) vs. Clemson Tigers (-17.5); total: 60.0 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
TV Broadcast: ABC
Writer’s Pick: Clemson Tigers (-17.5)
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Betting on the NC State Wolfpack (+17.5)
This NC State team can kill you on either side of the field. The Wolfpack offense is averaging at least 30 points per game this season, while the defense is holding opponents below 20 points.
Last week’s stormy encounter with Notre Dame didn’t show us NC State’s scoring prowess, which is probably due to the horrible playing conditions, but the team managed to win eventually by playing solid defense, limiting the Fighting Irish to a field goal throughout the entire game.
Expect the offense to regain its flare in this weekend’s intriguing showdown with Clemson. The Wolfpack have nothing to lose in a road game against the ACC’s best. Plus, this group has every right to believe that it can win.
NC State has a quarterback—Ryan Finley—that’s done a good job in leading its powerful offense. Finley, prior to the game with Notre Dame, was completing over 72 percent of his passes. He has efficiently utilized his savvy receivers in Jaylen Samuels and Stephen Louis, who have both combined for 519 yards on 34 catches and five touchdowns this season.
Matthew Dayes, meanwhile, has carried most of the load on ground. He’s amassed 98 carries for 563 yards with five TDs already. Taking on a Tigers rush defense that ranks among the highest in the nation will be a very, very good test for the senior running back.
North Carolina State is 6-4 SU and ATS in its last 10 road games.
Betting on the Clemson Tigers (-17.5)
The ACC-leading Clemson Tigers are one of the leading favorites (+500) to become national champs. And while they haven’t exactly lived up to all of our expectations after six weeks into the 2016 season, they’re starting to get there.
The Tigers have yet to lose a game and are currently atop of the Atlantic Coast Conference, where they are priced at -120 to defend their title. Speaking of titles, star quarterback Deshaun Watson (+350) has also been making a strong bid in this year’s Heisman Trophy race, throwing for 1,572 yards and 18 touchdowns while leading his team to a 6-0 start.
Watson should be able to keep his stellar play up when they welcome NC State into Memorial Stadium this weekend. The junior QB dominated last year’s meeting with their conference rivals, accounting for six touchdowns in what was also a game where the entire Clemson club collected 623 total yards.
Apart from that, the Tigers have more offensive options to lean on. Watson’s been getting a boost from Wayne Gallman, who owns a team high of 88 carries for 475 yards with five touchdowns, on the ground.
The passing game, meanwhile, is even more loaded with a total of five receivers having tallied 176 receiving yards or more and at least a TD. In particular, the pair of Mike Williams and Ray-Ray McCloud has led the charge here, hauling in a combined 53 catches for 722 yards and five scores.
Clemson is 9-1 SU and 5-5 ATS in its last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Clemson (-17.5) wins and barely covers.
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