Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Clemson Tigers Predictions, Picks, Odds, and NCAA Football Week 11 Betting Preview – November 12, 2016

Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Clemson Tigers Betting Preview

Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson

When: Saturday, November 12, 3:30 PM ET

Line: Pittsburgh Panthers (+20.5) vs. Clemson Tigers (-20.5); total: 66.5 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines

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Betting on the Pittsburgh Panthers (+20.5)

Without a doubt, Saturday’s matchup with No. 2 Clemson is the toughest game of the year for Pittsburgh. That being said, the Panthers will come into the game intent on snapping a two-game skid, having lost to No. 25 Virginia Tech (39-36) and Miami (51-28) in their previous two outings, respectively.

But as 20.5-point underdogs in this game, the Panthers know they need something extraordinary to take down Clemson in its home field nonetheless.

Seeing more action from their pass rush is a big step forward for the Panthers, who managed just one sack in the loss to Miami. The Panthers are capable of invading opposing quarterbacks’ working space, as evidenced by their 29 sacks on the season—third most in the ACC—so it’s not entirely a pipe dream that this team could actually slow down Deshaun Watson this coming Saturday.

The Panthers aren’t too shabby either on the offensive end, as they’re 29th in the nation in scoring (37.0 PPG). The heart of their offense comes from a terrific backfield that averages 220.4 rushing yards per game, which is third overall in the ACC.

James Conner, who rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns against Virginia Tech late last month, is a solid weapon that is capable of boring through Clemson’s defense that gives up an ample 132.78 rushing yards per game.

Pittsburgh is 7-2 in its last nine games in which it was an underdog by at least 10 points.

Betting on the Clemson Tigers (-20.5)

The Tigers are still undefeated and are still on pace to make it to the College Football Playoff. And they showed they mean business once again when they took Syracuse to the woodshed with a 54-0 home victory last week for Clemson’s ninth-straight win to open the season.

As usual, Deshaun Watson was a terror on offense in that game, passing for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 13 of 16 completions. He also added 39 rushing yards and a score. Watson could’ve done more if it weren’t for a shoulder injury that took him out momentarily in the game. By returning and playing in the second half against Syracuse, however, it seems that Watson is good to go in the upcoming Pittsburgh contest.

Watson is staring at an opportunity to nail the Panthers’ pathetic secondary in the head. Pittsburgh was almost criminally molested by Brad Kaaya, who lit up the Panthers’ defense for 356 yards and four touchdowns without getting intercepted.

Clemson definitely owns the better defense in this matchup also. The Tigers are eighth nationally in scoring defense and 12th in total defense.

Writer’s Prediction

Clemson (-20.5) wins, 45-21.

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