Clemson (2-0, 0-0) at Louisville (2-0, 1-0)
When: Saturday, September 16th 2017
Where: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, KY
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Clemson -3/59.5
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The marquee matchup of the weekend in College Football takes place on Saturday night between two ACC foes – the Clemson Tigers and Louisville Cardinals. These two teams have played some fantastic games in recent year including a 42-36 Clemson victory last year in which the Tigers made a fourth-down stop on their own 3-yard line to hold on. The defending champion Tigers are facing a second straight top-15 opponent, and their outstanding defense will face a tall task against Heisman Trophy quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Cardinals have one of the most explosive offenses in the country and will look to put the pressure on Clemson’s terrific defense. Louisville racked up 705 total yards in last week’s 47-35 win at North Carolina and are averaging 41 points in their first two games. Clemson has won 10 consecutive ‘true’ road games, while the Cardinals are 8-11 against top-25 opponents under coach Bobby Petrino, including a win over No. 2 Florida State last season.
The Tigers have been led by their defense in the first two games of the season, holding their opponents without a touchdown and have given up only 237 yards of total offense. The anchor of the defensive unit is led by defensive end Austin Bryant, who was named National Defensive Player of the Week after recording seven tackles and four of the team’s 11 sacks against Auburn. The offense was held in check last week against Auburn, but Kelly Bryant has been solid in his first two games as the starter, passing for 417 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushing for a team-high 136 yards and three scores. The Tigers are 40-1 under coach Dabo Swinney when they rush for at least 200 yards.
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Jackson has accounted for 1,010 yards of total offense already this season as he looks to become the second two-time Heisman Trophy winner. Clemson’s defense will be ready for the task at stopping the electrifying quarterback, so getting running backs Reggie Bonnafon and Malik Williams into the game plan, may be key. The Cardinals’ defense has been great against the run, allowing just 34 yards per game on the ground, but the secondary has been another issue, surrendering 338.5 yards per game through the air. That disparity in numbers has the Cardinals ranked second in the nation against the run and 123rd against the pass.
In the college game, it’s hard to go against a quarterback so dynamic, but this Louisville without Jackson, is just an ordinary 7 to 8 win team. The Clemson offense is not as great as last year, obviously, but they don’t need to be with this stout defense. Swinney will have his game plan ready for Jackson and the offense, and I think Clemson pulls off a huge road victory here. It will definitely be a fun game to watch as well as some other Top 25 matchups this weekend.
Pick: Clemson -3
TRENDS:
- Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in September.
- Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
- Tigers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Tigers are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Tigers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Tigers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Tigers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Tigers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS win.
- Tigers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 conference games.
- Tigers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games on fieldturf.
- Tigers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games in September.
- Cardinals are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
- Cardinals are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Cardinals are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Cardinals are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cardinals are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games on fieldturf.
- Over is 5-0 in Tigers last 5 road games.
- Over is 4-0 in Tigers last 4 games on fieldturf.
- Over is 5-0 in Tigers last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 7-1 in Tigers last 8 games in September.
- Over is 5-1 in Tigers last 6 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Tigers last 5 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Tigers last 5 conference games.
- Over is 7-2 in Tigers last 9 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Tigers last 8 games overall.
- Over is 6-2 in Tigers last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-2 in Tigers last 7 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 5-2 in Tigers last 7 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 11-5 in Tigers last 16 games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 games in September.
- Over is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 9-3 in Cardinals last 12 conference games.
- Over is 10-4 in Cardinals last 14 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 9-4 in Cardinals last 13 games on fieldturf.
