Wolfpack vs Tigers NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
The 11th-ranked Clemson Tigers have had an extremely successful season, which is why it’s unfortunate that their sole loss came at the hands of the ACC Atlantic division’s Florida State Seminoles. A win this week against the North Caronlina State Wolfpack would improve them to 10-1 on the year, but their division rival will likely be the ones in the ACC Championship game.
North Carolina State Wolfpack (6-4) vs No. 11 Clemson Tigers (9-1)
Saturday November 17, 2012
Memorial Stadium, CLEMSON, SC
3:30 PM ET
Moneyline: Clemson -900, North Carolina State +650 from GTBets.eu
Spread: Clemson -16.5
O/U: 64
North Carolina State Wolfpack
The North Carolina State Wolfpack are coming off a 37-6 victory over Wake Forest, which put a two-game losing streak to rest. There have been ups and downs throughout the 2012 season, but with two games remaining, the Wolfpack are looking to end things on the right note.
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Senior quarterback Mike Glennon has been the star of this program all year long. He has thrown the ball for 2,910 yards and 22 touchdowns with a 57.3 percent completion rate. As good as he’s been, though, he’s also been the source of a number of mistakes. It’s going to take a near-perfect game to come ahead against Clemson, and that all starts behind center with Glennon throwing the ball.
Defensively, the Wolfpack are a top-30 team this year. They’re giving up just 22.3 points per game, and they’re 36th in the nation in stopping the run. The problem is, it will be the attack through the air that will be thrown their way this weekend. North Carolina State is just 98th in the country in passing defense (259.2 yards per game), and a bad performance could be their downfall against a great passing team in Clemson.
NC State has one big-time victory this season. They took down the then-No. 3 Florida State Seminoles, which ironically enough is the only team to have beaten Clemson this year. It’s certainly possible that we see the same kind of energy and production from the Wolfpack against the Tigers, but all the stars must align in their favor for it to happen. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Clemson Tigers
Quarterback Tahj Boyd has been outstanding on the year. He has 2,941 yards and 28 touchdowns through the air, but he is a dual-threat leader in Clemson’s offense, as he’s run the ball for 363 yards and five more scores. His passing completion is what is most impressive of all, as the junior has been the most efficient he’s been his entire career. He is completing 68 percent of his passes, and he’s thrown just nine interceptions.
On the defensive side of the ball, Clemson must limit what Mike Glennon is able to do. The Tigers allow 220 yards per game through the air, which is good enough for 47th in the country. NC State will be looking to get closer to their per-game average in that department (291), so Clemson’s pass defense will play a big role in this contest.
North Carolina State does have a statement win this year against a top-quality opponent, but they were never able to prove themselves worthy of the attention that immediately followed. An inconsistent team can be a bit of a wild card for a team like Clemson, but that’s no reason to believe the Wolfpack ca do it again this time around.
The Tigers are the better team; no questions asked. Defensively, they’re almost as productive as NC State, but offensively, they’re one of the best teams in the entire country. The Wolfpack will have difficulty keeping up with their scoring on Saturday, which will solidify just how much better Clemson really is.
Trends
Tigers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
Tigers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. win.
Tigers are 4-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1 in Wolfpack last 6 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Wolfpack last 6 games in November.
Under is 10-2 in Tigers last 12 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
O/U Pick: Clemson 41 – North Carolina St. 20
