Tigers vs Eagles NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
The Clemson Tigers fought hard last week in Tallahassee, but Florida State outlasted them 49-37. Dabo Swinney’s team still has a lot to play for, and they’ll have to get back on track right away.
Clemson Tigers vs. Boston College Eagles
Alumni Stadium
Saturday September 29, 3:30 PM EST on ESPN2
College Football Betting Odds from Bovada
Moneyline: Off
College Football Spread: Clemson -9 (-110) vs. Boston College +9 (-110)
Over/Under: 60
Boston College is just 1-2 so far this year, but the Eagles have pulled off some big upsets at home in the past.
Clemson
The Clemson offense has been exceptional this season. Tajh Boyd had a breakout season last year, and he is just keeping it going this year. Boyd is completing 68% of his passes and the Tigers are averaging 296 yards per game through the air. Sammy Watkins is one of the best play makers in the nation, but don’t overlook DeAndre Hopkins at the wider receiver spot. Through just four games, Hopkins has 31 catches and 407 receiving yards.
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Andre Ellington is averaging 5.7 yards per carry this season, and he has five rushing touchdowns. This is a team with tons of offensive weapons, and they’ll be hard to slow down this year.
The Clemson defense finished last season by giving up 70 points to West Virginia. The defense obviously isn’t that bad, but last weekend showed they still have a lot of room for progress. The Tigers gave up 49 points to Florida State, but even more concerning were the constant missed tackles. The Seminoles definitely have some good runners, but Clemson’s tackling left a lot to be desired. This unit must step up if Clemson is going to reach its goals this year.
Boston College
Boston College has lost a couple tight games to Miami and Northwestern this year. The Eagles offense has been much improved this year, but the defense is going the opposite way. Luke Kuechly was a big loss, and the front seven has really struggled without his presence. Opponents are averaging 187 yards per game on the ground. Both Miami and Northwestern were able to use their team speed to move the ball up and down the field on the Eagles defense. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Offensively, the passing game is looking good so far this year. Chase Rettig has 951 passing yards in three contests, and he has only thrown one interception. Three receivers have at least ten catches, but Alex Amidon is clearly the go-to-guy on the outside. The problem for the Boston College offense is their lack of balance. Boston College isn’t even averaging 100 yards per game on the ground. It’s tough to consistently win games when you can’t get anything going on the ground.
Can the Boston College defense slow down Clemson at all in this one? Clemson is in a bit of a difficult scheduling spot here, since they are likely licking their wounds from last week’s loss. Still, I think this is too much of a mismatch to do anything other than back the Tigers. Look for a comfortable win from Clemson.
Free College Football Pick: Clemson -9
