This Saturday evening houses a Top 10 show-down between the Clemson Tigers and the Florida State Seminoles. Odds makers have doused the 'Noles with a 14.5 point advantage...but Florida State has yet to face an opponent such as Clemson this season.
Florida State vs. Clemson: ATS Pick
An epic ACC showdown awaits us this Saturday as two
undefeated teams, Florida State and Clemson, meet up in Tallahassee.
Man are we in for a terrific day of college football or
what? There are a number of top 25 matchups on tap, but for this piece we're
focusing on the battle between the Seminoles and Tigers in Doak Campbell
Stadium.
That being said, the college football odds suggest that
maybe this game won't be so close after all.
The Seminoles are currently favored by 14.5 points and that
number's been rising all week. The opening spread had them as 13-point
favorites. Can they cover such a number?
Florida State will win if:
That defense really is that nasty.
The Seminoles have given up only three total points in three
games; statistically, they're the best defense in college football.
Although, they haven't yet dealt with a quarterback as skilled as Tajh
Boyd.
Everything has gone as planned for Florida State so far.
Expectations were sky high for the Seminoles coming in to the season, as they
were considered one of the most experienced teams out there. That veteran savvy
has shown itself so far.
EJ Manuel looks the part as the starting quarterback. He's
completed 71.2 percent of his passes and has six touchdowns against only one
interception.
Manuel's been backed up by a dominant ground game that's
churning out yards like it's no big deal. Chris Thompson is averaging an
astonishing 14.1 yards per carry (18 rushes for 254 yards) and James Wilder
Jr., Devonta Freeman and even Manuel himself are all averaging at least 6.4
YPC.
Clemson will win if:
Boyd goes off again.
All eyes will be on the junior playmaker. He certainly
didn't disappoint last year, throwing 33 touchdowns and running for an
additional five. One of his standout games was against this same Seminoles
team; he threw for 344 yards and accounted for four total scores in the win.
It's been more of the same for Boyd this season as he
already has six touchdown passes.
Boyd has some great playmakers helping him out as well.
Andre Ellington is back for his senior year and already has 328 yards and four
touchdown runs through three games.
The Seminoles need to keep an eye out for DeAndre Hopkins
too. The junior wide-out has posted at least 95 yards receiving in each of
Clemson's first three games, including a 13-catch, 119-yard outburst against
Auburn in the opener.
College Football Pick
The Tigers won 35-30 at home when these teams met up last
season and you know the Seminoles, led by a veteran core on both sides of the
ball, will be itching for a nice slice of revenge this weekend.
Nonetheless, Florida State hasn't been battle-tested yet
this season and they most certainly will when Saturday is over and done with.
Murray State, Savannah State and Wake Forest? These teams
aren't remotely close in terms of ability when you compare them with what
Clemson has to offer.
The Tigers have already battled it out with Auburn this
season and I think Boyd will keep them in this game, or at least close enough
for the visitors to cover this huge line as pups. So, I'm adding Clemson to cover in my NCAA Football picks for the week.
This is one game you definitely don't want to miss though,
regardless of what side you're on.
Free College Football Pick: Clemson Tigers +14.5
Be sure to check
out our O/U play for this matchup here!