Clemson Tigers vs. Florida State Seminoles Betting Pick

Betting Odds

Opening Line: FSU -14
Over/Under: 58

Time: 8 PM EST Saturday September 22, 2012 on ABC

Clemson is solid on both sides of the ball and already beat Auburn this season and now face 4th ranked Florida State, who, statistically, has the best defense in the nation. I say statistically, as the Seminoles have not played a good team yet with 3 blowout wins over Murray State, Savannah State, and Wake Forrest. The Seminoles have not given up any points since their first game of the season when they only gave up a field goal.

In their last games Florida State crushed Wake Forrest 52-0 and Clemson beat Furman 41-7.

This season Clemson is 1-2 ATS with an O/U record of 1-1 and Florida State is 1-1 ATS with an O/U record of 1-0.

Florida State is averaging 58.7 yards per game and QB EJ Manuel, who has passed for 525 yards with 6 TD and 1 INT, leads them on offense. The WR duo of Kenny Shaw and Kelvin Benjamin are averaging over 14 yards per catch. Clemson has the nation’s 32nd ranked pass defense and while their pass rush 1s not a great one they will face a suspect FSU offensive line that gave up 3 sacks to Wake Forrest last week.

Clemson has struggled against the run this season only ranking 82nd in the nation in run defense and that is a concern since FSU has 2 RB’s that have over 200 rushing yards in Chris Thompson (254 yards) and James Wilder Jr. (220 yards).

Clemson QB Tajh Boyd is a mobile QB that can avoid the pass rush and make plays from outside the pocket and he will be facing a FSU pass rush that ranks 10th in the nation in sacks. The Seminoles’ pass defense has to shut down WR DeAndre Hopkins (319 yards 4 TD) and if they can do that they will be in good shape since the next leading WR only has 106 yards.

Tigers’ RB Andre Ellington (328 yards 4 TD) is averaging over 6 yards per carry and while Florida State has the nation’s top ranked run defense Clemson will be their first test against a good team.

Florida State comes into this game with a ton of confidence and this game may be their BIG one of the season since they do not face another team that is currently ranked until the season finale.

Last season Florida State lost to Clemson 35-30, but they beat them in 2010 the last time the game was in the Sunshine State.

Clemson is 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 ACC games, and they have an Under record of 10-1 in their last 11 road games.

Florida State is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 ACC games, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games facing a team with a winning record, and they have an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 home games.

Clemson is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games against Florida State.

ATS Game Pick

Both teams have been dominant in their first three games this season and while we do believe that the Seminoles are a better team and are at home, the 14 points is on the high side.
Take Florida State -14