Clemson Tigers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons 9-24-22

Clemson vs SMU Prediction 12/7/2024: College Football Picks

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Clemson vs SMU Game Information

What: Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game
When: Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 8 EST/5 PST
Where: Bank of America Stadium (FieldTurf Pro) Charlotte, North Carolina 
Penn State vs Oregon Line: SMU -2.5
Total: 56.5
TV: ABC

Clemson vs SMU Preview

No. 17-ranked Clemson (9-3, 7-1 in ACC) meets No. 8-ranked SMU (11-1, 8-0 in ACC) in the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship (ACC) Game from Charlotte on Saturday evening where chilly temperatures at Bank of America Stadium at kickoff are in the forecast (37°). The Tigers somehow made this game when Miami (Florida) suffered a tough loss in Week 14, falling 42-38 at Syracuse after leading 21-0, ending the Hurricanes chances of making the inaugural 12-team CFP field. So this is an important game in the CFP picture for all teams involved and if Clemson can pull off the upset, we may see two ACC teams squeeze in with the Tigers possibly getting a Bye if they can win in commanding fashion or possibly a First Round game if it ekes out a win with No. 3 seed  SMU still making the field and bumping Alabama out. The committee made it clear on Tuesday night that no matter what happens in Conference Championship Week, Miami could not jump Alabama  (No. 11 seed), the second-to-last last team in the field.

Clemson Needs Win to Make College Football Playoff

Clemson (5-6-0 ATS, 3-8-0 O/U) has been a strong Under team, and after losing to rivals South Carolina last weekend in the Palmetto State rivalry, have to feel really fortunate now that it has a chance to not only play in the ACC Championship game, but also get a crack at making the CFP. All season long it looked like Miami Florida (6-2 in ACC) would be the team that would play SMU in this game, but Clemson (+114 Moneyline, SMU -135) did enough to stay alive and the loss to the Gamecocks (SEC) was non-conference. The Tigers lone loss in conference was to Louisville and Clemson and SMU (and Miami) didn’t play in the Regular Season with so many teams now in all of these Super Power 4 Conferences. QB Cade Klubnik (3,041 passing yards, 29 TD), RB Phil Mafah (1,078 rushing yards, 8 TD), and WR Antonio Williams (788 receiving yards, 10 TD) have the 18th best Scoring Offense (35.7 ppg) in Division I with the defense allowing just 21.6 ppg (Tied #34). The Charlotte Site should be more of an advantage to Clemson in this game because of its traditional ACC ties and the much closer geographic location.

Clemson Betting Trends

  • This will be the first time that Clemson has played SMU
  • The Tigers last 2 games were non-conference (SC, CITADEL)
  • The Under is 7-2-0 in Clemson’s last 9 lined games (No line CITADEL)
  • The Tigers are 5-1 on the Moneyline in last 6 Road (+4.00 Units, 13% ROI)
  • Clemson is 1-4 in First Half Moneyline last 5 (-6.20 Units, -57% ROI)

SMU Can Lock Down First Round CFP Bye WIth Win

Southern Methodist (8-4-0 ATS, 7-5-0 O/U) has been a good team to bet on ATS and find themselves in the enviable position of being seeded No. 3 by the CFP Committee where a win would guarantee a First Round Bye, a position No. 1 seed Oregon, No. 2 seed Texas, and No. 4 seed Boise State also find themselves heading into this weekend. The Mustangs offense (39.2 ppg, #6) is led by QB Kevin Jennings (2,746 passing yards, 19 TD, 7 Interceptions),  RB Brashard Smith (1,157 rushing yards, 14 TD) and WRs Roderick Dawson Jr. (502 receiving yards, 7 TD), KeyShawn Smith (499 receiving yards, 5 TD), and Jordan Hudson (363 receiving yards, 5 TD). SMU’s defense has been very good in its first year playing in the ACC, allowing only 19.8 ppg (#19) heading in here on Saturday. Because the Mustangs are seeded so high and because next week will be the last week of rankings by the CFP Committee (Sunday, ESPN, 12 EST/9 PST), even a loss here may see SMU making the tournament.

SMU Betting Trends

  • SMU has won 20 of its last 22 SU
  • The Under is 2-0 in SMU’s last 2 games
  • The Mustangs are 7-2-0 ATS in their last 9 overall
  • Brashard Smith has rushed for a TD the last 5 straight games
  • SMU was 4-0 on the Road in Regular Season (3-1 ATS)

Clemson vs SMU Pick and Prediction

With the weather expected to be cold in the Queen City, so much at stake, and both of these defenses pretty good, points may come at a premium in the ACC Championship Game, even with so many decent skill position players like Jennings, Smith, Klubnik, Mafah, and Williams. Can Clemson win this game? Of course it can. And this seems like a more important game for the Tigers who likely won’t make the CFP field if they do lose. Expect a better performance by Clemson than they showed against South Carolina and the crowd should help the Tigers. SMU has had a great season and will probably still make the CFP if it loses, so the pressure is on Clemson to pull off the (minor) upset here and revive its season. With that in mind, this Clemson vs SMU NCAAF pick will look to the Totals market and back the Under with both playing a tight game and trying not to lose and opposed to trying to win. If someone wins 28-27, this one still ducks under the Total.

 

Kevin’s Pick: Clemson-SMU Under 56.5 (Caesars Sportsbook)