Stanford vs Clemson Prediction

Stanford vs Clemson Prediction

Stanford (9-3, 1-0 in ACC) heads to Clemson, South Carolina to face Clemson (10-3, 2-0 in ACC) for an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) clash to start the new year. Both teams are 3-2 in their last 5 games, with the Cardinal losing to Cal Poly by 7 (97-90), beating Utah Valley by 14 (77-63), winning at rivals Cal by 8 (89-81), topping Merrimack by 6 (74-68), and then losing by 15 to old Pac-12 rivals Oregon (76-61). In their last 5, the Tigers have knocked off Kentucky by 4 (70-66), won at Miami Florida by 10 (65-55), lost to Memphis by 5 in OT (87-82) and rivals South Carolina by 3 in OT (91-88), and defeated Wake Forest by 11 in their last game to improve to 2-0 in ACC play (73-62). College Hoops guru Ken Pomeroy currently has Clemson rated at No. 30 (+19.11 Net Rating) with Stanford at No. 92 (+8.14 Net Rating = Adjusted Efficiency Margin).

Reasons Stanford Wins Prediction

Stanford (7-5-0 ATS, 5-7- 0 O/U) started the season off with 6 straight Wins but since then the Cardinals have gone 3-3. Having a team that has a campus on the Pacific Coast playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference is weird, but we live in the weirdest of times where many feel the need to take images of all the food they eat, there is a popular type of currency you can own which has no bills or coins, and Jimmy Carter is no longer the oldest living US President. The biggest things for Stanford to adjust to will be the long Travel distances involved and the big 3-hour Time Zone difference (PST to EST). The Cardinal did win their first-ever ACC Basketball game, but it was against another familiar Pac-12 and now ACC member, Cal, and in Berkley, so this is the first real test. Stanford is led in scoring by F Maxime Raynaud (21.4 ppg, 11.8 rpg), G Jaylon Blakes (15.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 5.3 apg), G Oziyah Sellers (13.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg), G Ryan Agarwal (7.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg), and G Benny Gealer (7.7 ppg). The Cardinal (+380 Moneyline) average 78.1 ppg (#126) while allowing 69.9 ppg.

Stanford Betting Trends

• Stanford is 2-4-0 ATS in its last 6 games
• The Over is 4-2-0 in the last 6 Cardinal games overall
• Stanford is 7-3-0 SU in its last 10 games
• Stanford went 15-16-1 ATS in the 2023-24 NCAAB season (48.4%)
• The Cardinal are 2-3 lifetime vs Clemson

Clemson Looks For a 3-0 Start in the ACC!

Four of the last 5 games Clemson (7-6 ATS, 7-6-0 O/U) has played have all been against Power 4 conference opponents (WAKE, SO CAR, MIA FLA, KEN), with talented Memphis being the lone exception, so unlike many schools, the Tigers were battle-tested in December with no patsies on the schedule. With ACC play now underway, that is a good thing for Clemson (-500 Moneyline) who may creep into the Top 25 if they can knock off Stanford here and win at Louisville on January 7 (ESPNU, 7 EST/ 4 PST). The Tigers are led by G Chase Hunter (16.8 ppg), F Ian Schieffelin (13.8 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 3.1 apg), C Victor Larkin (11.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg), G Jaeden Zackery (9.1 ppg, 3.1 apg), and F Chauncey Wiggins (7.8 ppg) and average 77.9 ppg (#133) while allowing 66.5 ppg for a +11.4 ppg Point Differential. Clemson beat New Mexico in the First Round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament and then beat Baylor and Arizona—both as an Underdog— before being eliminated by Alabama in the Elite Eight. Keep reading as we get to my Prediction. 

Clemson Betting Trends

• Clemson is 7-3-0 SU in its last 10 games overall
• The Tigers are 6-3-0 ATS in their last 9 games
• Clemson went 20-15-1 ATS last 203-24 NCAAB season (57.1%)
• The Over is 3-0-0 in the last 3 Clemson games
• The SU winner has also been the ATS winner in 9 of the last 10 Clemson games

Stanford vs Clemson Prediction

This Stanford vs Clemson NCAAB pick will heavily weigh the Strength of Schedule, Travel, Time Zone difference, Conference-change Culture Shock, and that one eye-popping Loss by Stanford to Cal Poly on November 30 where the Cardinal were big 15.5-Point Home Favorites but lost outright, 97-90. What’s up with that? That was Cal Poly’s last win, and since then, it has lost 5 straight—going winless in December—and to some marginal opposition (UCD, CSN, SJS, DEN, NEB OMAHA), so the Mustangs are not a good team by any stretch of the imagination. Now playing 2,591 miles away from campus and in a Time Zone 3 hours ahead or their natural Circadian Rhythms and on a court they are unfamiliar with, it seems like trouble for Stanford, especially if the Tigers can hold Raynaud in check. Clemson went 12-4 at Home at Littlejohn Coliseum last season, and like most Division I teams, always plays much better basketball in its building. my Prediction.

Kevin’s Prediction: Clemson -10.5