The Clemson Tigers enter this matchup vs. NC State Wolfpack riding high after a dominant 66-20 victory over Appalachian State on Sept. 7. Meanwhile, the Wolfpack secured a 30-20 win against Louisiana Tech in their most recent outing.
Both teams began the year with aspirations of an ACC title, and this is the first in-conference test for both programs.
Last season, NC State hosted Clemson as 10-point home underdogs. The Wolfpack upset the Tigers, winning 24-17, and has beaten them in two of its last three matchups. However, NC State hasn’t won in Death Valley since 2002, when Philip Rivers led them to victory over the Tigers.
NC State vs Clemson Betting and DFS Preview
All NC State vs. Clemson odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Monday, Sept. 16.
- Spread
Clemson -17 - Moneyline
NC State +535, Clemson -775 - Over/Under
48 - Game time
Noon ET - Location
Memorial Stadium | Clemson, SC - Predicted Weather at Kick
78 degrees, Partly Cloudy - How to Watch
ABC
Clemson initially opened as 7.5-point favorites back in May. However, following NC State’s blowout loss to Tennessee, that number has ballooned a couple of possessions to 17. Though the spread hasn’t gone above that mark, there is a chance it could creep higher by kickoff on Saturday.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Though they have covered in two of their last three games against Clemson with two outright wins, the Wolfpack enter this ACC matchup 0-3 against the spread in 2024. Clemson is 1-2 on the year against the spread, having covered its first spread last week as 16.5-point favorites in the blowout win against App State.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
- QB Grayson McCall, NC State
- QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson
- RB Jordan Waters, NC State
- RB Phil Mafah, Clemson
- WR Kevin Concepcion, NC State
- WR Jake Briningstool, Clemson
- WR Antonio Williams, Clemson
- TE Justin Joly, NC State
Grayson McCall is still questionable for this matchup after he left last week’s game against Louisiana Tech. When looking for a DFS play on NC State, it starts with Duke transfer running back Jordan Waters.
In 2023, Waters ran for 63 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown in Duke’s win over Clemson. So far this season, he has logged 155 yards and two scores. His counterpart on the Tigers, Phil Mafah, has rushed for 177 yards and a touchdown.
Clemson’s signal-caller seems like he’s finally putting it all together in 2024. Cade Klubnik has been efficient, and more importantly, he’s making good decisions and protecting the football. Klubnik has thrown for 520 yards and five touchdowns with just one interception in the early going. He deserves some DFS attention in this one.
Prediction for NC State vs. Clemson
The biggest question in this one is the health of McCall. The veteran passer and Coastal Carolina transfer is still questionable after exiting the Louisiana Tech game early.
If he can’t go, NC State true freshman CJ Bailey will make his first collegiate start in the unfriendly confines of Death Valley. Bailey took over for McCall last week and immediately threw an interception that led to a Louisiana Tech field goal before halftime for a 17-6 lead over the Wolfpack at the break. But Bailey settled down and led a 30-20 come-from-behind victory.
Even if McCall can go, what we’ve seen from him has been disappointing, given that he was one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the transfer portal following an excellent career at Coastal. To take it a step further, the entire NC State offense has been a bit of a letdown in 2024.
While I’d love to say I can see NC State going into Clemson and battling the Tigers, I don’t see it happening for four quarters. The Clemson offense is beginning to settle in, and they have the playmakers to pull away from NC State in this one.
Prediction: Clemson 34, NC State 13
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