Clemson rolls into this matchup against NC State fresh off a dominant 66-20 win over App State. The Wolfpack, meanwhile, secured a 30-20 victory against Louisiana Tech a week prior, clawing their way from behind.
Last year, NC State upset Clemson 24-17 as 10-point underdogs at home, winning two of their last three meetings. But the Wolfpack hasn’t won in Death Valley since 2002. Do they have any advantage in our NC State vs. Clemson prediction?
NC State vs Clemson Betting Preview
All NC State vs. Clemson odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, September 21, 2024.
- Spread
Clemson -18 - Moneyline
NC State +600, Clemson -900 - Over/Under
44 - 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 18.
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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.
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. McCall’s absence could impact the Wolfpack’s offense quite a bit.
However, expect Duke transfer Jordan Waters to play a key role. He ran for 63 yards and a touchdown in Duke’s win over Clemson last year and has already racked up 155 yards and two scores this season.
If McCall 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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