Undefeated and No. 1 Clemson is one win away from being firmly locked into the College Football Playoff. The Tigers have had such an impressive season, even if they fall in the ACC Championship game, they’re still likely to sneak into the four-team bracket. North Carolina hasn’t lost since opening night, but that defeat and a pair of wins over FCS opponents could be enough to keep the Tar Heels on the outside of the CFP if they are able to upset Clemson.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Clemson Tigers -5.5
North Carolina Tar Heels +5.5
Over/Under 63
ODDS ANALYSIS
The last time the Tar Heels played at BofA Stadium, they walked off losers to border rival South Carolina in the season opener. They earned a return engagement, but the result will be the same. The line was wagered down a point to Clemson -4.5, a manageable number against an untested opponent. The total spiked to 67.5.
KEY MISMATCH
Clemson has done plenty right this season and its defense is elite, but it’s not without flaws. Florida State, Syracuse and South Carolina all rushed for better than 180 yards on the Tigers, and they rank 88th nationally in allowing rushes of 20 or more yards, with 21. North Carolina should look for ways to torment Clemson on the ground with the combination of quarterback Marquise Williams and running back Elijah Hood. Half of UNC’s rushing touchdowns this season have come in the last four games, so it should be ready to roll on Saturday. Hood has been on a late-season tear, racking up 220 yards and two touchdowns in last weekend’s win over NC State. Before that game – in which he averaged more than 10 yards per carry – he had rushed for 316 yards and six scores in his previous three contests. Look for Hood to keep that momentum rolling against the Clemson defense, which has been prone to allowing big-time running plays.
KEY STAT
+9 – North Carolina’s turnover margin. The Tar Heels have the second-most takeaways in the ACC with 24 and are third in differential. Clemson turned the ball over 24 times this season and is minus-3 in turnover margin.
BETTING ANGLE
Clemson will try to complete a perfect run and wrap up a playoff berth in the ACC final in Charlotte. The Tigers wrapped up the regular season by fending off in-state rival South Carolina 37-32, falling far short as a 20.5-point road chalk. North Carolina has also been stout since suffering a Week 1 loss to South Carolina. The Tar Heels followed by winning 11 in a row to reach the ACC final, including a 45-34 victory Saturday as a 3.5-point favorite at North Carolina State. As hot as UNC has been, its resume is absent of a true signature win. No Florida State and no Clemson in crossover games with the Atlantic Division ... until now. Take down one of the nation’s last remaining undefeated teams and the Heels will not only with their first ACC crown since 1980, but they might rise into playoff contention.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Critics will point to UNC’s soft schedule to hold it back from serious playoff consideration, even if the Heels pull the upset. But they managed to win the games – 11 straight in fact – with an impressive offense led by Williams, Hood, a deep corps of receivers and one of the league’s top offensive lines. As the underdog, UNC needs to capitalize on any opportunity to flip momentum and get Deshaun Watson off the field. The Tar Heels have done a great job in recent weeks of forcing turnovers through the air, and they’d love to add a couple more against a Heisman-contending quarterback. But the Tigers have been tested, beating Notre Dame and Florida State, and lived to talk about it. The Tar Heels haven’t, and this is the week it costs them. UNC will have a difficult time matching the athleticism of Clemson, which is loaded on both sides of the ball. Carolina is a legitimate team, but Clemson is just a cut above.
Clemson 38, North Carolina 31
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Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Clemson Tigers will start at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 5, 2015, at Bank of America Stadium. The matchup will be televised live on ABC.
