Things will get a bit more difficult for the No. 12 Clemson Tigers when they visit Louisville for the ACC opener on Thursday. As expected the Tigers cruised against lesser competition in their first two games and the conference opener was to be a big one. But the Cardinals stumbled as a two-touchdown favorite against Houston last week, taking a little luster off this one.
ODDS
Clemson opened as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 54. Louisville’s loss to Houston as 13.5-point chalk last weekend turned bettors off to the Cards and the spread was wagered to -6. Two stout defenses gives the under plenty of value in this one.
KEY MISMATCH
While Clemson runs quarterback Deshaun Watson out to direct the 12th-ranked Tigers offense, Louisville is in the midst of a controversy after two losses. Watson looks to keep progressing after a nine-month recovery from ACL surgery and a couple of body bag games to open the season did wonders for his comeback. He threw for 194 yards and two touchdowns in five series of work in a rout of FCS Wofford in the Tigers’ opener and had 248 yards and three touchdowns in a win over former FCS school Appalachian State last weekend. Led by Watson, the Tigers have piled up 925 yards combined in two easy wins. Granted the competition was less than competitive, but Watson said he’ll make sure the Tigers keep working, no matter how much more difficult the schedule gets. Louisville coach Bobby Petrino is waiting to name his starter. Freshman Lamar Jackson started against Houston, but had a part in four turnovers and was benched for Kyle Bolin. The Cards were a two-touchdown favorite and lost 34-31 to the Cougars.
KEY STAT
255.5 – Clemson is No. 19 in total defense through two weeks following blowouts of Wofford and Appalachian State. The Tigers ranked first nationally last season and despite the loss of players to the NFL, injuries and other departures, it doesn’t look like they missed a beat, according to Petrino.
BETTING ANGLE
The Cardinals can look back at last year’s meeting for inspiration and motivation even though they lost the first-ever game between the schools. Louisville was two yards away from getting the win on the road but failed to punch the ball in the endzone, getting stopped at the goal line on fourth down. Louisville allowed touchdowns on a punt return and fumble return while holding the Tigers without an offensive score. The ranked Tigers are Louisville’s toughest home opponent of the season and the Cards 0-2 start makes this game feel even more critical. And as Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliot reminded his players: “A wounded animal is a dangerous animal.”
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Clemson certainly hasn’t done much to justify their lofty ranking, posting wins over FCS Wofford and Sun Belt member Appalachian State, a school that just made the jump to FBS prior to last season. But the Tigers did what they were supposed to, blasting both teams while covering the spread in each. Watson is a legitimate dual-threat and had two games to work through his return after major knee surgery and was flawless. Play-making receiver Mike Williams is out recovering from a fracture in his neck. His loss wasn’t felt last week, but he could be missed against the Cards, who promise to be stiffer competition. The Cardinals are faced with a quarterback dilemma, and as the saying goes, when you have two quarterbacks, you have none. The Cards actually have four, but we’re likely to see Bolin get the nod over Jackson. Don’t be surprised if Petrino plays musical chairs against a defense that brings the heat.
Clemson 26, Louisville 17
BookMaker opened the spread for this game at -4.5 in favor of the Tigers. The NCAA lines total surfaced at 54. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The matchup between the Clemson Tigers and Louisville Cardinals will take place Thursday, September 17, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
