The Atlantic Coast Conference’s two best teams reside in the same division. So, when the Clemson Tigers visit Doak Campbell Stadium on October 29 to face the Florida State Seminoles, the league’s champion could very well be decided. The matchup has blossomed into one of the most intense on the college football landscape considering its implications on the national scene. Florida State won the last BCS championship in 2013 and reached the playoff semifinals in 2014. Clemson was a CFP finalist last year. And again there will be plenty at stake when the two hook up at the end of October.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Clemson Tigers +3.5
Florida State Seminoles -3.5
Odds Analysis
Florida State hit the early board at -3.5 and given their recent success at home in the series, it looks like a reasonable number. Clemson ended a three-game slide with last year’s victory, but failed to cover the 12.5-point spread. In the six previous games, the Tigers were 5-1 ATS and are 3-0 ATS in the last three at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Last Meeting
The first CFP rankings for the 2015 season came out the week before with Clemson at No. 1. The Tigers were also ranked third in the AP poll. It didn’t bother them much against No. 16 Florida State on Nov. 7. Clemson clinched a berth in the ACC title game with a 23-13 verdict over the Seminoles behind their do-it-all quarterback DeShaun Watson.
It was an ominous beginning for the Tigers, who responded after allowing a 75-yard Dalvin Cook touchdown run on the game’s second play to fall into an early 7-0 hole. Watson led a couple of first half field goal drives to keep the Tigers close before exploding in the second half.
Watson threw the go-ahead scoring pass to Deon Cain early in the third quarter and passed for 287 yards. He also ran for 107. Wayne Gallman added 103 rushing yards and capped the scoring with a 25-yard scoring burst late in the fourth. Cook ran for 194 yards, but totaled just 37 in the second half. Clemson ended FSU’s run as three-time league champs.
The Series
As far as college football rivalries go, this one is relatively young. Clemson and Florida Sate first played in 1970 before FSU joined the ACC, and have played a total of 29 games. The teams have played yearly once Florida State joined the league in 1992 and the Noles have collected 20 victories in the series.
Between 1999 and 2007, the series was affectionately known as the Bowden Bowl. Bobby was the longtime coach at FSU and his kid Tommy ran the Clemson program until resigning midway through the 2008 campaign. FSU was 5-4 during that era.
Importance
The matchup has resurfaced on the national spotlight and earlier this year CBS Sports tabbed it “the best annual game in college football.” On top of that there are always title implications within the ACC. The schools have combined to win 30 conference titles with Clemson matching FSU by claiming its 15th last season.
Florida State’s continued success and Clemson’s reemergence makes this matchup one of the hot games to watch in order to get a better handle on the national postseason picture.
Betting Angle
Over the last nine meetings home field advantage has played an important role in this matchup. The home team is 8-1 SU over that span with the only loss coming in 2013, when FSU blasted Clemson 51-14 on its way to the BCS National Championship.
Over those same nine games the home team is 4-5 ATS, but has failed to cover in each of the last three games. FSU has won the past four games played in Tallahassee, but has gone just 1-3 ATS in them.
Quick Pick
Last year’s contest was a difficult one for Florida State. The Noles faced Clemson without their No. 1 quarterback as Everett Golson was still shelved with a concussion. And they had to travel to a raucous environment with backup quarterback Sean Maguire having made his first start the week before.
Maguire’s five starts came over the final six games of the season and the senior is one of 11 projected returning starters on the offense. The Seminoles will again be strong. After last year’s loss to Clemson ended FSU’s three-year run as ACC champs, coach Jimbo Fisher stated matter-of-factly, “we’ll have to start a new streak.” The Noles do just that.
NCAA Odds: Florida State 26, Clemson 23
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