The Clemson Tigers’ football team had one of the most memorable seasons in program history in 2016, dominating in the regular season and advancing to the national championship game before losing a nail-biter to Alabama. With star quarterback Deshaun Watson back in the fold, the team is ranked No. 2 nationally and has designs of making another title push.
That will begin with a tough first test, as Clemson will travel to face the Auburn Tigers in Week 1 of the regular season.
This matchup in Week 1 of the regular season will take place on Saturday, September 3, 2016, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Clemson -7.5
Auburn +7.5
Over/Under 62.5
Odds Analysis
Even though Clemson is on the road against a quality opponent, it’s still more than a touchdown favorite. Furthermore, the bettors are buying in, as more than two-thirds of the wagers have come in on Clemson to cover.
This is expected to be a shootout and the gamblers like “over” the total of 62.5, as 85 percent of them are currently going that way. There will be plenty of rooting for Clemson and touchdowns if these trends stay steady heading up to the game.
Player to Watch
Clemson star quarterback Deshaun Watson should have the single biggest impact on this game. He threw for 4,109 yards with 35 touchdowns and 13 interceptions a season ago, while adding 1,105 yards rushing and 12 more scores.
Watson could be an early pick in the NFL draft when he declares but for now is focused on helping Clemson succeed. The team went undefeated in last year’s regular season as Watson helped push the team to the College Football Playoff.
Watson has many key targets returning and should once again be a dual threat which Auburn will have to work hard to slow down. The Tigers were 16th nationally by averaging 38.5 points per game in 2015.
Key Stat
Auburn quarterback Sean White only has one career touchdown pass but must be good right away to keep his team in the game. White is a traditional pocket passer, which isn’t the type of mold that the Tigers have used for past success.
White played as a redshirt freshman a year ago, throwing for 1,166 yards but with only one touchdown and four interceptions. He must be improved in 2016, and should be as he has gained experience and more familiarity within the offense.
Cam Newton was a great example of a read-option quarterback who led the team to unparalleled heights, and White will aim to do it using a different strength. It could be tough to keep up as the Clemson offense looks stronger.
Free ATS Pick
Clemson wasn’t considered to be the national title favorite last year despite such a strong regular season. It came close, though, beating Oklahoma easily in the national semifinals before losing to the Crimson Tide.
Now the expectations are extremely high with Watson and other key players back. Auburn is a solid team but not on Clemson’s level, and will need a big-time effort to pull the upset.
Clemson should be able to answer the ball in this one, led by an experience offense. Even though the spread is more than a touchdown for the visitor, Clemson shouldn’t have trouble covering it. The over/under scoring total could come down to the last few minutes.
College Football Odds: Clemson 38, Auburn 24
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