On November 7 the Notre Dame Fighting Irish staked a claim to ACC and College Football Playoff contention with a 47-40 overtime win over the Clemson Tigers as 5-point home dogs. For many fans and gamblers, the game had an asterisk because of Clemson being without superstar quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Trevor Lawrence. For others the fact that Notre Dame could beat a still-strong Clemson team that is proof that coach Brian Kelly’s program has reached the next level. Clemson was hardly lacking in the game as backup quarterback DJ Uiagalelei threw for 439 yards and 2 touchdowns in defeat. Which removed any asterisks in the minds of many. Clemson now gets their revenge chance on Saturday against the Irish in the ACC championship game.
ACC Championship Game
When: Saturday, December 19, 2020, 4 p.m. ET
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
TV: ABC
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Clemson Tigers -10.5
Notre Dame Fighting Irish +10.5
Total: 61.5
Clemson Tigers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Bookmaker Wagering Analysis
Betting action should be relatively equal here. Both teams are name brands and the Clemson revenge angle is offset by their price.
Will Lawrence Be the Difference Maker This Time?
The Clemson Tigers enter this game with a record of 9-1 straight up, 4-6 against the spread, and 6-4 over the total. Clemson has covered two in a row with six overs in their last seven games. The Tigers last played on December 5 when they routed Virginia Tech 45-10 as 22-point road chalk with the game going under the total of 66.
Clemson has national metrics of 11th for total offense, 7th for passing, 71st for rushing, 5th for scoring, and 111th for turnovers. Defensively the Tigers rank 7th in the nation, 25th against the pass, 11th against the rush, 15th for points allowed, and 8th for takeaways.
Now Trevor Lawrence gets his chance against the Fighting Irish after missing that first meeting on November 7. Lawrence enters with a sparking QB rating of 174.9 and a pass completion rate of 69.2 percent. Lawrence has thrown for 2431 yards, 9.7 yards per attempt, 20 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Running back Travis Etienne has 758 yards rushing, 5.1 yards per carry, and 12 touchdowns.
Ian Hits the Books for Stellar Campaign
Notre Dame enters this rematch against Clemson with a record of 10-0 straight up, 5-5 against the spread, and 6-4 over the total. The Fighting Irish last played on December 5 and beat the Syracuse Orange 45-21 as 34.5-point home overlays. Over the total of 50.5 paid too.
Notre Dame has national metrics of 19th for total offense, 53rd for passing, 11th for rushing, 18th for scoring, and 113th for turnovers. Defensively the Fighting Irish rank 14th in the nation, 41st against the pass, 8th against the rush, 12th for points allowed, and 61st for takeaways.
Ian Book doesn’t have the outrageous numbers of Lawrence but produces wins. Book has a 149.2 QB rating with 2382 yards, 15 touchdown passes, and just 2 interceptions. Keeping things honest is running back Kyren Williams with 1011 yards rushing, 5.6 yards per carry, and 12 touchdowns. Javon McKinley has added 37 catches for 660 yards, 17.8 yards per catch, and 3 touchdowns.
Clemson Tigers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Bookmaker Free Pick
In this situation, the Fighting Irish should be motivated to show well after having their previous win over Notre Dame being discounted due to Lawrence’s absence. Notre Dame has covered the spread in four of their last six games when getting points to epitomize their ability as power and blue blood dogs. Double digits look to be too much for Clemson here.
Tigers vs. Fighting Irish Bookmaker Best Bet:Notre Dame Fighting Irish
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
