While most games all throughout the Carolinas were cancelled or moved due to Hurricane Florence, as of Wednesday afternoon it looks like the Clemson Tigers are still going to host the Georgia Southern Eagles in Week 3. Clemson is a massive favorite per the CFB betting odds in this one and anything other than a blowout would be a disappointment considering Georgia Southern went 2-10 in 2017. The Eagles have already matched last year’s two wins this season though.
This matchup in Week 3 will take place on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. ET at Clemson Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Georgia Southern +33
Clemson -33
Total 46
Odds Analysis
Initially, Clemson was a 34-point favorite on the NCAAF betting line in this one. The Tigers typically blow out lesser opponents, and they likely could name the score with the Eagles. However, a potential Category 4 hurricane has affected the spread and total. Clemson is down to -33 per the CFB betting odds, while the total has dropped from 49 to 46. Right now, that’s the lowest total of the week.
Weather Report
It’s interesting that Clemson is still slated to play this game on Saturday afternoon while the rest of the area braces for a potentially life-shattering natural disaster. However, head coach Dabo Swinney indicated that nothing has changed during his press conference on Wednesday morning.
Clemson is expected to be spared the brunt of the storm considering its location in the state. However, other schools in the area have rescheduled, postponed, or cancelled their games this weekend because of the storm.
On gameday, the weather forecast looks great. It’s projected to be 85 degrees and partly cloudy throughout the game, but Hurricane Florence is expected to arrive 8-10 hours after the game and dump lots of rain in the region.
With everything else going on, it’s hard to imagine Clemson having much of a homefield advantage for this one.
Position to Watch
Clemson is expected to continue to use quarterbacks Kelly Bryant and Trevor Lawrence interchangeably against Georgia Southern. Both quarterbacks have looked sharp this season, and the Tigers have not had a reason to choose over the other ad this point.
Bryant was the main man against Texas A&M. It makes sense that Swinney would choose the battle-tested senior when things got close with the Aggies, and he came through when he needed to. He went 12-17 for 205 yards with a touchdown in that game, and he added another 54 yards and a score on the ground.
Don’t be surprised to see Lawrence get more work here. The freshman is the future of the program and is considered by some to be a generational talent. He is averaging 10 yards per pass so far this season, and a lowly opponent like Georgia Southern is another chance to give him some seasoning.
Free ATS Pick
Georgia Southern has looked much better since bringing back the triple option. The Eagles first made a name for themselves at the FBS level as an option team, and it’s no surprise they are 2-0 through two games now that they are running that offense again.
However, the option has little chance against a defensive line like Clemson’s. Clemson has seen the option in each of the last two years, and the Tigers have shut it down both times. They allowed Georgia Tech to score a combined 17 points during their meetings in 2016 and 2017, and that doesn’t bode well for the Eagles.
I think the Tigers are going to rout the Eagles if this game actually takes place. Even without the crowd support they usually get, this is just a great matchup for them, and they will focus their attention on the task at hand.
College Football Odds: Clemson 48, Georgia Southern 7
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!
