The No. 8 Clemson Tigers (10-2, 8-0 ACC) meet the No. 17 North Carolina Tar Heels (9-3, 6-2) Saturday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ABC). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Clemson vs. North Carolina odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
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The Tigers are looking to rebound after a disappointing 31-30 loss at home to rival South Carolina in the regular-season finale, ending any chances of a shot at the College Football Playoffs. Clemson is just 2-2 SU in the last 4 games, while going 2-3 ATS in the last 5 games.
The Tar Heels were also bested by their rivals in the season finale, falling to NC State 30-27 in double overtime. UNC clinched the Coastal Division with a win Nov. 12 at Wake Forest, and proceeded to drop the final 2 games. The Under is 3-1 in the last 4 games for North Carolina.
These teams didn’t meet during the regular season and last played in 2019. The Tigers have won 4 straight in the series that started in 1897 and lead 38-15-1.
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Clemson vs. North Carolina odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 12:06 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Clemson -300 (bet $300 to win $100) | North Carolina +240 (bet $100 to win $240)
- Against the spread: Clemson -8 (-109) | North Carolina +8 (-111)
- Over/Under (O/U): 63.5 (O: -109 | U: -111)
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Clemson vs. North Carolina picks and predictions
Prediction
Clemson 34, North Carolina 30
Moneyline
Clemson (-300) is a little on the expensive side, costing you 3 times your potential return. That’s too much risk, and not enough reward, even if North Carolina (+240) has dropped 2 in a row and comes in with zero momentum.
PASS.
Against the spread
NORTH CAROLINA +8 (-111) is worth playing, even though the Tar Heels come in with very little momentum. QB Drake Maye has been among the most consistent quarterbacks in the ACC, and he and WR Josh Downs have had quite the rapport. Maye was even getting some Heisman attention prior to the 2-game skid.
Clemson -8 (-109) probably would have been the suggested play before the Tigers collapse against South Carolina in the finale. Now, there is doubt, especially as the Tigers will need to push the tempo to try to keep up with the high-octane Tar Heels attack. This will be a fun game to watch, and a game decided by 1 score.
Over/Under
OVER 63.5 (-109) is the lean, but go with a small-unit wager only.
UNC has rolled up 480.9 total yards per game to rank 11th in the country, while putting up 320.9 passing yards per game to check in 8th. The offense also has 37.1 PPG to rank 15th in the nation.
On the flip side, the Tar Heels D has made strides late in the season, but it is still very giving, allowing 30.3 PPG overall.
Clemson is good for 34.3 PPG to rank 27th in the nation, and this team allows just 20.9 PPG. But the UNC offense should be able to do much better than that.
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