No. 24 Pittsburgh Panthers are coming into the ACC Championship Game as considerable dogs against the No. 2 Clemson Tigers. The game is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET and you can witness the action live on ABC.
Clemson Tigers at Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Preview
Clemson is a big road underdog here and is currently receiving 27 points from bookmakers. If the Tigers get out in front early on it would create a solid live betting opportunity. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 55 points.
The game’s O/U was initially set at 57, but the under has gotten most of the early sharp action.
Each team has posted a good return this season as the Tigers have gained 5.0 units and the Panthers are ahead 3.8 units.
The Tigers have gone 12-0 straight up (SU), including 8-0 SU against conference opponents. The Panthers are 7-5 SU overall and 6-2 SU in conference play.
The Tigers are hoping to remain undefeated after a 56-35 win over South Carolina last week. The passing attack was sharp as Trevor Lawrence completed 27 passes on 36 attempts for 393 yards and one touchdown. Travis Etienne (150 rushing yards on 28 attempts, two TDs) and Tavien Feaster (63 yards on nine carries, one TD) provided the ground attack in the win while Tee Higgins (six receptions, 142 yards, one TD) and Hunter Renfrow (five catches, 80 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Pittsburgh just dropped a 24-3 game to Miami (FL). The defense let the Hurricanes kill the clock by running for 293 yards on 32 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Travis Homer torched the defense, putting up 168 rushing yards and a score on eight attempts for Miami (FL). For Pittsburgh, Kenny Pickett completed 14-of-22 passes for 130 yards. Darrin Hall (47 yards on 14 rush attempts) mounted the ground attack in the defeat as Rafael Araujo-Lopes (six receptions, 67 yards) and Maurice Ffrench (three catches, 13 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Clemson has run the ball on 53.1 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Pittsburgh has a rush percentage of 64.0 percent. The Tigers have run for 256 yards per game (including 257 per game versus Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 42 scores via handoffs this year. The Panthers are putting up 233 rush yards per game (261 in conference) and have 28 total rushing TDs.
Based on the numbers this season, it seems like the Tigers should have the advantage when it comes to RB effectiveness. Their backfield has logged 6.6 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 2.2 to opponents. The Panthers have tallied 5.8 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 4.6 to opponents.
The Tigers offense has logged 283 yards/contest through the air overall (267 per game against conference opposition) and has 29 passing TDs so far. The Panthers have recorded 153 pass yards per game (166.0 in the ACC) and have 12 total pass scores.
Clemson appears to hold an edge in both areas of the defense. The team’s allowed opponents to run for an average of 85 yards and throw for 198 yards per game. The Pittsburgh defense has allowed 225.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 174.3 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.91 to opposing QBs, while the Panthers have given up a 6.41 ANY/A.
Offensively, Lawrence has put up 2,237 passing yards this season, and has connected on 179-of-264 attempts with 20 passing scores and only four interceptions. He has a pristine 8.91 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 9.51 over the last two outings.
On the other sideline, Kenny Pickett has completed 142-of-235 passes for 1,509 yards, nine TDs and five INTs. Pickett’s ANY/A stands at a mediocre 4.87 for the year and 7.47 across his past two outings.
These two ACC adversaries did not get a chance to play each other in 2017.
RELATED: Week 14 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Clemson Tigers at Pittsburgh Panthers
SU Winner – Pittsburgh, ATS Winner – Clemson, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Clemson defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 43 times this year. Pittsburgh has registered just 28 sacks.
Both teams have lost eight fumbles this season.
The Tigers offense has tallied 18 pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Panthers have put up 10 such plays.
The Clemson defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40+ yards, while Pittsburgh has given up 10 such plays.
The Clemson offense has created 36 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Pittsburgh has created 29 such runs.
The Tigers defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Panthers have given up 29 such runs.
The O/U for Pittsburgh’s last match was set at 45.5. The under cashed in the 24-3 defeat to Miami (FL).
Over its last three contests, Pittsburgh is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three matches, Clemson is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Clemson’s last game going into it was 58.5. The over cashed in the team’s 56-35 victory over South Carolina.
Clemson has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its last three outings and 6.1 over its last two.
Pittsburgh has averaged 5.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 2.6 over its last two.
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