The Louisville Cardinals and No. 2 Clemson Tigers are set to collide on the grass at Memorial Stadium. Interested parties can tune in to the action on ABC and this afternoon game is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Louisville Cardinals vs. Clemson Tigers Betting Preview
Clemson has been tabbed as heavily favored in this one and is currently giving up 38 points to Louisville. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 63 points. It appears that there should be multiple good live betting opportunities while the game is underway.
This game’s O/U was placed initially at 62, but the early action has swayed to the over.
The disappointing Cardinals are 1-7 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 5.5 units this season. The team’s posted an O/U record of 5-3. The Tigers are up 4.0 units in 2018. The team is 4-4 ATS and has an O/U record of 4-3.
The flawless Cardinals are just 2-6 straight up (SU), including 0-5 SU against ACC opponents. The Tigers are 8-0 SU overall and 5-0 SU in conference play.
The Cardinals dropped one to Wake Forest 56-35 in a blowout where their defense allowed the Demon Deacons to eat up the clock by rushing for 368 yards on 48 attempts, including five rush TDs. Matt Colburn II was unmatched for the Demon Deacons in that one with 243 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 20 attempts. Offensively, Jawon Pass completed just 30-of-54 passes for 358 yards and one touchdown. Trey Smith (98 rushing yards on 13 attempts, three TDs) and Hassan Hall (45 yards on 10 carries, one TD) led the ground attack in the loss while Chatarius Atwell (eight receptions, 132 yards) and Smith (eight catches, 107 yards) manned the receiving duties.
The Clemson Tigers take the field on Saturday having just earned a big 59-10 win over Florida State. The team’s defensive secondary allowed the Seminoles to air it out for 268 yards. Keyshawn Helton was a bright spot in the loss for Florida State, accounting for 100 yards on three catches. As a group, the Tigers collectively completed 24-of-44 passes for 404 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Trevor Lawrence went 20-for-37 for 314 yards and four touchdowns while Chase Brice was four-of-seven for 90 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Travis Etienne (45 yards on 10 rush attempts) mounted the ground game in the win while Amari Rodgers (six receptions, 156 yards, two TDs) and Tee Higgins (six catches, 62 yards, two TDs) led the receiving corps.
Louisville’s run the ball on 47.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Clemson has a rush percentage of 52.8 percent. The Cardinals have produced 117 rush yards/game (including 103 per game versus Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 13 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Tigers are logging 237 rush yards per game (245 in conference) and have 26 total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Tigers may own the edge when it comes to effectiveness in the ground game. Their backfield has produced 6.2 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 2.2 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Cardinals have tallied 3.6 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 5.3 to opponents.
The Cards offense has logged 232 yards/contest in the air overall (270 per game against conference opposition) and has nine passing TDs so far. The Tigers have recorded 286 pass yards per contest (283.8 in the ACC) and have 20 total pass scores.
Defensively, Louisville has allowed 251 rush yards and 187 pass yards per game. The Clemson defense has allowed 172.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 91.6 yards per game to opposing runners. The Tigers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.74 to opponents, while the Cardinals have given up a whopping 8.61 ANY/A.
Offensively, Pass has put up 1,417 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has completed 55 percent of his 209 attempts with seven scores through the air and seven interceptions. Pass has a 5.14 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 4.97 over the last two outings.
In the other locker room, Trevor Lawrence has completed 89-of-137 passes for 1,182 yards, 15 TDs and two INTs. Lawrence’s ANY/A stands at 9.70 for the season and 9.09 across his last two outings.
These two schools faced off last year with the final outcome being a 47-21 victory for Clemson.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Pick: Louisville Cardinals vs. Clemson Tigers
SU Winner – Clemson, ATS Winner – Louisville, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Over/Under for Louisville’s last game going into it was 67.5. The over cashed in the team’s 56-35 defeat to Wake Forest.
As a team, Louisville has averaged 3.7 yards per rush attempt over its past three games and 3.3 over its last two.
Clemson has averaged 6.5 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.2 over its past two.
The Clemson offense has lost five fumbles this season while Louisville has lost six.
Over its last three games, Louisville is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
The Over/Under for Clemson’s previous matchup going into it was 49. The over cashed in the team’s 59-10 victory over Florida State.
Over its last three matchups, Clemson is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Cardinals offense has recorded four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Tigers have put up 15 such plays.
The Louisville defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Clemson has given up four such plays.
The Louisville offense has created five rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Clemson has created 19 such runs.
The Cardinals defense has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Tigers have given up nine such runs.
The Clemson defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 26 times this year. Louisville has produced just eight sacks.
*****
