Clemson vs. South Carolina Pick 11/30/19

No. 3 Clemson Tigers (11-0 SU, 8-3 ATS) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (4-7 SU, 5-6 ATS)

Date/Time: Saturday November 30th, 2019. 12:00PM (EST)

Where: Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, S.C.

TV: ESPN

Point Spread: CLEM -25/SC +25 (BetNow – Massive 50% Bonus up to $1000 in Free Bets!)

Over/Under Total: TBA

The no. 3 Clemson Tigers are on the verge of earning another trip to the College Football Playoffs to defend their National Championship. The Tigers currently own the nation’s longest active winning streak, which stands at 22 consecutive victories. Clemson appears to be knocking on the door towards another title run but will have to withstand a road trip against arch-rival South Carolina to conclude their perfect season. Clemson is currently listed as 25 point favorites which is just one point shy of last year’s 26 point betting line over the Gamecocks which was the most lopsided line in the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry.

In last year’s game at Clemson, the Gamecocks gave the Tigers everything they asked for behind former WR Deebo Samuel’s explosive performance that featured ten catches for 210 yards with three touchdowns. The Gamecocks stood toe to toe with the Tigers deep in the 2nd half before things started slipping away but were still able to pull out the cover against the spread. For this Saturday’s match-up, the 25 points appear to be generous given this heated rivalry and the fact this game will be played at South Carolina. However, the circumstances from last year’s game and this Saturday’s are entirely different which leads me to believe the Tigers are poised to cruise to an uncontested victory.

Gamecocks could be fighting for Muschamp’s job

The South Carolina Gamecocks did not have the highest of expectations going into the 2019 season. The schedule was ranked the #1 toughest in college football according to ESPN, and the Gamecocks lost several players on both sides of the football. South Carolina struck gold early in the year with a “double overtime” upset against no. 3 Georgia. However, the Gamecocks offense fell apart during the 2nd half of the season, which resulted in losses in 4 of the last five games. Those losses included embarrassing performances against Tennessee, Appalachian State, and then a dreadful 30-6 blowout against Texas A&M.

The Gamecock faithful have been calling for Will Muschamp’s termination, but Athletic Director Ray Tanner has voiced his support for the current coach. Admittedly as a Gamecock fan, things have been ugly. The offense lacks ingenuity. Freshman quarterback Ryan Hilinski has somehow gotten worse with each start, which I believe is a product of bad play calling and game planning that does not suit the strengths of the team. The Gamecocks have put a heavy focus on running the football but have largely been unsuccessful, which leads to one of the worst 3rd down rates in the FBS and a leading factor towards consistent stalled drivers. The offense has been truly embarrassing, and now they are expected to be without star WR Bryan Edwards who will likely sit out in preparation for the NFL. With no clear “go-to” guys, this is a tough match-up that will have Will Muschamp under the microscope with his potential future on the line.

Clemson peaking again at the right time

If you look at the last few years, Clemson has had a few questionable performances during the regular season that have raised doubt towards their potential championship status. However, Clemson seems to put everything together towards the end of the season just as they have done in their prior two championship runs over the last four years. The 2019 Tigers appear to be no different. After a near upset in Chapel Hill, the Tigers have blown out six straight opponents by a minimum of 31 points. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is currently playing his best football of the season, and running back Travis Etienne could be the best running back in college football. The Tigers offense is loaded with speed and talent at the skill positions.

The Gamecocks have some talent on defense, but it’s hard to tell at times because the offense has been so bad. I expect that to be the trend again this Saturday against an outstanding Clemson defense that ranks 2nd in the FBS, allowing just 10.7 points per game. Expect Clemson’s pass rush to cause havoc on the young quarterback Ryan Hilinski which will likely give Clemson plentiful opportunities with the football. The Tigers have posted 45 points or more in 6 straight games. Due to the Gamecocks struggles on offense, if Clemson gets anywhere near that 45 point mark; this will be an easy cover for the Tigers, and that is exactly what I expect to happen.

Clemson vs. South Carolina betting trends

Clemson has been the superior betting team this season at 8-3 ATS compared to the Gamecocks 5-6 mark ATS. The Tigers have covered the mark in 5 of their last six games and own a five-game winning streak over the Gamecocks. Despite Clemson’s win streak, the Gamecocks are 7-3 ATS in the previous ten meetings against Clemson and have fared even better at home with a s5-1 record ATS against Clemson at Williams-Brice Stadium. The “under” has also cashed in six of the last nine meetings between the Tigers and Gamecocks.

Jay’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: Take Clemson -25. Knock the Tigers down to -5 favorites by inserting them into a massive 20 point college football teaser at the web’s BEST betting site: 5Dimes!