SPORTS N STUFF

The rivalry between the Clemson Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks is an intense one. Clemson will try to win with its offense, while Carolina will try to prevail with its defense.

Clemson Tigers @ South Carolina Gamecocks – Saturday, November 26
Sports betting line: South Carolina -4

Why Clemson Will Win

The college football betting  experts who live in the Palmetto State are perfectly aware that Clemson delivered a stink-bomb of a performance this past Saturday against North Carolina State. The Tigers, knowing that they had already locked up the Atlantic Coast Conferences Atlantic Division championship, were simply not focused on the task at hand. They were likely looking ahead to this game against South Carolina when they lost by a 37-13 score against a decidedly mediocre foe. The sense here is that Clemson treated the North Carolina State game as an exhibition, and that the Tigers will dramatically transform themselves in this game on Saturday night against their hated rival from the Southeastern Conference. Clemson will win for two reasons: First, it has several skill people in the backfield and on the edges who can make plays with their speed.

The Tigers are a faster team than the Gamecocks, and thats likely to count for something before the night is over. Second and more important the Tigers will win because South Carolina just cant score a lot of points. The Gamecocks are still winning games because of their defense, but theyre simply not scoring a whole lot. South Carolina might have scored 28 points against Arkansas on Nov. 5, but seven of those points came from the defensive side of the ball on a pick-six. The Gamecocks offense hasnt scored more than 21 points against a Football Subdivision Opponent over the past month. Clemson might be struggling, but this matchup works in favor of the Tigers. Clemson doesnt need to play its best game to win; the Tigers merely need to avoid crucial, game-changing mistakes, especially from Boyd, their quarterback, who has been especially erratic over the past three weeks.

Why South Carolina Will Win

When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, you cant ignore the fact that Clemsons level of play has dramatically dropped off over the past month, beginning with an Oct. 29 loss to Georgia Tech. Ever since that game, a malaise has settled into the Clemson camp. Tajh Boyd threw two interceptions against Wake Forest on Nov. 12, but he easily could have suffered seven picks if Wake Forest defenders had better hands. Then, the roof collapsed last weekend in a 24-point blowout loss suffered against a North Carolina State team that isnt very imposing. If South Carolinas vaunted front four, led by freshman phenom Jadeveon Clowney, can consistently hit and rattle Boyd, the Gamecocks could get the parade of turnovers theyll need to win this game.

Who Will Win

Its just too overwhelming to ignore: South Carolina cant score. Clemson is not playing well by any stretch, but unless South Carolina can finally put the pieces together on offense and hit home-run pass plays to star receiver Alshon Jeffery, the Tigers should outperform the Gamecocks and stop a two-game losing streak in this series.
College Football Betting Pick: Clemson