The color orange is celebrated in October and the Clemson Tigers have done their part to promote autumn’s pigment through two outings this month. Dabo Swinney’s charges erupted for 104 points while surrendering a total of 10 points in dispatching Wake Forest and NC State by scores of 63-3 and 41-7 respectively. The Tigers opened as a 14-point favorite and the spread has since moved to 16.5 for Saturday's game at Doak Campbell Stadium vs Florida State.
- +16.5 is tied for the largest home underdog spread for Florida State in our NCAAF database (since 1995).
- Clemson has the No. 3 scoring defense vs the 94th-ranked Florida State scoring offense.
- Clemson is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games on the road vs Florida State.
Clemson vs Florida State Game Center
’Noles in a Rare Position
Florida State is basically never an underdog at home. In fact, our database shows that the biggest spreads the Seminoles have ever faced as a home underdog were 16.5 vs Florida in 2008 and then 7.5 vs Florida in 2006. As of Wednesday afternoon, the line for Week 9 vs Clemson is 16.5, tying their biggest home dog position in our database.
The last time Florida State was higher than a +3.5 dog at home was two years ago vs Clemson. The closing spread that day was 4.0 and the Tigers won by just a field goal as the ’Noles covered by the skin of their teeth.
Clemson Regains No. 2 Ranking
The No. 2 rank has been a curse for the last couple of weeks as first Georgia, then Ohio State lost their first games of the season from the No. 2 rank. Clemson will look to avoid that fate this week at Florida State where the Tigers have historically struggled.
Clemson only plays there every two years, so it’s hard to compare the recent Clemson and Florida State teams to those of the past. With that said, Clemson is 2-9 SU in its last 11 visits to Florida State.
My Pick for this Game
I’m picking Clemson to cover the 16.5-point spread in this one.
Clemson has looked really good since Trevor Lawrence has settled in as the No. 1 QB. Lawrence carries a 165.0 QB rating (10th) into Week 9 on the strength of 12 passing TDs and a 68.3 percent completion rate (15th). He will be licking his chops vs the 113th-ranked pass defense.
Clemson boasts a two-pronged offensive attack with Travis Etienne at RB averaging 8.2 yards per carry and leading the nation with 14 rushing touchdowns. He will get a good challenge from Florida State’s eighth-ranked rush defense after running for three touchdowns against a similarly ranked NC State unit in Week 8.
To top it off, Clemson has the No. 3 scoring defense in FBS vs the 94th-ranked scoring offense in Florida State.
