POWER SPORTS' ACC GAME OF THE MONTH
- Handicapper
- Power Sports
- League
- NCAAF
- Competition
- Clemson vs Pittsburgh
- Time
- 10/23/2021 03:35 PM
- Bet Type
- Point Spread
- Pick
-
Clemson +3.5 (-110)
(BetMGM)
- Outcome
- Loss
- Analysis
- 10* Clemson (3:30 ET): It is painfully obvious by this point that Clemson does not have much offense. While last week did see them hold on to defeat a scrappy Syracuse team 17-14, they failed to cover (as 12.5-point chalk) and are now 0-6 ATS on the year! Only Missouri and New Mexico (both 0-7 ATS) are worse nationally when it comes to the betting window. I will readily admit that I was wrong to lay the points with the Tigers last Friday at the Carrier Dome. But this looks to be the ultimate “buy low” spot as for the 1st time since the National Championship Game at the end of the 2019 season, Clemson is an underdog. Take the points here.
Dabo Swinney has not been an underdog in an ACC game since 2016. So this is something truly “out of the ordinary” as his Tigers head to Pitt for the first time ever. Because they’ve already lost two regular season games (first time since 2014), Clemson is out of the polls. But most power ratings, including my own, continue to have respect for them. Earlier I referenced the offensive struggles. But the defense has been great, holding every opponent to 14 points or less in regulation. When you’re favored by double digits - as the Tigers have been in every game but one - that doesn’t guarantee you’re going to cover the spread. But as a dog, that kind of defense is huge.
It should also come in handy when facing a Pittsburgh team that came into last week leading the FBS in scoring. But the Panthers were held to “just” 28 points last week at Virginia Tech, a sign they can be kept in check. Something to keep in mind is that Pitt hadn’t exactly faced a slew of great defenses before heading to Blacksburg last weekend. While my power ratings respect the Panthers, calling them the ACC’s 2nd best team, Clemson is still #1 in that regard and I’m taking the points. 10* Clemson
