Clemson vs South Carolina prediction and analysis

Overview of the Clemson vs South Carolina Rivalry

The annual Clemson Tigers versus South Carolina Gamecocks matchup is a storied in-state rivalry packed with intense competition and rich tradition. As we approach their Week 14 showdown, both teams come with contrasting recent trends and key statistics that are crucial to consider when placing bets or making predictions.

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Key Historical and Team Trends

• South Carolina holds a strong recent edge when favored against in-state teams, winning each of their last eight such games.
• Clemson has struggled against Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponents, losing six of their last eight in that category.
• Clemson has failed to cover the spread 10 out of 11 times in South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium, with the favorite covering the spread in each of the last four Clemson-South Carolina games played there.
• Despite that, Clemson has an impressive record against South Carolina overall, winning 20 of their last 22 matchups.
• Road teams have covered the spread in seven of Clemson’s last eight outings, suggesting that Clemson might be a strong bet as an away team.
• The last four home contests for South Carolina against Clemson have all gone under the total points line, with similar trends for Clemson’s last four road games in November also going under.

Player Highlights and Defensive/Offensive Analysis

• South Carolina defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. is tied for 21st among FBS players with 7 sacks this season, providing a potential threat to Clemson’s offense.
• Clemson’s Bryant Wesco Jr. leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in receiving touchdowns with six, making him a focal point for Clemson’s passing attack.
• South Carolina ranks near the bottom nationally (tied 128th) in second-half scoring, averaging only 8 points in the period, and has a negative average point differential in fourth quarters (-3.6), indicating second-half struggles.
• Defensively, Clemson is stout, ranked 24th nationally in both rushing yards allowed (108.5) and passing yards allowed (274.5) per game, which could suppress South Carolina’s offensive production.

Betting Angles and Totals

The trends point toward a low-scoring game, as recent matchups and team November road-home splits have favored the under. The favorite has consistently covered the spread in recent contests at Williams-Brice Stadium where Clemson is the visiting team. Taken together, this suggests that Clemson may be favored to win but the margin may not be wide, and the combined score might stay below the posted total.

Prediction Summary

Given Clemson’s historical dominance against South Carolina and strong defensive metrics, coupled with South Carolina’s offensive struggles late in games, Clemson looks positioned to secure a win on the road. However, the game dynamics suggest a tight battle with underwhelming offensive output.

Final Prediction: Clemson wins narrowly and covers the spread. Expect a low-scoring affair, with the total going UNDER.