Clemson will face No. 11 LSU on Saturday in one of the highlights of Week 1 in college football. This matchup marks the debut of Lane Kiffin as head coach for LSU, while Dabo Swinney returns to lead Clemson. Both teams are known as the Tigers and compete in a stadium famously dubbed Death Valley.
At DraftKings, the odds for the Clemson vs. LSU game are as follows:
– **Clemson**: Spread +10 (-110), Total O 50.5 (-112), Moneyline +295
– **LSU**: Spread -10 (-110), Total U 50.5 (-108), Moneyline -375
In terms of bets, LSU is favored with a spread of -10. Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina is set to make only his second career start in a challenging atmosphere. Expect running back Gideon Davidson to play a significant role, as he had 60 carries for 260 yards without a touchdown during his rookie season.
Clemson may find more success through the air, utilizing quick passes. TJ Moore was Clemson’s top receiver last season, accumulating 837 receiving yards. He, along with Bryant Wesco—who caught six touchdown passes last year—will be primary targets for Vizzina.
On the defensive side, Clemson’s Will Heldt returns as a key pass rusher after finishing last season with 7.5 sacks. However, the team has lost notable defensive players to the NFL, including Avieon Terrell, Peter Woods, and TJ Parker.
LSU has the advantage at quarterback with Sam Leavitt, who joins from Arizona State. Despite injury struggles last season, Leavitt previously led ASU to the College Football Playoffs two seasons ago.
In the season opener last year, LSU successfully minimized Clemson’s offense early and aggressively pressured on third downs, achieving a 17-10 victory in that matchup. It is anticipated that LSU will employ a similar strategy in Baton Rouge this Saturday.
Kiffin's starting role as LSU’s head coach is expected to be promising. Swinney's approach, particularly his hesitancy to fully utilize the transfer portal, may hamper his team, especially with unproven options at quarterback and running back.
For total points, the prediction is set at under 50.5. Last season, Clemson averaged just 25.8 points per game with Cade Klubnik at quarterback, ranking them 71st nationally. Vizzina’s inexperience compared to Klubnik, who is now with the New York Jets in the NFL, may lead to decreased offensive productivity. If Clemson struggles in their rushing game on early downs, a scenario is likely where LSU covers, and the total stays under.
