Furman vs. Clemson Odds
| Furman Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+45.5 -110 | 51.5 -110o / -110u | +2500 |
| Clemson Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-45.5 -110 | 51.5 -110o / -110u | -50000 |
Clemson had the eye of the college football world upon it, as it closed out the opening full weekend of college football with a 41-10 victory over Georgia Tech on Labor Day night.
However, the extra attention might have worked against the Tigers this week, as they dropped one spot to No. 5 in the AP Top 25.
Now the Tigers will welcome Furman to Death Valley for their home opener.
Furman is coming off of a 6-5 season in 2021. The Paladins won their final two games in 2021 and used that momentum as a springboard into their season opener this year.
Furman beat North Greenville 52-0 last Thursday.
Clemson leads the all-time series 43-10-4, a series which dates back to 1896. Clemson won that first meeting 14-6.
Could this year's matchup be low scoring, as well?
Furman Paladins
Head coach Clay Hendrix is in his sixth season at the helm. He is looking to help his program make a move in the Southern Conference after placing fourth in the preseason media poll.
Furman returns 15 starters and added six transfers to upgrade the roster.
At quarterback, Furman returned Jace Wilson and brought Tyler Huff in from Presbyterian. Both saw action in the opener, but Huff got the start. He went 10-for-12 for 189 yards with two touchdown passes. He also had 94 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Huff led the team in rushing last week, but running back may be the deepest position on the roster.
Dominic Roberto is the Paladins' leading returning rusher, and he ran for 53 yards and two touchdowns in the opener. He was one of five Paladins to rush for 25 yards en route to a 323-yard, four-touchdown performance.
However, running room will be scarce against Clemson's defensive line.
Tight end Ryan Miller is a two-time FCS All-American. He had four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown last week.
Anderson Tomlin and Pearson Toomey give the Paladins a pair of All-SoCon offensive tackles.
Last week, Furman's defense held North Greenville to 227 yards en route to a shutout. The Paladins forced three turnovers, but only had one sack.
Now it will be a facing Power Five offensive line in Clemson.
Clemson Tigers
In 2021, Clemson struggled on offense more than we have seen at any point in Dabo Swinney's tenure.
For much of the first half of Week 1, it looked like more of the same. Clemson was scoreless in the first quarter and needed a blocked punt to set itself up.
Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei had high expectations after showing flashes of brilliance as a freshman. Last season, he had a 9:10 touchdown to interception ratio.
Against Georgia Tech, he was 19-for-32 for 210 yards and a touchdown, but had just a 37.5 QBR.
Backup Cade Klubnik was the No. 1 QB recruit in the 2022 class, and he looked more in command of the offense, albeit in mop-up duty.
Against Furman, Clemson could use the opportunity to get the freshman more reps, and that battle will be something to monitor over the next few weeks.
Clemson has a deep and talented running back room, led by sophomore Will Shipley. He had two touchdowns against Georgia, along with 42 yards on 10 carries. However, the team managed just 119 yards on 40 attempts.
Clemson's defense is one of the best in the country, and it was stifling against Georgia Tech. The Tigers held Georgia Tech to 237 yards of total offense on 3.6 yards per play.
Andrew Mukuba picked off Jeff Sims' first pass of the game for Clemson's lone turnover forced.
Clemson also had 10 tackles for loss and two sacks. Defensive end K.J. Henry was a force, with 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Furman vs. Clemson Betting Pick
I do not expect Furman to score in this game, and certainly not more than 10 points.
That will put the burden of the total on Clemson.
Its offense remains a work in progress, and it will not need to expand the playbook much to beat Furman.
With a total at 54, I expect that this game will go under, and this is the side I will be taking.
