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The Clemson South Carolina line had moved down a half point to Gamecocks -4. You can bet this game here.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: South Carolina -4 & 49.5
Opening Line & Total: Gamecocks -4.5 & 50
No. 17 Clemson looks to change its recent road fortunes when it visits in-state rival No. 12 South Carolina.
The Tigers have really stunk it up outside of Death Valley since upsetting Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. They needed a late comeback to win at lowly 2-9 Maryland, and got whacked at Georgia Tech (31-17) and then again at NC State last week, 37-13. Clemson QB Tajh Boyd is struggling, and contributing to Clemson’s pitiful minus-9 turnover margin in the past three games. South Carolina’s defense is as good as it’s been in years, ranking fifth in the nation in total defense (279 YPG), and freshman RB Brandon Wilds (387 rushing yards, 3 TD in past four games) has filled in admirably for injured Marcus Lattimore.
Although Clemson is 10-4 SU in this series since 1997, South Carolina is 4-1 ATS (3-2 SU) in the past five meetings, including two straight romps (34-17 and 29-7). Boyd threw 1 TD and 4 INT in the past two road defeats, and he also did very little to help his team in last year’s home loss to South Carolina. In that game, Boyd completed 10-of-18 passes for a meager 73 yards, and totaled minus-18 yards rushing. But Boyd should get star WR Sammy Watkins back on the field on Saturday. The freshman Watkins (103 receiving YPG, 11 total TD) missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury, and he will certainly infuse life into a struggling offense. Clemson has rushed for a paltry 385 yards on 3.0 YPC in the past four games, and has turned the ball over 11 times in the past three contests.
The Gamecocks rank fifth in the nation in total defense (279 YPG), including a No. 2 national ranking against the pass (138 YPG). Although South Carolina has had its quarterback problems, both on and off the field, sophomore QB Connor Shaw is certainly improving. Granted the opponent was The Citadel, but Shaw put up a confidence-boosting 217 yards, 3 TD and 1 INT, completing 16-of-18 passes in last week’s 41-20 win. Shaw has been very efficient running the football as well. In the past four contests, he has rushed for 266 yards on 4.7 YPC, with six touchdowns. When he drops back to pass, his first target will be junior WR Alshon Jeffery. The instability at quarterback has caused an enormous drop-off in his production, as Jeffery has 585 yards this year after a 1,517-yard sophomore campaign. But Jeffery did catch five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown last week, and he dominated Clemson for 141 receiving yards and a TD in last season’s meeting.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
