Saturday, Sep. 21: NC State vs Clemson Game Preview, Betting Odds, and Expert Prediction

  • NC State travels to Clemson to face the Tigers in CFB Week 4
  • Clemson is an 18.5-point home favorite in this ACC matchup
  • Keep reading for the latest NC State vs Clemson odds, picks, and predictions for Saturday, September 21

NC State and Clemson have not gotten off to the start they wanted this season. NC State was down to Western Carolina heading into the fourth quarter in Week 1 before scoring 21 unanswered points to win the game. Then they got embarrassed by Tennessee in Week 2 and won a close game against Louisiana Tech last week.

Clemson is 1-1 to start the 2024 season, but it is hard to forget their 34-3 loss to Georgia. They were outgained 447 yards to 188 and were dominated in all three phases of the game. The Tigers followed that up with a 66-20 win over Appalachian State and had a bye week before Saturday’s game vs NC State.

NC State has won two of the last three meetings between these programs, but Clemson has won nine of the previous eleven dating back to 2012. The college football odds suggest that Clemson will win again as the sportsbooks are giving them a 92.31% implied win probability.

See below for my NC State vs Clemson pick and prediction.

NC State vs Clemson Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
NC State Wolfpack +18.5 (-115) +750 Over 44.5 (+100)
Clemson Tigers -18.5 (-105) -1200 Under 44.5 (-120)

Clemson is favored to win this game by three scores with a spread of 18.5. Earlier this week, Clemson was -20.5 before coming down to the current spread. This game has a low O/U at 44.5. The total was at 48.5 earlier in the week before being bet down to 44.5.

Odds as of September 20 at ESPN BET. Lock in the best ESPN BET promo code before placing your CFB Week 4 bets.

NC State Betting Trends

NC State entered the season with some hype. They had a 9-4 finish and got former Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall in the transfer portal. It has not gone according to plan as the Wolfpack have looked inconsistent this year and now McCall is considered day-to-day with an injury. NC State will turn to freshman CJ Bailey to start on Saturday vs Clemson.

The Wolfpack have yet to cover a spread in 2024 as they are 0-3 against the number. This will be a tough environment for a freshman quarterback to enter and provide a spark to an offense that has not looked good this season.

The defense has not helped either. They have talent on the defensive side of the ball, but it has not led to much production. They have allowed at least 20 points in each game and have not generated much pressure. If they want to stay in this game, the defense will need to pick it up.

Clemson Betting Trends

Clemson did a great job bouncing back after their tough Week 1 loss to Georgia. Yeah, it was against Appalachian State, but those are the games you need to win by 40+ to get back on track. The Tigers are 1-1 against the spread this season.

Cade Klubnik and Phil Mafah looked great against Appalachian State and have had extra time to prepare for this game. Klubnik has completed 76% of his passes this season which is impressive considering his first game against Georgia. Mafah is averaging 6.8 yards per carry and will look to carry that over on Saturday.

Like NC State, Clemson’s defense has underwhelmed so far this season, but they still have talent on that side of the ball, and it is hard to blame them for the 34 points they allowed to Georgia. They allowed just six points in the first half of that game before Georgia pulled away. The defense was on the field for most of the game due to the offense not being able to move the ball. Then, Clemson went up 35-0 over vs App State, so they began to coast. This game presents a great opportunity for Clemson’s defense to show up.

NC State vs Clemson Prediction

The total is low in this one for a reason. I do not expect a freshman quarterback making his first career start to score a lot of points in Death Valley. Clemson’s offense has the potential to put up a lot of points in this game, but NC State’s defense is a step up over Appalachian State.

Both of these teams will get up for this game, and it should be a tight game to start at least. I like the under in this ACC matchup.

NC State vs Clemson Pick: Under 44.5 (-120)

  • ESPN BET SPORTSBOOK

    USE CODE “DIME” & GET A $1,000 BET RESET!

  • FANATICS SPORTSBOOK

    BET & GET UP TO $1,000 IN BONUS BETS!

  • BET365 SPORTSBOOK

    BET $5 & GET $200 IN BONUS BETS!

  • DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK

    BET $5 & GET $200 IN BONUS BETS INSTANTLY!

  • FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK

    BET $5 & GET $200 + 3 WEEKS OF NFL SUNDAY TICKET

  • BETMGM SPORTSBOOK

    GET UP TO $1,500 BACK IN BONUS BETS + 2ND CHANCE TD CASH BACK!

  • CAESARS SPORTSBOOK

    GET UP TO $1,000 BACK – ON CAESARS!

  • Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, KS, KY, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY); (800) 327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA); (877) 8-HOPENY (NY); 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ); (888) 789-7777 (CT); 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA); 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN); mdgamblinghelp.org (MD); morethanagame.nc.gov (NC); 1800gambler.net (WV)

On Saturday, September 21, college football fans will be treated to an exciting matchup between the NC State Wolfpack and the Clemson Tigers. The game is set to take place at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, and is sure to be a thrilling contest between two talented teams.

NC State comes into the game with a record of 2-1, with wins over East Carolina and Western Carolina, and a close loss to West Virginia. The Wolfpack are led by quarterback Matthew McKay, who has thrown for 757 yards and 3 touchdowns so far this season. On the defensive side of the ball, NC State is anchored by linebacker Louis Acceus, who leads the team with 25 tackles.

Clemson, on the other hand, is off to a perfect 3-0 start to the season, with wins over Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, and Syracuse. The Tigers are led by Heisman Trophy candidate Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, who has thrown for 831 yards and 5 touchdowns. Running back Travis Etienne has also been a force for Clemson, rushing for 258 yards and 4 touchdowns.

In terms of betting odds, Clemson is heavily favored to win this game. The Tigers are currently listed as 27-point favorites over NC State, with an over/under of 58 points. This means that oddsmakers are expecting a high-scoring game, with Clemson coming out on top by a significant margin.

As for expert predictions, most analysts are picking Clemson to win this game handily. The Tigers are ranked as the number one team in the country for a reason, and their high-powered offense is expected to overwhelm NC State’s defense. However, the Wolfpack should not be counted out completely, as they have shown flashes of potential this season and could potentially pull off an upset if everything goes their way.

Overall, Saturday’s matchup between NC State and Clemson is sure to be an exciting game for college football fans to watch. With two talented teams facing off against each other, anything can happen on the gridiron. Be sure to tune in to see who comes out on top in this highly anticipated showdown.