Saturday, September 27, 2014

Memorial Stadium in Clemson

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Two teams battling severe hangovers look to get their seasons sobered up after devastating third games of the year. North Carolina enters the Saturday night contest after allowing 70 points to in-state mainstays East Carolina in losing 70-41. Clemson went into overtime with the #1 team in the nation before a back-up QB foiled the upset bid 23-17. There's no sense pouting about it as last week's loss is next week's motivation.

The Tar Heels (2-1) were off to a solid, if not unspectacular start in beating Liberty 56-29 and San Diego State 31-27. The wheels quickly came off that success bus as the ECU Pirates' Shane Carden threw for 438 yards and 4 TD against the Tar Heels secondary. As it stands the numbers aren't horrible for UNC as they throw for 264 YPG and run for 161 behind athletic QB Marquis Williams (551 yards passing, 4TD – 152 yards rushing, 2TD). The UNC defense could be in trouble as they've slipped to 7th worst in the country allowing 42.0 YPG going up against a Clemson team in the top 20 in passing.

The entire nation saw Clemson collapse in real time as FSU backup Sean Maguire threw a 74-yard TD pass to tie the game at 17 with 7:00 left in regulation only for the Noles to go on and stave off the upset in OT. It marked Clemson's second loss to a ranked team in 3 games after a season opening loss to #12 Georgia, 45-21. No matter what the Tigers do from here on out, they've played themselves out of an already thin playoff chance.

It will be interesting to see how Clemson reacts after the big loss; they either come out with fury and bury UNC into the dirt or recoil from depression and suffer a second consecutive loss. Oddsmakers are confident in a Tigers rebound as they've made them almost 2 TD favorites but this game has a lot more questions than when looking at it the beginning of the year.

North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

North Carolina Tar Heels are 0-3-0 Against the Spread

North Carolina Tar Heels are 1-1-0 against the Over/Under

Clemson Tigers Betting Trends

Clemson Tigers are 2-1-0 Against the Spread

Clemson Tigers are 1-1-0 against the Over/Under

Injuries to Watch

North Carolina Tar Heels

09/21/14 OG Landon Turner Knee "?" Saturday vs. Clemson

Clemson Tigers

09/22/14 QB Deshaun Watson None expected to start Saturday vs. North Carolina
09/04/14 WR Kyrin Priester Dismissed has been dismissed
08/28/14 OL Oliver Jones Knee out for season
08/25/14 RB Tyshon Dye Achilles out indefinitely
08/20/14 RB Zac Brooks Foot out for season

Tony's Pick: Take Clemson

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