Saturday, Nov. 2
7:30 p.m. Eastern, 4:30 p.m. Pacific
ESPN
The Clemson Tigers are an interesting team to contemplate as the college football season enters November. They got crushed by Georgia in the season opener but have since steamrolled their opponents. Does this mean Clemson was prematurely discounted after the Georgia game? Maybe. Does this mean the ACC is a relatively soft conference for a Clemson team which hasn’t played any of the other teams in the league which are currently unbeaten? Maybe. Keep in mind that Clemson won comfortably at Florida State. Before the season began, if you had been told that Clemson would win easily at Florida State, the Tigers would be an elite team. Yet, we all know Florida State is awful in a season which has cratered for the Seminoles. That game really didn’t tell us very much about Clemson. One could make the case that the Tigers are still a highly mysterious team as November begins.
The Louisville Cardinals have regressed from their lofty 2023 standard. Louisville won 10 games last year and undeniably overachieved. This year, the Cardinals did not get a big upgrade at quarterback with Texas Tech transfer Tyler Shough. More than the offense, however, the defense has been the problem for the Cardinals in 2024. Louisville’s defense was outstanding last year, and it carried the team most of the time, shepherding the Cards through tough stretches in 2023. That defense just hasn’t been there this season, never more apparent than in the 52-45 loss at home to Miami. Last year, Louisville needed just enough offense to win, and got it. This year, Louisville has needed just enough defense on several occasions, but hasn’t received it. The extent to which the UL defense has collapsed has led to this unfulfilled season for coach Jeff Brohm.
Louisville Cardinals-Clemson Tigers Odds
Spread: Louisville +11.5 (-115), Clemson -11.5 (-105)
Total: 55.5 (Over -105, Under -115)
Underdog moneyline: Louisville +340
Hear T.J. and Gary go over their top underdog plays on this edition of the “3 Dog Thursday Podcast” by clicking play below,
Will Louisville Give Clemson Fits?
The trajectory of Clemson has been very positive since Week 1, and the trajectory of Louisville has been very negative since a win over Georgia Tech early in the season. Clemson is ascendant, Louisville troubled. It’s hard to look at these two teams and arrive at a conclusion which is pro-Louisville, even with a double-digit point spread. The idea that Clemson will win this game by two touchdowns seems pretty solid. Clemson 27, Louisville 13, or Clemson 41, Louisville 27, both feel like possible scenarios. It’s harder to think this game will be a nail-biter in the fourth quarter.
There are some really good underdog plays on the board in Week 10, but this one doesn’t feel like it. Keep in mind that Louisville fell way behind Boston College last week before scrambling to win late. Louisville would need to get on top of this game early to cover the spread, but after exerting so much energy against Boston College, the Cardinals might be a little spent on yet another ACC road trip. This feels like Clemson minus the points all the way.