Louisville vs. Clemson Expert Pick and Prediction – November 2, 2024

LOUISVILLE VS. CLEMSON EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTION – November 2, 2024 — Loss number two in the ACC was probably the end of the line for Louisville as far as the ACC went. The Cardinals could have stayed in the race if they had won that game at home, but their defense took care of that for them. Louisville still has a chance at a solid record and a good bowl game, but the Cardinals likely aren’t going to sniff the playoff.

But they can certainly ruin Clemson’s efforts — or can they? The Cardinals have actually never beaten Clemson, despite having some pretty good teams and playing the Tigers every season as ACC members. It just so happened that Louisville joined the ACC right at the time of Clemson’s rise to a national power, and the Cardinals found themselves playing second or third fiddle pretty quick.

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Through the Cardinals’ time in the ACC, there have been several close losses and a few embarrassing blowouts, but all eight games have ended the same way: Clemson as the victor. Things being what they are, last year was probably the most vulnerable the Tigers have been since the Cardinals joined the ACC — and of course, Louisville didn’t get to play Clemson that year.

And it seems the Cardinals might have missed their window, because the Tigers seem to have shaken off the early rust. Then again, it isn’t as if Clemson has been beating up on anyone worth anything. With Florida State sinking into the abyss, Clemson’s ACC opponents are a combined 15-25. That’s why the Tigers are still on the outside looking in at the top 25, despite their record.

The Odds

Kickoff

When: Saturday, November 2 at Noon

Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C. 

TV: Fox

Public Bets: Unavailable

Public Money: Unavailable

Louisville vs. Clemson In-Season Trends

If you’ve been betting money on Louisville in ACC play, you probably don’t have a bankroll anymore. The Cardinals have failed to cover in five straight games, as they’ve gone 2-3 SU and got both of the wins by a mere four points. Trouble was, Louisville was favored by 6.5 or more each time in those games. In the losses, the Cardinals fell by a touchdown each time and never once got that many points to their name.

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The Georgia embarrassment seems to have lit a fire under Clemson. The Tigers have gone 4-2 ATS, and the two failed covers came when they were giving more than two touchdowns to Florida State and Virginia. The defense has usually been good, although it failed to stop both NC State and Virginia, leading to both games soaring past the total.

Weather

As the temperature cools into the mid 60s, it’s going to become an excellent evening for football in the Upstate.

The Difference-Makers

Cade Klubnik topped 300 yards in his past two games, and Clemson is going to need him to be big again. The Louisville defense hasn’t stopped anyone, and the Tigers need to take advantage of open space in the secondary.

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Tyler Shough has mostly done the same thing for Louisville. Both quarterbacks have 20 touchdown passes on the season, and they’ve thrown a combined eight interceptions for the year. It’s clear that either can score from anywhere on the field. This might come down to who gets the last possession.

The Pick

The points should soar here. Louisville’s defense has been very poor, but its offense has been very good. The Cardinals also don’t get blown out. They tend to rubber band, and they nearly managed a backdoor cover on Miami when they faced the Hurricanes at home.

The Tigers should be able to get some separation, but don’t be surprised if Louisville backdoors this one.