Prediction, Game Preview, and Odds for Clemson vs. NC State

It is all okay.

All of the predictions before the season said that Clemson and NC State would be big players in the ACC race. However, things took a different turn.

At the beginning of the season, Clemson lost badly to Georgia. They then beat Appalachian State by 66 points, but they are still 0–0 in ACC play. Next up are Stanford and a sadly weak Florida State.

The last time NC State played, they lost to Louisiana Tech and Tennessee 51–10. They are still 0–0 in ACC play. There are not many tough ACC games left after this one against the Tigers.

Because it will now be in the running for the ACC Championship, the winner will still be very, very close to making the College Football Playoff.

Clemson vs NC State Preview

Clemson vs NC State How to Watch
Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
How to Watch: ABC
Clemson (1-1), NC State (2-1)

Why NC State Will Win

It has been a rough first three games, but it is in charge of the clock and should handle the time of possession fight.

It looks like Clemson was able to turn things around against App State, but that might not have been as great as it seemed at the time. South Alabama beat the Mountaineers on Thursday night by scoring 48 points.

NC State needs to chill out. It has not been quite right yet, and the timing has not been very good, especially against Tennessee.

The defense can not let Cade Klubnik get into a rhythm and make easy short-range throws, and Grayson McCall needs to do a better job on third downs.

After the first three games, the defense needs to be pretty good. But…

Why Clemson Will Win

NC State has not had a pass rush strong enough to count.

It has trouble getting into the backfield, does not put enough pressure on the defense, and does not make enough big mistakes.

So far, Clemson has been a bit up and down, but the line has not been bad. The running game was up against App State, but it only gave up two sacks in the two games. Things should start to even out a bit now.

Again, NC State looked and played like a team that needed some work, but it is possible that they are just not that good. Clemson has the players to quickly get back on track and end this.

NC State, on the other hand, does not have the proven firepower to make a big return if they need to.

Clemson vs NC State: Who Will Win

The Tigers are not as bad as they looked in the second half against Georgia, but they are also not as good as they were against Appalachian State. That is fine; NC State has not played well enough against anyone yet.

There will be fighting for a while, but then the Clemson lines will take over.

The Tigers will not be perfect, but they will look good.