Clemson Tigers vs South Carolina Gamecocks Picks and Predictions November 30th 2024

Clemson Tigers vs South Carolina Gamecocks November 30th 2024

Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC, will be the site for this week 14 non-conference matchup between the South Carolina Gamecocks and Clemson Tigers. The game is set for 12:00 ET, and ESPN will be handling the broadcast. The Tigers are -2.5 point favorites at home, with the over/under line currently at 49 points. The money line odds stand at +116 for the Gamecocks and -139 for the Tigers. South Carolina is 8-3 on the season, while Clemson comes in at 9-2.

South Carolina vs. Clemson Key Information

South Carolina enters Week 14 against Clemson with an 8-3 record, sitting 16th in our power rankings. They are guaranteed bowl eligibility but have a 0% chance of winning the Southeastern. However, they have a 23.6% chance of making the playoff, which ranks 18th nationally.

The Gamecocks are 5-0 as the favorite this season and 3-1 on the road. Their average scoring margin is +14.7 points, and they are 7-3 against the spread, going 4-0 ATS on the road.

South Carolina’s over/under record is 6-4, with their games averaging 51.1 points. The average line is 45.6 points, and this week’s total is set at 49 points.

South Carolina’s offense ranks 29th in scoring, averaging 32.9 points per game, and they are 42nd in our offensive power rankings heading into week 14. Their run game has been the focal point, with 42.2 rushing attempts per game, ranking 9th nationally, and they are averaging 184.4 rushing yards per game.

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Raheim Sanders leads the rushing attack with 821 yards, 11 touchdowns, and an average of 5 yards per carry. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers has thrown for 2,110 yards and 17 touchdowns, with a passer rating of 105. South Carolina ranks 13th in passer rating nationally and 19th in completion percentage, completing 65.8% of their passes.

South Carolina’s defense heads into their matchup with Clemson ranked 14th nationally, allowing just 18.2 points per game. They’ve been strong against the run, giving up only 109.2 rushing yards per game, which ranks 21st in the country.

In their last game against Wofford, South Carolina allowed just 12 points and 33 rushing yards on 25 attempts. They also gave up 219 passing yards on 31 attempts.

• Over their last three games, the South Carolina Gamecocks have gone 3-0 straight up. In terms of betting, the team went 2-1 ATS in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 2-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, South Carolina has a record of 7-3. Against the spread, South Carolina went 8-2 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 7-3.

Clemson enters Week 14 with a 9-2 record, ranked 14th in our power rankings. They have a 10.3% chance of winning the Atlantic Coast but are a lock for bowl eligibility. The Tigers also have a 23.9% chance of making the playoff, according to our projections.

The Tigers have been favored in nine of their 11 games this season, going 8-1 as the favorite. They’ve posted a +15.6 average scoring margin and are 5-5 against the spread.

This week’s over/under line is set at 49 points. Clemson’s games have averaged an over/under line of 53.9 points, with their over/under record at 3-6-1 and games averaging 59.6 points.

Clemson’s offense is ranked 6th in our power rankings heading into week 14, and they are 11th in scoring, averaging 37.6 points per game. Cade Klubnik has thrown for 2,761 yards and 29 touchdowns, with just four interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 108. Clemson ranks 18th nationally in passer rating and 19th in passing attempts per game.

Overall, Clemson is 23rd in passing yards, averaging 274.6 yards per game. Phil Mafah leads the rushing attack with 1,022 yards. Antonio Williams has 687 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

Heading into this week, Clemson’s defense ranks 33rd nationally, allowing 22 points per game. They’ve given up 210.8 passing yards per game, ranking 73rd, and 141.5 rushing yards. Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 52.6% of their passes, the 9th-lowest percentage in the country, with a passer rating of 74.7 against Clemson, which ranks 30th.

In their last game, Clemson allowed 14 points and gave up 387 total yards, including 288 rushing yards on 55 attempts. The secondary allowed just 99 passing yards on 3 completions and recorded one interception.

Our projections have South Carolina winning this week 14 matchup against Clemson by a score of 22-19. The Gamecocks are the +2.5 point spread, and we see them covering the spread as the road underdogs.

With the over/under line currently set at 49 points, we recommend taking the under, as our model has these teams combining for just 41 points.

Stakes Magnified as No. 12 Clemson Hosts No. 15 South Carolina

Rivalry with High Stakes

South Carolina takes on host Clemson on Saturday afternoon in the annual intrastate rivalry game that holds significant national implications. Both teams are vying for a potential spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

For the first time since 2017, the 121st Palmetto Bowl features ranked teams. Clemson leads the all-time series 73-43-4 and won last year’s meeting at South Carolina, a year after the Gamecocks ended the Tigers’ 40-game home winning streak.

CFP Playoff Aspirations

South Carolina (8-3) is out of contention for the Southeastern Conference championship due to three conference losses. However, a victory over Clemson could significantly boost the Gamecocks’ chances of landing an at-large playoff spot. Ranked 15th in the latest CFP rankings, South Carolina enters the matchup with momentum and high stakes.

Clemson (9-2), ranked 12th in the CFP poll, is still in the hunt for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. The Tigers need a Miami loss to Syracuse on Saturday to clinch their spot. While Clemson’s fate is partially out of its control, a win over South Carolina would strengthen their playoff résumé.

Coaches Highlight the Importance

As South Carolina wraps up a strong regular season, with key wins over Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Missouri, coach Shane Beamer expressed excitement about the rivalry’s growing significance.

“This is fun and exciting to be a part of. And to me, this is going to be a yearly occurrence. Like, we’re not going anywhere, our program,” Beamer said. “We’re only continuing to ascend.”

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney emphasized the national significance of this year’s matchup compared to other rivalries, such as the Iron Bowl.

“This is the game that’s got a lot of national implications,” Swinney said. “You know, that one down there is just going to be bragging rights.”

South Carolina’s Strengths

The Gamecocks enter the matchup on a five-game winning streak, fueled by a solid rushing attack and one of the nation’s top scoring defenses. South Carolina ranks 14th in scoring defense (18.2 points allowed per game) and 12th in rushing defense (103.4 yards allowed per game).

Raheim Sanders leads the ground game with 821 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, while quarterback LaNorris Sellers directs an efficient passing attack. South Carolina’s offense ranks fourth in the SEC in rushing and 14th nationally in passer rating.

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Clemson’s Balanced Attack

Clemson brings a potent offense and a strong rushing game, led by Phil Mafah, who has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards this season. Quarterback Cade Klubnik adds versatility, complementing an offense that ranks 11th nationally in scoring (37.6 points per game).

The Tigers have won three straight since losing to Louisville and aim to leverage their offensive balance to counter South Carolina’s stout defense.

Key Matchup

Clemson’s defense, which has shown vulnerability at times, will face a stern test against South Carolina’s balanced offense. The Gamecocks will aim to exploit weaknesses through their dual-threat rushing and passing attack.

As one of the season’s most anticipated rivalry games, the Palmetto Bowl promises high stakes and intense competition, with the outcome potentially shaping the CFP landscape.