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SMU Mustangs vs Clemson Tigers December 7th 2024
ABC will be covering the 8:00 ET kickoff between the SMU Mustangs and the Clemson Tigers on Saturday, December 7th. The game will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with SMU technically being the home team, even though it is a neutral site. The over/under line is at 55.5 points, and the Mustangs are -2.5 point favorites. Clemson enters the game with a 9-3 record, while SMU is 11-1 on the season.
Clemson vs. SMU Key Information
- Teams: Tigers at Mustangs
- Where: Bank of America Stadium Charlotte
- Date: Saturday, December 7th
- Betting Odds SMU -134 | CLMSN +110 O/U 55.5
The Tigers Can Win If…
Clemson enters Week 15 with a 9-3 record, holding a 4-2 mark at home and a 4-1 record on the road. They are 100% bowl-eligible and have a 46.2% chance of winning the Atlantic Coast, according to projections. The Tigers also have the 11th best odds to make the playoff at 41.3%.
Clemson has been favored in 10 of their 12 games this season, going 8-2 as the favorite. They are 5-6 against the spread, with a +14.1 average scoring margin. At home, they are 3-3 ATS, while their road ATS record stands at 2-3.
The over/under line for this week is 55.5 points. Clemson’s games have averaged 57.2 points, and their over/under record is 3-7-1. Their average over/under line this season is 53.5 points, with an average margin of +3.0 points.
Clemson’s offense is averaging 35.7 points per game, which ranks 14th in the nation, but they are 7th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 15. Cade Klubnik has thrown for 3,041 yards, completing 64.2% of his passes, and has 29 touchdowns to just five interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 105.
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The Tigers are 19th in passing attempts per game, averaging 36.9, and they are 16th in passing yards, with 275.1 per game. Phil Mafah leads the ground game with 1,088 rushing yards. Antonio Williams has 786 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Clemson’s defense is ranked 29th nationally, allowing 21.6 points per game. They’ve given up 206.9 passing yards per game, ranking 67th, and 152.1 rushing yards per game. Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 53.4% of their passes against Clemson, the 11th-lowest completion rate in the country.
In their recent game, a 17-14 loss to South Carolina, Clemson’s defense allowed 17 points and 432 total yards, including 268 rushing yards on 41 attempts. They also gave up 164 passing yards but recorded one interception.
- Over their last three games, the Clemson Tigers have gone 2-1 straight up. However, they have only gone 0-3 vs. the spread over this stretch. Their over-under record in these three games was 1-2.
- Through their last ten regular season contests, Clemson has a record of 8-2. Against the spread, Clemson went 4-6 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 3-6-1.
The Mustangs Can Win If…
With an 11-1 record, SMU is 5-1 at home this season. They are 7-1 as the favorite and 2-0 as the underdog. SMU holds the top spot in our projections for bowl eligibility and has a 53.8% chance of winning the Atlantic Coast. They are ranked 12th in our power rankings and have the 7th best odds to make the playoff at 68.9%.
SMU has a +19.4 average scoring margin and is 7-3 against the spread. They are 5-3 ATS as the favorite and 2-0 as the underdog. At home, they are 4-2 ATS, going 3-2 as the favorite and 1-0 as the underdog.
Their over/under record is 5-5, with their games averaging 58.9 points. The average over/under line is 54 points, and this week’s line is set at 55.5 points.
SMU’s offense ranks 5th in the nation in points scored, averaging 39.2 per game, heading into week 15. They are also 23rd in our offensive power rankings. Kevin Jennings has thrown for 2,746 yards, completing 66.7% of his passes, and has a passer rating of 108. He has 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions this season.
SMU ranks 30th in passing yards per game, averaging 263.9 yards, and 18th in third-down conversions, converting 46.1% of their attempts. On the ground, they average 183.3 rushing yards per game. Brashard Smith leads the rushing attack with 1,154 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 6 yards per carry.
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SMU’s defense heads into their matchup against Clemson ranked 17th nationally, allowing just 19.8 points per game. They’ve been particularly strong against the run, giving up only 97.1 rushing yards per game, the 9th-lowest in the country.
In their recent game against Cal, SMU allowed just 6 points, giving up 254 total yards. Cal rushed 37 times but managed only 95 yards, while SMU’s secondary allowed 159 passing yards and forced one interception.
- The SMU Mustangs have posted a 3-0 record in their previous three games. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 2-1. Their over-under record in these games was 2-1.
- The SMU Mustangs have gone 9-1 over their last ten regular season games. Against the spread, SMU went 8-2 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 7-3.
The Lean
With SMU coming in as the -2.5 point favorite, we like Clemson’s chances to not only cover the spread but to win this matchup straight-up. The over/under line is at 55.5 points, but we see the total points falling short of this, with a combined score of 48 points.
Our projected final score for this game is 25-23 in favor of SMU, but we believe Clemson will pull off the upset. If you’re looking for a bet to place on this game, consider taking Clemson as the road underdog.
No. 8 SMU Seeks First ACC Title Against Mainstay No. 17 Clemson
Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C., the Atlantic Coast Conference will crown its champion, and with it, potentially shake up the College Football Playoff picture. In their inaugural season in the ACC, the No. 8 SMU Mustangs face off against the seasoned No. 17 Clemson Tigers for the conference crown and a coveted spot in the 12-team playoff field.
SMU’s Remarkable Debut in the ACC
SMU (11-1) has been a revelation in its first year as an ACC member. The Mustangs posted a flawless 8-0 record in conference play, joining Oregon as the only teams in the FBS to go unbeaten in their leagues. Head coach Rhett Lashlee is proud of his team’s resilience and adaptability in a new environment.
“To go 8-0 in any conference is tough,” Lashlee said. “Pretty cool for our first year in the league.”
SMU enters the game on a nine-game winning streak and is determined to add to its historic season by claiming its first ACC title. Quarterback Kevin Jennings, who has thrown for 19 touchdowns and leads a dual-threat offense, will be pivotal. Jennings’ ability to run the ball could exploit a Clemson defense that struggled to contain South Carolina’s mobile quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns last week.
The Mustangs boast a balanced attack highlighted by Brashard Smith, an All-ACC first-team selection at running back, who amassed 1,157 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Lashlee believes his team is ready to challenge the Tigers, even if the championship game is practically a home game for Clemson.
“Obviously, Clemson has got a great fan base. They travel well,” Lashlee said. “We’re used to it.”
Clemson’s Bid for Redemption
Clemson (9-3) had an up-and-down season but finds itself with a chance to reclaim ACC glory despite a bitter 17-14 loss to rival South Carolina last weekend. That defeat dashed the Tigers’ hopes for an at-large CFP bid, but head coach Dabo Swinney remains optimistic.
“We didn’t accomplish all of our goals during the regular season, but we’ve got two goals left: Win the conference and win the closer,” Swinney said. “If we do that, we’ll be national champions.”
The Tigers have made a habit of ACC Championship Game appearances, and Swinney is no stranger to defying odds. He even floated the idea of making history.
“We were the first 15-0 national championship team,” Swinney said of the 2018 season. “Maybe we can be the first three-loss national championship team. Boy, that would upset some people.”
Key Matchups and Storylines
Clemson will need its defense, led by linebacker Wade Woodaz, to step up against SMU’s diverse offense. The Tigers have had issues with mobile quarterbacks, and tackling will be a focal point after recent struggles.
“There’s always things you try to do, but No. 1 we’ve just got to tackle,” Swinney emphasized.
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On the offensive side, Clemson’s run game and passing attack will need to execute more effectively than it did against South Carolina. Injuries could play a role, with defensive back Shelton Lewis potentially returning but safety R.J. Mickens questionable.
SMU is expected to be near full strength, with wide receiver Romello Brinson possibly making a return after weeks on the sideline.
What’s at Stake
For SMU, the game represents a chance to cap an extraordinary first ACC season with a championship and a CFP berth. For Clemson, a victory would salvage a season that hasn’t met its usual lofty standards and keep its slim playoff hopes alive.
As the underdog Mustangs square off against the ACC’s perennial power in Clemson, Saturday night’s matchup promises to be a compelling finale to the conference season, with significant implications for both programs and the playoff race.
