College football odds: Clemson underdogs at home against Lamar Jackson, Louisville
The Clemson Tigers are 18–0 straight up and 10–8 against the spread in their last 18 games at home. The No. 5 Tigers face what will likely be their biggest challenge of the regular season at home hosting the No. 3 Louisville Cardinals.
Clemson is a two-point home underdog at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. In their last instance as a home underdog back in 2013, the Tigers lost to Florida State 51–14 as a 4.5-point dog.
The Tigers offense averaged 38.5 points per game and 515 total yards per game in 2015. Through four games this season, Clemson has scored more than 30 points and gone over 450 yards only once. The defense has carried them in the early stages of 2016, allowing just 11 points per game and only seven points over Clemson’s last eight quarters. That defense will be put to the test this Saturday against Louisville’s Lamar Jackson—the hottest player in college football.
Heisman Watch: Lamar Jackson retains lead ahead of crucial clash with Clemson
In Clemson’s last 11 games as a home underdog, the Tigers are 6–5 SU and 7–4 ATS per the OddsShark College Football Database. But since 2008, Clemson is just 1–4 SU and ATS as a home dog.
In only four games, Jackson has already scored more total touchdowns (25) than many quarterbacks in the nation will have all season.
With 1,330 passing yards and 13 passing touchdowns to go along with 526 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, Jackson has already separated from the pack in the Heisman race and could add an exclamation point Saturday with a win over Clemson. Louisville is a perfect 4–0 SU and ATS this season.
The total for Saturday’s matchup between Louisville and Clemson is set at 67.5 points. The UNDER is 12–4 in Clemson’s last 16 games against teams with winning records.
Deshaun Watson entered the 2016 season as the favorite to win the Heisman trophy, and is more than capable of shooting out with the best of them. But with the level that Jackson and this Louisville offense are playing at, it will likely take an excellent defensive effort from the Tigers to pull out a win at home.
