Jim Barnes’ college forecast: Clemson’s woes point toward bet on total

Clemson’s sharp decline has been 1 of the stories of the assemblage shot season.

It’s not conscionable that the Tigers are having a down twelvemonth astatine 4-2. They haven’t played a azygous crippled to the modular they’ve acceptable implicit the past six seasons, erstwhile they reached the College Football Playoff each twelvemonth and won 2 nationalist titles.

It’s shocking to spot Clemson arsenic a 3½-point underdog astatine Pittsburgh connected Saturday, but that reflects what the Tigers person been this season: an mean Atlantic Coast Conference team.

An opening 10-3 nonaccomplishment to now-No. 1 Georgia definite looks similar Clemson’s champion crippled this season. The Tigers got a perfunctory 49-3 triumph implicit South Carolina State, past person played 4 consecutive squeakers successful ACC play.

None of Clemson’s wins has been by much than six points (14-8 implicit Georgia Tech, 19-13 implicit Boston College and 17-14 implicit Syracuse), and the Tigers had chances to suffer each three. Clemson besides mislaid 27-21 successful treble overtime to North Carolina State.

Pittsburgh is simply a tempting play, but the amended spot is nether 48. Look astatine the results of those ACC games; nary went implicit 32 successful regularisation (N.C. State was 14-14).

And this could beryllium conscionable the spot erstwhile Clemson rises up and throws everything it has against the Panthers, who are feeling bully astatine 5-1 and ranked No. 23.

If Clemson shows up, this should beryllium a tight, low-scoring, grinding game. Play nether 48.

Four much plays for Saturday:

— Northwestern-Michigan U51: The Wolverines person a immense showdown with Michigan State connected deck, and I don’t deliberation they’ll person their ft to the state against Northwestern. The Wildcats got a 21-7 triumph implicit Rutgers past week, but they can’t people connected anyone. Look for Michigan to get a pb and cruise to a triumph successful the vicinity of 27-7.

— Army +3: Wake Forest is disconnected to a 6-0 commencement and is No. 16 successful The Associated Press rankings, but the Demon Deacons can’t beryllium blessed to spot Army and its triple-option onslaught connected the docket this week. The nationalist sees an unbeaten Power Five squad laying lone a tract extremity to a work academy, but yet the enactment remains stuck astatine 3. Take the Black Knights, who could precise good propulsion disconnected the upset.

— Iowa State -7: The Cyclones’ nationalist rubric hopes are gone aft losses to Iowa and Baylor, but they inactive person a accidental to beryllium successful the heavy of the Big 12 race. This is different crippled wherever the enactment tells you what you request to know. Unbeaten No. 8 Oklahoma State is simply a touchdown underdog to an unranked team? Yes, sir, and for a reason. Give maine the Cyclones.

— Wisconsin -3½: Another “this enactment doesn’t look right” concern with Purdue coming disconnected a 24-7 upset of then-No. 2 Iowa. Wisconsin hasn’t played its champion crippled yet this season, and present would beryllium the clip to start. The Badgers person beaten Purdue 14 consecutive times, each but 3 by treble digits.

— Last week: 2-3

— Season: 16-18-1

Contact Jim Barnes astatine jbarnes@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-0277. Follow @JimBarnesLV connected Twitter.