Clemson heads into Week 4 coming off a comeback win that kept its season from slipping to 1-2. The Tigers erased a second-half deficit to beat North Carolina 28-20 in Week 3, and now they turn to another ACC road test against California, which sits at 2-1.
The Golden Bears opened with a 45-24 loss, but they’ve steadied things since then. California followed that setback with a 21-18 win over Syracuse and then rolled Wagner 49-7.
One of the most important names in this matchup is Will Heldt. The preseason All-ACC selection has already delivered four sacks through Clemson’s first three games, and his pressure could be a major factor against California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who has started the year quickly.
Rather than taking a side, the play here is the total, with the UNDER 50.5 as the best bet.
The numbers point in that direction. Clemson ranks 111th nationally in yards per play at 4.5, while California is even lower at 120th with 4.4 yards per snap.
Early-season scoring has also been limited on both sides. Clemson managed only 10 points against LSU in Week 1 and 22 against Georgia Southern in Week 2.
California, meanwhile, scored 24 against UCLA and 21 against Syracuse.
The defensive side of the ball has held up better, especially for Clemson. With players like Heldt and Sammy Brown leading the way, the Tigers have allowed just 6.3 yards per play.
For this ACC matchup, the expectation is for defense to set the tone, which makes the UNDER the preferred angle.
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Cal Gets Its Biggest Early Test Yet Against Clemson
Cal gets its first real measuring-stick game of the season Friday night when Clemson comes to town for a home ACC matchup between two teams sitting at 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. It should be a revealing one for the Bears, who have already shown enough early to make this feel like more than just another September date, especially with Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele coming off a strong performance in their last game.
Clemson enters favored by a slim margin, which says plenty about how closely matched this one looks on paper. The Tigers are expected to roll out freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds, and after Cal handled its conference opener, this gives the Bears a chance to see where they really stand against a team with the same record and plenty of talent, in what could easily turn into the kind of game that comes down to a few plays late. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Has A Real Opening Against Clemson If The Bears Cash In
Clemson is no longer the yearly ACC juggernaut that used to loom over the league, and Saturdays trip to face Cal has the feel of a game the Bears can absolutely make uncomfortable. Both teams enter at 2-1, but this one carries a little extra weight for Cal, which gets a conference shot at a Tigers squad that is still searching for the steadier form it once took for granted after a 7-6 season last year.
The matchup also puts some of the burden on Clemsons offense to hold up under pressure, because the Bears should have a clear plan for testing the middle of the field while keeping the Tigers honest on defense. If Cal can stay patient and cash in on those openings, it could turn a name-brand opponent into a very workable ACC opportunity instead of just another tough roadblock. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Still Has One Lingering Problem After Its Wagner Blowout
Wagners visit gave Cal a chance to clean up the scoreline, but not much more than that. The Bears were facing such a clear talent gap that the blowout offered only limited answers about where the team really stands this early in the season. Even so, there were a couple of useful signs hidden in the routine work, including Dorian Thomas getting back on the field after missing time in fall camp and sitting out against UCLA.
Up front, the tackle picture also got a little clearer, with Klisiewicz emerging over Lewis for the starting job. Still, the bigger concern lingers on special teams, where Cal continues to look like it has unfinished business after a game that otherwise did little to change the broader read on the season. [Read more 🡒]