Clemson gets a high-stakes home test Saturday night when Virginia Tech rolls into Death Valley for a primetime ACC matchup between two two-loss teams. It’s a spot that should keep the temperature high from start to finish, with the Tigers trying to steady themselves at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Clemson’s resume is exactly what many expected at this point in the year. The Tigers have beaten Georgia Southern, North Carolina, Cal and Charleston Southern, while the two blemishes came against LSU and Miami. Virginia Tech arrives at 5-2, but the Hokies have shown a habit of letting second-half leads slip away.
The betting market is treating this one like the coin flip it looks to be. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Clemson is favored by 2.5 points at home, with the Tigers listed at -140 on the moneyline and Virginia Tech at +116.
The spread points to a game that should stay tight deep into the fourth quarter, and the over/under sits at 49.5 points. Using the number and the spread together, a 26-23 Clemson win fits the board.
As the home side, the Tigers are only slight favorites.
For anyone planning to watch, kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 24 from Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C.
ESPN will carry the national broadcast, and the game can also be streamed on fuboTV. Radio coverage will be available on 105.5 FM The Roar, with additional audio options through the Clemson Athletic Network.
The matchup itself has the feel of a game that could turn on one or two possessions. Clemson may have the edge on defense and special teams, while Virginia Tech could carry more punch on offense. That imbalance makes the middle of the game especially interesting, because the final result might come down to which side handles those critical snaps better.
There is also the question of how this one gets settled late. Clemson has been the more dependable team in the second half, and that could matter if the game stays as close as expected. In the prediction here, Gideon Davidson is the one who finishes it off, cashing in on a composed drive led by Tait Reynolds and putting together his best showing in a Clemson uniform.
If that plays out, Clemson could leave the night looking like the fourth-best team in the conference.
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