The Clemson Tigers went 14-0 straight up and 7-7 against the spread through the first 14 games of the 2015 season before eventually losing to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the championship game. The Tigers will start their quest back towards a playoff spot on the road this Saturday against the Auburn Tigers.
Clemson vs. Auburn 2016 odds: ACC-SEC matchup has big road favorite
The Clemson Tigers get their season underway as betting favorites in a road game against the Auburn Tigers on Saturday night.
Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Clemson is a 7.5-point road favorite on Saturday night at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. This will be the 23rd straight regular season game in which Clemson has been the betting favorite.
Deshaun Watson became the first player in college football history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season in 2015, racking up 4,104 passing yards and 35 passing touchdowns to go along with 1,105 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.
Watson finished third in Heisman voting last season and led the offense to 38.5 points per game. Coming off a 14-1 SU and 8-7 ATS campaign in 2015, expectations are sky high for Watson and the Tigers this season.
Since 2010, the Clemson Tigers are 14-0 SU and 9-5 ATS in their last 14 games going off as a road favorite of a touchdown or more per the OddsShark College Football Database.
Betting Line / Total: Clemson -7.5 / 63 Points
Trend: Clemson is 3-0 ATS in its last three games against Auburn.
Trend: Auburn is 0-9-1 ATS in its last 10 games at home.
Gus Malzahn and the Auburn Tigers are usually known for their fast-paced and super-efficient offense, but last year’s team showed how badly things can go when the quarterback and offensive line play aren’t up to speed. Auburn finished 75th in the nation with just 27.5 points per game on offense, going just 7-6 SU and 3-9-1 ATS in the process.
While the defense appears to be trending in the right direction, the offense could still be a work in progress with uncertainty at the quarterback position.
Saturday’s total is set at 63 points. In Clemson’s last seven games favored by a touchdown or more, the OVER is 7-0.
If Auburn’s starting quarterback Sean White can get the Tigers offense going again, this could be a dangerous game for Clemson in a hostile environment. But with Deshaun Watson at the helm, Clemson shouldn’t have a problem putting up points even against what figures to be a solid Auburn defense this season.
Clemson Tigers at Auburn Tigers
When: Saturday, September 3, 9:00 p.m. ET
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama
