Clemson vs Wake Forest Picks and Odds
- Clemson is a 33.5-point favorite on the road against Wake Forest on Saturday night at 7:30pm EST on ABC
- Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers will look to dominate the ACC yet again this year after a 14-1 season
- Read below for odds, analysis and the best bet for this ACC matchup
After the Clemson Tigers lost to the LSU Tigers in the 2020 National Championship, they are back for revenge as the number one seed heading into the new 2020-21 College Football season. The Tigers start their season against Wake Forest at Truist Field in North Carolina on Saturday night at 7:30 EST.
Clemson’s star quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, is looking to have another great season as he heads into his junior year. The Georgia native is the Heisman favorite heading into the 2020-21 season, as he looks for his first Heisman Trophy.
The Tigers are massive 33.5-point favorites against Dave Clawson’s clan in the Clemson vs Wake Forest odds. Let’s take a look at recent head-to-head matchups, rosters, and injuries to decipher the best bet for this ACC matchup.
Clemson Tigers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Clemson Tigers | -33.5 (-110) | -10000 | O 59.5 (-110) |
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | +33.5 (-110) | +2500 | U 59.5 (-110) |
Odds taken September 11th
Clemson’s Recent Dominance Over Wake Forest
To say Wake Forest’s last game against Clemson did not go as planned is an understatement. The Tigers clobbered the Demon Deacons 52-3 in 2019. Moreover, Clemson beat Wake Forest 63-3 in 2018.
The Tigers have outscored Wake Forest 115-6 in their last two matchups.
Tee Higgins tore up this defense last year scoring three touchdowns on just four catches. Luckily for Wake Forest, Higgins will not be playing as he moved onto the NFL this offseason. However, that doesn’t mean Clemson won’t have the weapons to dominate Wake Forest and the rest of the ACC like they have in recent memory.
Clemson has not lost to Wake Forest since 2008, where they fell 12-7 in a low scoring affair. Clemson has covered the last two matchups with ease, but Wake Forest covered the four previous matchups before 2018.
Tigers Talent Level Nearly Unmatched
Although the Tigers lost Higgins, Isaiah Simmons, and a few others to the NFL, they could have an even better team than last year’s. In terms of development and recruitment, Clemson is the place to be in the ACC.
Clemson brought in five 5-star recruits and 12 4-star recruits this year, while Wake Forest did not land a single 4-star recruit. Looking at pure talent level, the Tigers outmatch the Demon Deacons in a landslide.
Travis Etienne is Clemson’s x-factor. The Louisiana native ran for 121 yards and one score in Clemson’s rout over Wake Forest last year. The Demon Deacons allowed 163.7 rush yards per game last season, which was sixth-worst in the ACC.
Wake Forest had a solid offense last year scoring 31.8 points per game. However, this year is going to be a different story. They are only returning two starters on offense, Zach Tom and Sean Maggin – who are both offensive linemen.
Not to mention, quarterback Jamie Newman left Wake Forest in the offseason, and star wide receiver Sage Surratt decided to opt-out. Despite being at home, this young Wake Forest team is going to have a tough test against this powerful Tigers team.
Trends & Best Bet
We have established that Clemson is clearly the better team in this matchup, but can they cover a 33.5-point spread? Well, the Tigers are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games as road favorites and 16-4-1 since 2017.
Let’s not forget that Clemson will be without top receiver Justyn Ross for the entire season due to a back injury. Although this will have lasting effects throughout the season, it shouldn’t be a differentiator in this game.
Wake Forest is 3-1-1 ATS in their last five games in September, but they are 2-6 ATS in the last eight games as home underdogs. Clemson is 2-1 ATS in their last three season openers, including last year’s 36.5-point cover over Georgia Tech.
With Newman and Surratt not playing for Wake Forest, they just lack any sort of firepower. Clemson should win by 40-plus with experienced players and coaching led by Dabo Sweeney and Trevor Lawrence. Take the Tigers.
Best Bet: Clemson -33.5 (-110)
With 5+ years of sports journalism under his belt, Ryan Sura may be young, but he's already making his mark. Ryan is the lead NHL editor at SBD, along with managing content for MMA, Boxing, and Racing. He is also the commercial manager, highlighting the best promos at online sportsbooks across US.
