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Clemson vs. Pitt Odds, Picks, Predictions for NCAAF Week 12

Two teams that have recently suffered crushing losses are looking to right the ship and keep the season from slipping away on Saturday.

Clemson had rattled off six straight wins before taking a devastating loss at home to Louisville that likely eliminated it from any at-large College Football Playoff discussions.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh shocked everybody by starting the year 7-0, but its momentum came to a screeching halt with a loss at SMU that snowballed into two straight losses.

Clemson is a 10-point favorite on the spread with a 53.5-point over/under.

My Clemson vs. Pitt predictions and college football picks are below.

Clemson vs. Pitt Odds

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  • Clemson vs. Pitt Spread: Clemson -12 · Pitt +12
  • Clemson vs. Pitt Over/Under: 52 Points
  • Clemson vs. Pitt Moneyline: Clemson -455 · Pitt +345

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Prediction

  • Clemson vs. Pitt Pick: Clemson -10

Moneyline

I’m passing on the Clemson vs. Pitt moneyline.

Spread

My Clemson vs. Pitt best bet is on the Tigers to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings, according to our live NCAAF odds page.

Over/Under

I’m passing on the Clemson vs. Pitt over/under.

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Clemson Tigers Betting Preview: Klubnik Leading the Way

Quarterback Cade Klubnik has taken a massive step in his second season under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. Klubnik has thrown 24 touchdown passes and just four interceptions on the season. He has the best touchdown-to-interception ration in the ACC.

Klubnik has been able to spread the ball around as Clemson has four players averaging at least 40 receiving yards per game. Antonio Williams is the top threat in this offense, but tight end Jake Briningstool also provides an excellent safety valve underneath.

As good as Klubnik has been, the running game is still the Tigers’ bread-and-butter. After sharing the backfield last year, Phil Mafah is the clear alpha now. Mafah is averaging 109 yards per game and more than six yards per carry. He is second in the conference in rushing and Clemson ranks 14th in the nation in Rush Success Rate, operating behind an offensive line thats 11th in Line Yards.

On defense, the Tigers haven’t been as stout up front as they’ve been in the past, but this defense is still super talented. Clemson has been great against the pass, which will need to continue in this matchup. The Tigers also thrive at creating Havoc.

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Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Preview: Offense Performing Above Expectations

Pitt, following Kenny Pickett, has struggled to solidify the quarterback position, going through three transfer quarterbacks in three years. The Panthers have found the most success this year with Alabama transfer Eli Holstein.

The former four-star recruit is averaging 241.9 yards per game and has thrown 17 touchdowns and six interceptions. Holstein has a group of talented receivers, led by Konata Mumpfield, and a really good pass catching back.

Desmond Reid has almost been more effective as a pass catcher than on the ground. He has four touchdowns receiving, the same amount he has rushing. He’s also averaging 13.0 yards per catch and is the team’s second-leading receiver.

The Pitt defense has done a much better job than many expected entering the season. The Panthers rank top 50 against the run and the pass and have been living in opponents’ backfields. They create a ton of Havoc and have been terrific at finishing tackles.

Clemson vs. Pitt Matchup Analysis

Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Clemson and Pitt match up statistically:

Clemson Offense vs. Pitt Defense
Offense
Defense
Edge
Rush Success 14 29
Line Yards 11 5
Pass Success 45 47
Havoc 17 15
Finishing Drives 25 58
Quality Drives 14 56
Pitt Offense vs. Clemson Defense
Offense
Defense
Edge
Rush Success 52 72
Line Yards 34 87
Pass Success 53 35
Havoc 101 8
Finishing Drives 30 96
Quality Drives 52 39
Pace of Play / Other
PFF Tackling 61 12
PFF Coverage 29 48
Special Teams SP+ 124 9
Middle 8 65 85
Seconds per Play 25.9 (41) 22.2 (4)
Rush Rate 49% (91) 45% (123)
Data via CollegeFootballData.com, SP+, Pro Football Focus and SportSource Analytics.

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This game could very well come down to which team creates the most Havoc — and the Tigers have a big advantage in that category.

Both team rank in the top 15 with Pitt sitting at 15, and Clemson ranking eighth. The big difference is a Clemson offense that ranks 17th in Havoc Allowed, compared to a Pittsburgh offense that is 101st in Havoc Allowed.

Pittsburgh has been great at getting into the backfield, but Clemson’s offensive line has allowed just 12 sacks this season. This will be the best passing attack and toughest test the Panthers have faced this season.

The Tigers have been great at defending the pass, which is exactly what Pitt wants to do. Pittsburgh ranks 123rd in Rush Rate, leaning on Holstein’s arm to carry the offense.

Unfortunately, he has been playing with fire all season and is finally starting to get burnt. Despite only throwing six interceptions this season, Holstein has 20 turnover-worthy plays, the second most in the country.

Clemson ranks fifth in the FBS in turnover margin and hasn’t allowed more than 280 passing yards all season. The Tigers’ secondary should be able to cause problems for Holstein and force him into the turnovers he’s been due for all season.

If Clemson wins the turnover battle, things could go sideways.

Pick: Clemson -10 or Better

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Clemson vs. Pitt Channel, Streaming, How To Watch, Start Time, Location

Location: Acrisure Stadium
Date: Saturday, Nov. 16
Kickoff Time: 12 p.m. ET
TV / Streaming: ESPN

Clemson vs. Pitt will be played at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 12 p.m. ET. You can stream the game live on ESPN.

Pitt vs. Clemson Betting Trends

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Pitt vs. Clemson Weather

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