A few Top-10 teams lost in Week 1 of the college football season, but No. 2 Clemson was able to avoid the upset bug at Auburn, although that game was closer than expected. The Tigers shouldn’t have much trouble this week as huge favorites on NCAA Football lines against overmatched Troy.
When: Saturday, Sept. 10, 12:30 PM ET
Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
TV: ACC Extra
Opening NCAA Football Lines: Clemson -36 (63.5)
The Trojans (1-0) finished with 706 yards of total offense while holding the Governors (0-1) to just 254 yards, with only 37 yards in the second half. Troy’s tally ranks as the third most in school history and the most since the Trojans racked up 721 yards at Tennessee in 2012. Jordan Chunn, who took the first play of the game 48 yards for a touchdown, finished with 161 yards on just 13 carries. Brandon Silvers completed 20-of- 27 passes for 229 yards and two scores. True freshman quarterback Sawyer Smith finished the game 7-for- 7 for 86 yards and a touchdown. He became the first quarterback in Troy’s FBS era to throw a touchdown pass on his first career attempt.
Troy has averaged 39.0 points and 455.9 yards over the last seven games. The Trojans averaged just 19.8 points and 305.7 yards of total offense over the first six games of the 2015 season.
“Big step up in competition as you know, Coach (Dabo) Sweeney and his staff have done a tremendous job in recruiting and when you look at them across the board, they’re big, they’re long and they’re fast,” Troy coach Neal Brown said of facing Clemson. “They’re exactly what you’d expect of the No. 2 ranked team in the country. Offensively they are lead by Heisman Trophy front runner Deshaun Watson. I’ve been watching him play really since he was a freshman at Gainesville High School in Georgia. Run pass threat, you all know all about him, I don’t need to talk about him much. Probably as good a kid as he is a player.”
Auburn pulled to within a touchdown at 13-6 heading into the fourth quarter, but Hunter Renfrow provided the play of the night. Facing third-and- goal, Watson lofted a beautiful pass from the 16 to Renfrow, who made a great catch in the corner of the end zone. It was his third straight game with a touchdown reception.
Williams led the Tigers with 1,030 yards receiving in 2014 and was garnering plenty of draft buzz heading into his junior year at Clemson before a broken neck in the first game cost him his season. The All-ACC selection was pushed into the goal post after he caught a 2-yard touchdown. But Williams looked like his old self Saturday night against Auburn.
The Tiger defense recorded 13 tackles for loss vs. Auburn. Clemson has ranked in the top five nationally in tackles for loss each of the previous three seasons. Clemson saw its streak of 11 consecutive games with at least 500 yards of total offense end, as the Tigers finished with 399. Clemson’s 13 points allowed to Auburn were the fewest by an SEC opponent against the Tigers since Kentucky also had 13 in the 2009 Music City Bowl. Clemson is now 12-2 in games decided by seven points or less since the beginning of the 2011 season.
Clemson has won a school-record 16 straight games in Memorial Stadium, a streak that began with a 55- 31 win over Georgia Tech in 2013. Head coach Dabo Swinney is 46-6 at home as the head coach of the Tigers, and his team has won by an average of 24.6 points per game during the 16-game winning streak. Only two teams have been within 10 points of Clemson at home in the 16-game streak. In 2014, Clemson beat Louisville 23-17 and in 2015, beat Notre Dame 24-22. Fourteen of the 16 wins in the stretch have been by at least 10 points. Clemson and Troy have met just once previously. That game was the season opener of 2011, a 43-19 victory at Memorial Stadium.
How To Bet Troy at Clemson NCAA Football Odds & TV Info
When: Saturday, Sept. 10, 12:30 PM ET
Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
TV: ACC Extra
Opening NCAA Football Lines: Clemson -36 (63.5)
Why Bet on Troy?
Uh, I wouldn’t I suppose Clemson could be looking past the Trojans. Troy routed FCS school Austin Peay 57-17 in its season opener. Troy rushed for 383 yards, the most by a Trojan team since 2008. The Trojans have won 10 straight home openers that double as season openers. Troy hasn’t lost such a game since 1979.The Trojans (1-0) finished with 706 yards of total offense while holding the Governors (0-1) to just 254 yards, with only 37 yards in the second half. Troy’s tally ranks as the third most in school history and the most since the Trojans racked up 721 yards at Tennessee in 2012. Jordan Chunn, who took the first play of the game 48 yards for a touchdown, finished with 161 yards on just 13 carries. Brandon Silvers completed 20-of- 27 passes for 229 yards and two scores. True freshman quarterback Sawyer Smith finished the game 7-for- 7 for 86 yards and a touchdown. He became the first quarterback in Troy’s FBS era to throw a touchdown pass on his first career attempt.
Troy has averaged 39.0 points and 455.9 yards over the last seven games. The Trojans averaged just 19.8 points and 305.7 yards of total offense over the first six games of the 2015 season.
“Big step up in competition as you know, Coach (Dabo) Sweeney and his staff have done a tremendous job in recruiting and when you look at them across the board, they’re big, they’re long and they’re fast,” Troy coach Neal Brown said of facing Clemson. “They’re exactly what you’d expect of the No. 2 ranked team in the country. Offensively they are lead by Heisman Trophy front runner Deshaun Watson. I’ve been watching him play really since he was a freshman at Gainesville High School in Georgia. Run pass threat, you all know all about him, I don’t need to talk about him much. Probably as good a kid as he is a player.”
Why Bet on Clemson?
The Tigers beat Auburn 19-13. Deshaun Watson passed for 248 yards, including 174 to Mike Williams in his return from a neck injury in last season’s opener. Wayne Gallman carried 30 times for 123 yards. Clemson dominated the stat sheet in the first half — with a 233-38 advantage in total yards — but led only 10-3 and both scores came after defensive penalties on third-down plays. Defensively, Clemson came up with three takeaways and held Auburn to just 262 yards.Auburn pulled to within a touchdown at 13-6 heading into the fourth quarter, but Hunter Renfrow provided the play of the night. Facing third-and- goal, Watson lofted a beautiful pass from the 16 to Renfrow, who made a great catch in the corner of the end zone. It was his third straight game with a touchdown reception.
Williams led the Tigers with 1,030 yards receiving in 2014 and was garnering plenty of draft buzz heading into his junior year at Clemson before a broken neck in the first game cost him his season. The All-ACC selection was pushed into the goal post after he caught a 2-yard touchdown. But Williams looked like his old self Saturday night against Auburn.
The Tiger defense recorded 13 tackles for loss vs. Auburn. Clemson has ranked in the top five nationally in tackles for loss each of the previous three seasons. Clemson saw its streak of 11 consecutive games with at least 500 yards of total offense end, as the Tigers finished with 399. Clemson’s 13 points allowed to Auburn were the fewest by an SEC opponent against the Tigers since Kentucky also had 13 in the 2009 Music City Bowl. Clemson is now 12-2 in games decided by seven points or less since the beginning of the 2011 season.
Clemson has won a school-record 16 straight games in Memorial Stadium, a streak that began with a 55- 31 win over Georgia Tech in 2013. Head coach Dabo Swinney is 46-6 at home as the head coach of the Tigers, and his team has won by an average of 24.6 points per game during the 16-game winning streak. Only two teams have been within 10 points of Clemson at home in the 16-game streak. In 2014, Clemson beat Louisville 23-17 and in 2015, beat Notre Dame 24-22. Fourteen of the 16 wins in the stretch have been by at least 10 points. Clemson and Troy have met just once previously. That game was the season opener of 2011, a 43-19 victory at Memorial Stadium.
