Boston College Eagles vs. Clemson Tigers Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

9 minute read

Oct. 2, 2021

Thom Cunningham
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Boston College Eagles look to keep their unbeaten streak alive when they take on a dangerous and motivated Clemson Tigers team on Saturday night. Kick off for this ACC affair is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will air from Clemson, South Carolina on the ACC Network.

Score Prediction: Clemson 21, Boston College 20

Best Bet: Boston College +15.5

Best Bet: Under 46.5

Boston College Eagles vs. Clemson Tigers Predictions

Flip a coin on the market decision here, as they both present compelling cases with a little set back as well. Starting with the spread, which is laughably high. Giving an undefeated team a +15.5-point cushion (opening even higher) against one of the nation's most hard-to-watch offenses should scream underdog here. The spread is a bit fishy though, until you consider that Boston College will be without quarterback Phil Jurkovec who is out indefinitely with a hand injury.

Regardless, the line has dropped to +15 and even +14 for Boston College with some books. It seems the public isn't too worried about the quarterback change at Boston College, which I'll get into later. The Eagles will still be with solid running backs and pre-season Heisman contending wide receiver Zay Flowers.

Let's focus on the trends, assuming BC won't suffer too much from the quarterback switch - which they haven't yet. The Eagles have failed to cover four of their last six road games - well that's not good for BC bettors. However, despite the road struggles, BC has covered four of its last five games when playing in Clemson, South Carolina. So the program plays well in Death Valley, despite sluggish results when traveling elsewhere.

I also like to side with recent rends over historical ones if they cross paths, and recent trends show Boston College has covered four of its last six games while Clemson has failed to cover the spread in five straight games (0-4 ATS this season). Boston College has also gone UNDER the point total in seven of its last 10 road games, while the schools' combined O/U record this season is 3-5.

With a low point total and a high spread, if the game goes UNDER expect the Eagles to keep this within a two touchdown game - which most books are giving you at worst. Something has to give for Clemson eventually, and it might be Saturday night against a hot conference team. The lack of conviction comes from the BC quarterback injury, but looking at the statistics from the backup, it might not matter.

More Free College Football Picks

Boston College Eagles vs. Clemson Tigers Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Boston College Eagles vs. Clemson Tigers Betting Resources

• Matchup: ACC
• Date: Saturday, October 2, 2021
• Venue: Memorial Stadium
• Location: Clemson, South Carolina
• TV-Time: ACCN - 7:30 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• College Football Playoff Betting

Boston College Eagles Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 4-0
• ATS: 3-1
• O/U: 2-2
• ATS - Home: 2-0
• ATS - Away: 1-1

With Jurkovec out, Dennis Grosel will continue his duties at the starting quarterback position and he hasn't been much different from Jurkovec. Grosel has completed 62.9% of his passes, which is only down 5% from Jurkovec. He does average under 10 yards per completion however, so check downs against a good Clemson defense won't see many points on the board here. This is why the UNDER is so intriguing.

As mentioned, BC will be with both running backs Pat Garwo III and Travis Levy who had an impressive run called back on an offensive face mask against Mizzou. Flowers will also be suited up, so the weapons that elevated Jurkovec's game will also elevate Grosel's. Trae Berry is also forgotten about in this offense and has productive numbers, while Jaden Williams has the best sense for the end zone of all the Eagle receivers.

Keep in mind that Grosel is also more mobile than Jurkovec, which might actually work in BC's favor against a fast defense. Grosel actually averages over four yards per carry with just over 100 rushing yards and two rushing TDs this season. We haven't even gotten to the BC defense yet, which should limit Clemson's offense if the Tigers' first four games were any indication.

BC holds schools to 16.2 points per game which ranks 24th in the nation. Clemson's is better, but the Eagles defense may cause more problems to the Clemson offense than oddsmakers might realize. Josh DeBerry and Brandon Sebastian each have two interceptions that make up the team's six, while the secondary has a combined 12 pass deflections as well.

Jaiden Woodbey is playing very well also, already with two fumble recoveries - one of which he scored a TD on. Woodbey is also responsible for two of the team's 12 pass deflections. Jahmin Muse also has a TD, while Vinny DePalma has forced two of the team's four fumbles.

The point is - this BC team has weapons on both sides of the ball but haven't earned the conviction of oddsmakers yet. Expect BC to fight hard in a venue they are historically focused in.

Clemson Tigers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 2-2
• ATS: 0-4
• O/U: 1-3
• ATS - Home: 0-3
• ATS - Away: 0-1

The Tigers will need to go for the head of Boston College's offense to cover this game. Not only that, but its' time quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei plays the football he's capable of playing. Much like Mertz at Wisconsin, the play from the quarterback position needs to be better overall. The running game could also be better, but Will Shipley is out indefinitely which means a running back (more than likely Lyn-J Dixon) will have to step up.

Outside of receivers Justyn Ross and Joseph Ngata, the aerial attack for Clemson has been atrocious. Out of the 130 schools in FBS level play, Clemson ranks 105th in points per game. The lack of depth and experience is beginning to show in some positions for this offense, so it's hard to trust Clemson being able to pull away by over two touchdowns against anyone - let alone one of the (current) best teams in the ACC.

The defense is legit though, ranked fifth nationally in points allowed per game. They don't have many takeaways though, with only two total interceptions and one fumble recovery. So although the Clemson defense is keeping games close and opponents out of the end zone, it should be noted that they also aren't making big enough plays to put the opponent's into misery. That could change Saturday night, but BC is so good at Death Valley (and impressive so far this season) that it's hard to expect Clemson, no matter how good the defense plays, can extend the game out of reach by 15+ points against BC.

It does seem the Clemson defense is one or two big takeaways from sealing a few of these games they've played so far, but the offense has been so bad that it's hard to trust the Tigers being able to seal a game by more than two or three possessions. A big takeaway play from this defense to seal a close game victory seems the most likely scenario.

The Boston College Eagles have gone UNDER the point total in six of their last nine games in Death Valley. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Boston College Eagles

• Record: 4-0
• VI Ranking: 24
• Points Scored: 165
• Points Allowed: 65
• PS/G: 41.2 (15th)
• PA/G: 16.2 (24th)

Inside the Stats - Clemson Tigers

• Record: 2-2
• VI Ranking: 38
• Points Scored: 87
• Points Allowed: 48
• PS/G: 21.8 (105th)
• PA/G: 12 (5th)

Key Players to Watch

• BC: Dennis Grosel - QB (39/62, 452 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT)
• BC: Zay Flowers - WR (18 catches, 275 yards, 2 TD)
• CLEM: D.J. Uiagalelei - QB (63/112, 586 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT)
• CLEM: Justyn Ross - WR (22 catches, 216 yards, 3 TD)

Injuries

• BC: Phil Jurkovec - QB (Hand-Out)
• BC: Aaron Boumerhi - K (Hip-Out)
• BC: Chibueze Onwuka - DT (Undisclosed-Out)
• CLEM: Will Shipley - RB (Knee-Out)
• CLEM: Dietrick Pennington - OL (ACL-Out)
• CLEM: Fred Davis II - CB (Undisclosed-Questionable)
• CLEM: Bryan Breese - DL (Knee-Out)
• CLEM: Brannon Spector - WR (Covid-Out)
• CLEM: Tyler Davis - DT (Biceps-Out)
• CLEM: Baylon Spector - LB (Undisclosed-Questionable)
• CLEM: Lannden Zanders - S (Shoulder-Out)
• CLEM: Tayquon Johnson - DT (Pectoral-Out)

Boston College Eagles vs. Clemson Tigers Betting Conclusion

The trends all point towards Boston College not only covering this game, but it being a low-scoring encounter. Not only do the trends back this up, but the numbers from both teams do as well. Both schools present a Top 25 defense in the nation, but the Eagles have a Top 15 offense as well. With Clemson's 105th ranked offense, all the numbers add up to UNDER and a close game from Boston College (or at least closer than plus-two touchdown spreads).

Boston College Eagles vs. Clemson Tigers Betting Trends

• Boston College has gone UNDER the point total in seven of its last 10 road games.
• Clemson has failed to cover the spread in five straight games.
• Boston College has failed to cover the spread in four of its last six road games.
• Boston College has covered the spread in four of its last five games in Death Valley.
• Clemson has gone OVER the point total in five straight games when facing a non-AP-ranked school in October.

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff