ACC Conference Championship Preview: Clemson Tigers vs. SMU Mustangs – Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024

An exciting college football betting opportunity will be during the ACC Conference Championship between the 17th-ranked Clemson Tigers (9-3) and the eighth-ranked SMU Mustangs (11-1) on Saturday, December 7 at 8:00 PM ET. This matchup will be held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Mustangs are favored with a point spread at -2.5 (-110).

Clemson Tigers Betting Preview

The Tigers recently suffered a 17-14 defeat to the 15th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks. This loss snapped their three-game win streak and ultimately put them out of contention for a shot at the title this year.

The defense fell apart towards the end of the game, as the Tigers allowed the Gamecocks to get 10 points in the fourth quarter without an answer. Cade Klubnik completed 24 of 36 passes for 280 yards, rushed for a touchdown, and threw it away with one interception.

Both teams were synonymous on paper with their offense, as well as several turnovers. The key here was who could make the most impactful plays, and the Gamecocks were able to make more opportunities in the end zone.

The Tigers have been stacking up 35.7 points per game and are currently ranked 14th in the nation. On defense, they are giving up 21.6 points a game and rank 34th. This margin of victory is appealing, assuming they do not have defensive breakdowns.

SMU Mustangs Betting Preview

The Mustangs have won their last nine games, with a recent 38-6 performance over the California Golden Bears. They had a 21-point lead heading into the half and were able to finish strong.

Kevin Jennings completed 20 of 30 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Brashard Smith rushed 16 times for 68 yards and a touchdown. Together they will need another great performance to win this championship.

Against the Golden Bears, they put up 415 yards and 20 first downs. Defensively they allowed 253 yards, 14 first downs, and forced a turnover. This same level of intensity has to be applied in this matchup if they want a chance at winning.

The Mustangs rank fifth in points scored a game at 39.2. On defense they rank 19th in allowing 19.8 points per game. This spread is excellent and should be a key factor in their chances at winning.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie offers the best college football odds in the ACC Conference Championship, which slightly favor the Mustangs by 2.5-points. They currently have a 53.8 percent chance of winning when looking at market analysis.

The Tigers have great momentum, but they have shown weakness in both sides of the ball. As for the Mustangs, they have a great margin of error and should be able to cover the spread.

Final Pick: SMU Mustangs -2.5 (-110)