Clemson vs Duke Betting Odds: No. 9 Tigers to Debut Revamped Offense

After missing the College Football Playoff the last two seasons, Clemson is looking to reclaim its place as a national championship contender. Expectations remain incredibly high for the Tigers, ranked ninth in the preseason Top 25 poll, but SEC powers like Georgia and Alabama have lapped them in the race for supremacy.

Up first for Dabo Swinney and Co. is a date with Duke on Labor Day (8 p.m. ET). In order to cash in on expectations, the Tigers will need to start fast against their ACC rivals at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Oddsmakers expect them to, pegging the Tigers as a 13.5-point road favorite (-110) and -500 to win outright. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils are priced +385 on the moneyline. The projected total is 56 (-110).

Who should have the edge? Read on as we break down the Clemson vs Duke betting odds in our game preview.

Clemson Good as New Again?

Are the Clemson Tigers still a national powerhouse? There shouldn’t be much doubt. The Tigers, ranked No. 9 in the AP preseason Top 25 poll, have won at least 10 games in each of the last 12 seasons. That includes national championships in 2016 and 2018.How does this play into college football spreads? Let’s check it out.

But clearly, the Tigers are a bit more vulnerable these days. After missing the College Football Playoff back-to-back years for the first time since the format was introduced in 2014-15, the Tigers are adjusting on the fly with a remodeled offense and coaching staff.

Head coach Dabo Swinney brought aboard former TCU offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, who won the Broyles Award last year as the nation’s top assistant. It was a big-time move, one that should pay dividends for an offense that had become lackluster since Trevor Lawrence left. Sophomore Cade Klubnik has generated a lot of buzz in camp, but with only 100 collegiate passing attempts under his belt, he’s no given.

Still, oddsmakers are bullish on the Tigers. They’re projected for 10.0 wins (-120 Over, -110 Under) and are a +140 to win their eighth ACC title in nine years, a slight underdog to Florida State (+160). The Tigers are also +300 to make the CFP. Whether Clemson can cash in on those odds and climb the NCAA football rankings will heavily depend on Klubnik’s progression and the evolution of a standout defense.

Clemson held opponents to an average of 20.1 points in 2022, tied for 17th fewest in FBS. But a few of the Tigers’ core defensive standouts are gone, including linemen Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee and linebacker Trenton Simpson. Replacing that trio won’t be easy. Keep that in mind when assessing the Clemson vs Duke betting odds.

Duke Hopes to Keep Building Under Elko

Mike Elko was an instant hit at Duke, leading the Blue Devils to a 9-4 record, including a 30-13 victory over UCF in the Military Bowl, per NCAAF scores. It was the Blue Devils’ winningest season since 2014.

What can Elko do for an encore? Replicating last year’s success will be difficult, especially given the strength atop the ACC. The Blue Devils are projected for 6.5 wins, with the Over juiced to +120. But it helps that there’s a strong foundation in place, centered around quarterback Riley Leonard. As a sophomore, Leonard completed 63.9% of his attempts for 20 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Leonard also added 699 yards and 13 scores on the ground, proving equally dangerous with his legs. There’s also a lot of talent around him.

On top of that, Duke returns a defense that held teams to an average of 22.1 points per game, a significant improvement from David Cutcliffe’s final season at the helm. If the Blue Devils continue to produce on that side of the ball, they’ll likely find a much easier path to beating projections and advancing to another college bowl game. They haven’t made back-to-back bowl appearances since 2017 and 2018.

Handicapping the Game

Clemson remains a top-flight contender in the ACC, if not the country. Sure, Klubnik is young and a tad unproven, but having two capable running backs in Will Shipley and Phil Mafah should help ease his transition under center. So, too, should Riley, whose hire was one of the biggest moves of the offseason.

Duke took a significant step forward in Elko’s first season, but opening against Clemson is an incredibly tough assignment for the Blue Devils. There’s a lot of pressure on Leonard to produce.

Is he capable? Sure. But counting out Clemson can be risky business. Because of that, look for the Tigers to cover the spread in the Clemson vs Duke betting odds.

For college football betting news, odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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