Clemson vs NC State Odds: Has Cade Klubnik Learned From His Mistakes
QB Klubnik's Mistake Against Miami Cost Clemson Another Loss on Saturday
The Clemson Tigers are in danger of falling to .500 on the season with a road matchup against the North Carolina State Wolfpack.
The Tigers haven’t lost four games in a season since 2011. But with a 4-3 record, Clemson might be enduring its worst season in about a decade.
Clemson’s coming off an overtime loss to Miami last time out.
Meanwhile, North Carolina State had a bye week to prepare for its game against Clemson. However, the Wolfpack scored just three points in a 24-3 loss.
With that, Clemson is a 10-point favorite on the road, with the total sitting at 43.5. However, the Over is juiced to -115, while the Under is at -105.
You can find North Carolina State at +300 on the moneyline at home.
Let’s look at the Clemson vs NC State odds for this exciting ACC matchup.
Clemson Tigers vs NC State Wolfpack 
Day/Time:
Location: Carter-Finley Stadium
Streaming: CW Network
Clemson vs NC State Odds
Although the Clemson Tigers have struggled throughout the season, they’re still a double-digit favorite against North Carolina State on the road. Meanwhile, the total is as high as 44 at some spots.
Neither team has done well against the spread this season. Clemson is 2-5 in their seven games after failing to cover against Miami on the road as 6.5-point favorites. Instead, the Tigers lost outright in overtime, 28-20.
Clemson has also hit the Under in four of seven games this season. However, the overtime matchup against Miami went Over the total. But that was only because the game went into overtime in the first place.
On the other hand, the Wolfpack have gone just 1-5-1 against the spread this season. The only win against the spread came against Marshall. Therefore, North Carolina State hasn’t covered a game against an ACC opponent this season.
The Under has hit in five of seven games North Carolina State games.
Clemson has destroyed North Carolina State throughout the last decade. North Carolina State only has one win against Clemson in program history, That came in 2021. However, Clemson earned a 30-20 win against the Wolfpack on October 1, 2022, as 6.5-point favorites.
Cade Klubnik’s Poor Decision-Making
The Clemson Tigers are in shambles.
In their matchup against the Hurricanes, the Tigers trailed the Hurricanes, 28-20, with the ball in double overtime. Clemson had to score a touchdown and a two-point conversion to earn a third overtime.
In the game’s final play, Clemson called for a run to Will Shipley. Instead, quarterback Cade Klubnik ran an option and tried running for the goalline himself.
Klubnik was immediately tackled as he tried to stretch to the left around the defense.
That was the ball game.
After the game was over, head coach Dabo Swinney didn’t hold back. He told the media that Klubnik didn’t run the correct play. Eventually, Klubnik took the blame and responsibility, but the damage was already done.
Klubnik is a great quarterback prospect. But he was trying to do way too much. He thought he saw something and wanted to change it up. Instead, the defense got to him within seconds and ended the game.
That’s what happens when you start to lose multiple games at Clemson. Everyone wants to be the hero, and it just makes it worse.
The Bye Week Should Help North Carolina State
As acknowledged earlier, North Carolina State had a bye week to prepare for Clemson. Head coach Dave Doeren said the bye week was a great time for his football program.
The Wolfpack reflected, studied, and hit the reset for the next portion of the schedule.
North Carolina State played nearly two months without a bye week. It clearly took a toll on them after a 24-3 defeat to Duke.
Doeren said that his NCAAF team was embarrassed, especially on offense. But they’ve owned up to it while the older guys are taking on more of a leadership role.
Not Everything’s Wrong With Clemson
While the Clemson offense has struggled, the defense certainly hasn’t.
The Tigers have held teams to 276.1 yards per game, including only 172 yards in the air and 104.1 yards on the ground. The secondary is playing at a very high level, and the run defense isn’t far behind.
You’d like to see the Tigers earn more of a pass rush. However, they’ve done a great job converting on tackles and making plays.
Against North Carolina State, the defense should make some more noise.
At the start of the season, veteran transfer Brennan Armstrong threw more interceptions than touchdowns. Therefore, the Wolfpack went with MJ Morris at quarterback. But he’s also struggled.
Morris has a QBR of 27.1 with only four touchdowns and four interceptions in two games started.
He only had one interception and no touchdowns against Duke last time out.
North Carolina State Needs More Efficiency on Offense
So, while North Carolina looks to reset, it’s unlikely that the Wolfpack will be able to do significant things offensively against Clemson.
Morris and Armstrong haven’t figured out the offense yet. They’ve got limited depth at receiver and aren’t getting great blocking out of the offensive line in the run game.
Morris ran 14 times against Duke for 38 yards. Meanwhile, the Wolfpack gave five or fewer carries to five other NCAAF players. They don’t have a bellcow. They don’t have that go-to guy. They’re asking the preseason backup quarterback to do just about everything.
No wonder why the Clemson vs NC State odds have the Tigers favored by ten points. Neither team is very high in the ACC NCAA football standings. But Clemson is more balanced on both sides of the ball.
Although the Wolfpack have held teams to 332.9 yards per game on defense, the secondary has been average at best. Look for Klubnik to succeed more against North Carolina State and the rest of the NCAAF schedule throwing the football.
I’ll back the Tigers at -10 with these NCAAF odds.
For NCAAF betting news, college football scores and odds, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
