Clemson's kicker just hit a 59-yarder. Virginia Tech's two losses both came down to the final play. Dixie-Lynn Pruitt, a Clemson fan who owns 43 orange items, is already twirling.
Virginia Tech (5-2) at Clemson (4-2), Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN at Memorial Stadium in Clemson. It's an ACC night game in Death Valley and Homecoming, with the theme "Flight 1889." DraftKings has Clemson Tigers −2.5 with a total of 49.5. My card: Clemson Tigers −2.5, Over 49.5, and a final of Clemson Tigers 27, Virginia Tech Hokies 24.
Dixie-Lynn speaks for Clemson. "Orange you glad you came, Ruthanne? We shut out Charleston Southern 37-0, our first shutout in five seasons. Nolan Hauser hit a career-long 59-yard field goal. My heart, y'all."
Ruthanne Dellinger speaks for Virginia Tech, and she marches with one maroon drum major's baton. "Ethan Grunkemeyer has 15 touchdown passes and two interceptions, completing 72.6%. Que'Sean Brown caught six passes for 182 yards against Georgia Tech. Aycen Stevens has seven sacks. I jump for every one."
Why Clemson? The Tigers are home, at night, on Homecoming, and they have the kicker. That 2.5 is the cleanest number on the card to clear with a field goal, and my final has Clemson by three. The Tigers ran for 231 yards last week, and Gideon Davidson has five rushing touchdowns. Virginia Tech is also in the hard part of its schedule. Three of its next four games are on the road, at Clemson, SMU and Miami.
The caveats are loud. Virginia Tech's run defense allows 87.4 yards a game, 10th in FBS. Clemson converts only 33.3% of its third downs, and Tait Reynolds has one touchdown pass and three interceptions. Grunkemeyer is the best quarterback on the field, and he gets a Clemson pass defense ranked 39th. Both teams are minus-4 in turnovers.
Why the Over? Grunkemeyer and Brown can hit big plays, and Hauser turns stalled drives into points from anywhere. My 27-24 adds up to 51, a point and a half over 49.5.
Now the room, and four of five back the Tigers. Next Man Up has Clemson 28-24. Letdown Watch has 27-23. Follow The Money likes Clemson. In The Trenches likes Clemson too. The Formula has Clemson 27-25 and takes Virginia Tech. Four call the Over. Follow The Money skips the total.
The Formula opened: "Twenty-seven to 25. That's a two-point game. You're laying 2.5. The Hokies cover that in their sleep."
Next Man Up answered: "Twenty-eight to 24. Death Valley, night game, Tigerama on Friday. Bring a poncho."
The Formula turned on Follow The Money: "Clemson, but no total? You're only halfway into the pool, friend."
Follow The Money: "I've got a Hauser in my pocket. Fifty-nine yards of faith."
Bottom of the card: a home kicker who can win it from anywhere, a night crowd in orange, and a field goal of margin. Exit light, enter Tigers. I'll lay the 2.5.
Clemson Tigers 27, Virginia Tech Hokies 24. Clemson Tigers cover the 2.5. Over 49.5.