2009 Clemson vs. N.C. State Point Spread Odds, Matchup & Preview

Last Updated on November 10, 2009 8:00 pm by drew

Clemson-N.C. State

Raleigh,
NC – Clemson is getting close to securing a spot in the ACC title game. A matchup with struggling North Carolina State gives the Tigers a good chance to help their cause.

Bet College Football Week 11

With dynamic running back C.J. Spiller leading the way, the surging, 24th-ranked Tigers look to earn their sixth straight win over the Wolfpack as the league rivals meet Saturday.

Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made Clemson -6 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for Saturday’s game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 76% of bets for this game have been placed on Clemson -6 (View College Football bet percentages).

Clemson (6-3, 4-2) can win its first ACC Atlantic Division title if it beats
N.C.
State (4-5, 1-4) and
Boston
College loses to

Virginia later in the day.

A victory over the Wolfpack followed by a win over

Virginia next week would also earn the Tigers a spot in the ACC title game no matter what the Eagles do down the stretch. A 25-7 win over

Boston
College on Sept. 19 gives Clemson the edge in a tiebreaker.

"We haven’t done anything great or spectacular, but just won a few football games – put ourselves in position to do something special," Tigers senior receiver Jacoby Ford said.

Ford has been around for some heartbreaking failures. Clemson has finished one game behind the winner each year since the ACC split into divisions in 2005.

The Tigers, though, have had little trouble taking advantage of matchups with the Wolfpack. Clemson has won five straight against

N.C.
State since a 17-15 road loss Oct. 16, 2003, and has taken the last two matchups by a combined margin of 40 points.

Spiller, who has rushed for 329 yards and has five TDs in three career games against the Wolfpack, has led the Tigers’ late-season surge. He had a career-high 165 rushing yards – including his 20th touchdown of at least 50 yards – in Clemson’s fourth straight win, 40-24 over

Florida
State last Saturday.

Spiller’s 312 all-purpose yards surpassed his own school record of 310 – set two games prior in a 40-37 overtime win at then-No. 8

Miami.

"Who wouldn’t want him on their team?" Clemson offensive coordinator Billy Napier said of Spiller, who has pushed himself into Heisman Trophy consideration.

Spiller needs one kickoff return touchdown to establish a new NCAA career record. Spiller, former USC All-American Anthony Davis (1972-74) and Ashlan Davis of

Tulsa (2004-05) all have six.

He’s helped the Tigers average 41.7 points during their winning streak. Now, they face a Wolfpack team that has given up an average of 39.6 points in its last six contests.

"They’re high on the mountain right now. They’re a little cocky, beating
Miami and
Florida
State last week,"

N.C.
State defensive tackle Leroy Burgess said of the Tigers. "They’re comfortable. I guess seeing our defense, they think they’re just going to come in and do their thing and run all over us. Just to go out there and prove to our critics that we can play football and we can stop people, that’s from our point of view."

The Wolfpack snapped a four-game losing streak last Saturday, beating

Maryland 38-31.

N.C.
State‘s defense wasn’t fully to blame for the Terrapins’ scoring.

Maryland returned an interception for a TD and scored on an 82-yard kick return, but its offense was held to 270 yards.

It was
N.C.
State‘s first victory since beating

Pittsburgh 38-31 on Sept. 26. The Panthers were unranked then, but have since moved up to No. 8.

Beating the Terrapins has given the Wolfpack confidence they can put together another strong finish. They’re 7-2 in November under coach Tom O’Brien, including a 4-0 stretch last season that made them eligible for a bowl game.

N.C.
State needs two more victories to receive bowl consideration again. The Wolfpack will need a strong effort from quarterback Russell Wilson to have any chance of upsetting the Tigers.

The sophomore threw for three touchdowns and ran for another versus
Maryland after throwing a career-worst three interceptions in a 30-20 loss to

Florida
State on Oct. 31.

Wilson completed 10 of 21 passes for 92 yards and threw an interception in the Wolfpack’s 27-9 loss at Clemson on Sept. 13, 2008. The Tigers lead the all-time series 49-27-1.

Bet College Football Week 11

Posted: 11/10/09 8:00PM ET