The North Carolina State Wolfpack are the underdog for people betting on college football as they head to their first really big game of the season against the Clemson Tigers on Sunday, October 15th at Memorial Stadium for the 2016 Textile Bowl. The online football betting odds for the game are:
NC State +17½ (-110) 61 (-110) +600
Clemson -17½ (-110) 61 (-110) -900
NC State went Quasimodo on Notre Dame last week, beating the Fighting Irish 10-3. One could even say that the Wolfpack rocked Notre Dame like a hurricane. “This is a game to remember,” NC State tight end ‘American’ Pharoah McKeever said, referring to the adverse meteorological conditions brought about by hurricane Mathew. McKeever deflected a punt Notre Dame placekicker Tyler Newsome, allowing sophomore safety Dexter Wright to pick up the ball and return it for the go-ahead score. “I didn’t even have to see the block,” Wright said. “I heard it.” Kind of like Jean-Claude Van Damme at the end of Bloodsport. “We don’t have any excuses,” Irish head coach Brian Kelly said. Other than the category 5 tropical cyclone going on, of course.
No. 3 Clemson went Stone Age on BC, routing the Boston College 56-10 and improving their regular season record to 6-0, and their conference winning streak to 12 games. Tigers QB Deshaun Watson threw 15 of 25 for 270 yards and four TD passes , two of which went to wide receiver Deon ‘Dean’ Cain – who had 68 yards on three receptions. Additionally, Jordan Legget had 66 yards on two catches with 1 score, Mike Williams posted 49 receiving yards and one TD, Wayne Gallman ran for 109 yards on nine carries with one touchdown, and Tavien Fester rushed for 46 yards on four carries and another score.
The Wolfpack have won three in a row now, but people betting on college football are fairly confident that Clemson will go 7-0. NC State’s heavy artillery couldn’t fire on wet gunpowder against Notre Dame and had to rely on special teams and defense. Hurricane or no hurricane, though, the Wolfpack’s offense may still be outmatched. Clemson is averaging 292.0 yards in passing and 178.0 yards in rushing to NC State’s 246.6 yards in passing and 197.8 yards in rushing.
The real difference-maker for people betting on college football, however, is Deshaun Watson. Wolfpack QB Ryan Finley is 89 of 128 (69.5%) for 1041 passing yards with 9 TDs, no interceptions and four sacks. Watson, on the other hand, is 125 of 206 (60.7%) for 1572 passing yards with 18 TDs, 7 interceptions and three sacks. Stats aside, Watson is simply playing like Heisman Trophy winner – which might very well be at the end of the season. The scariest thing about the Tigers is they keep getting even better. After only one 40-yard play in the first five games of the season, Clemson had three plays of at least 50 yards in the first quarter against Boston College – two ended in scores and the other set up a touchdown.
