NCAAF: #20 North Carolina vs Clemson Odds, and Picks (Nov 18)

• North Carolina held off Duke, winning 47-45, and climbing to 8-2.
• Clemson surged past Georgia Tech, winning by a score of 42-21.
• These two teams last met on December 3, 2022, in a game Clemson won 39-10.

The college football season is at its peak! Let’s preview the upcoming North Carolina vs Clemson matchup. The Tar Heels need to win to stay alive in the ACC title race, while the Tigers hope to return to the Top 25.

How to Watch

• ESPN

Preview

North Carolina won a shootout against Duke, remaining in contention for a spot in the ACC title game. The Tar Heels have been surging on offense. Under QB Drake Maye, they’ve scored over 49 ppg in the last 3 games. Unfortunately, their defense has not been as consistent. They held FCS Campbell to just 7 points, but allowed both Duke and Georgia Tech to reach 45 points. They need to bounce back on defense here.

Clemson earned another win, steadily continuing their climb back up the ACC standings. After starting 1-4 in conference play, the Tigers have an opportunity to finish .500 against the ACC. They are already bowl eligible but no longer in contention for a top bowl, so the result of this game won’t affect Clemson much. Even so, they’ll give everything they’ve got to take down another ACC rival and inch closer to the Top 25.

Prediction

Despite being the ranked team in this matchup, North Carolina enters as the road underdog. They’ll aim to prove the bookmakers wrong, and come away with the upset. Clemson is notoriously difficult to beat at home, but has been far worse than usual this season. Even so, I expect this to be a close game that comes down to the wire. Ultimately, I like Clemson’s chances of winning at home, but North Carolina should cover.

NCAAF Picks:

• Clemson 27, North Carolina 24 ()