Clemson vs. SMU Picks, Predictions, and Odds: Which ACC Team Will Get a Bye in the CFP?

• Clemson last won the ACC title in 2022

• SMU is in its first year as a member of the ACC

• Clemson only has one conference loss despite being 9-3

The No. 17 Clemson Tigers and No. 8 SMU Mustangs are set to battle for the ACC Championship and a guaranteed spot in the College Football Playoff on Saturday.

While Dabo Swinney already won eight ACC titles with the Tigers, SMU is looking to take its first championship in its first season as a part of the conference. They only lost one game this year but also haven’t played a team ranked higher than 18th, Pitt, whom they beat 48-25.

Here, we will break down the Clemson vs. SMU odds and share our favorite betting picks for the ACC Championship Game.

Clemson vs. SMU Odds 

Odds for the Clemson vs SMU Saturday's ACC Championship matchup are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Place your bets on this matchup and claim $150 in bonus bets at FanDuel.

Clemson vs. SMU Predictions 

Clemon is in a unique position. Although it is 9-3 this season, two of those losses were to SEC conference opponents, one against Georgia in the first week of the season, and the other against South Carolina last week. Their only loss to an ACC team was a 33-21 result against a solid Louisville team on Nov. 2.

The Tigers’ loss to South Carolina came as favorites, although many believed South Carolina was the better team at the time. Clemson actually did a nice job dealing with injuries on the offensive line and did not give up much through the air, though they had no answers for the Gamecocks’ ground game.

Overall, Clemson ranks 21st in offensive and 30th in defensive EPA per play. Cade Klubnik has nice numbers (36 touchdowns, five interceptions) but committed a costly turnover last weekend, and the defense is only 49th in yards allowed per play.

On the other side of the matchup is SMU, a team that hasn’t proven itself against top-flight competition but that took care of business at nearly every turn. Its only loss came by three points to a BYU squad that looked like it was going to cruise to the Big 12 championship, and they enter Saturday riding a nine-game win streak.

The Mustangs have no problems traveling by land or by air. QB Kevin Jennings racked up more than 3,000 total yards, 23 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while running back Brashard Smith scored 14 rushing touchdowns on more than 96.4 rushing yards per game.

The SMU defense also allowed just 2.9 yards per carry (sixth) and forced 1.6 turnovers per game, giving their high-powered offense even more opportunities to light up the scoreboard.

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Clemson vs. SMU My Pick

• My Pick: SMU to cover the spread at -2.5 (-110) at FanDuel

The big domino in this matchup is Dabo Swinney. He’s a great coach with a long history of success in the postseason, but his team is outmanned and does not have the same level of confidence as its opponent.

There’s been a lot of talk that SMU may shockingly miss the CFP with a loss this weekend. It’s our belief that is an irrelevant hypothetical, and they will take care of business against the Tigers.

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How to Watch Clemson vs. SMU

• When: Saturday, Dec. 7 @ 8:00 p.m. ET

• Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

• Watch: ABC

Clemson vs. SMU Best Promos and Sportsbooks

SMU is favored by 2.5 points at every major college football betting site. Clemson bettors will find the best deal at BetRivers, where they are +2.5 (-106).

Anyone who bets on Clemson vs. SMU at FanDuel Sportsbook can win $150 in bonus bets with a winning $5 wager. For more betting promos, have a look at the table below.

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Clemson vs. SMU Injuries

Clemson Injuries

• Dietrick Pennington (OL) - Questionable

• Trent Howard (OL) - Out (knee)

• Elyjah Thurmon (OL) - Out (ankle)

• Collin Sadler (OL) - Out (foot)

SMU Injuries

• Jake Bailey (WR) - Out

• RJ Maryland (TE) - Out