Memorial Stadium – Clemson, SC
Kickoff: Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: Louisville -2.0, Total: 67.5

Two of college football’s elite teams meet on Saturday, when #5 Clemson hosts #3 Louisville in a game with serious College Football Playoff implications.

Louisville has been the most impressive team in the nation this season, as the team is now 4-0 SU and 3-0-1 ATS in its four games. One of those victories was a 63-20 blowout over #12 Florida State. The Cardinals are superb on both sides of the ball, but they would not be the team they are now without college football’s most explosive offense. Louisville is averaging 63.5 PPG this season and this game will likely come down to whether or not Clemson can get stops. The Tigers do, however, have a very good defense and should be feeling confident in their ability to keep the Cardinals in check on Saturday. Clemson has allowed only 11.0 PPG through four games this season and held this Cardinals team to only 17 points in a 20-17 victory at Louisville last year. These teams have met only twice and Clemson has come away with wins in both games, but Louisville did cover in the only meeting in South Carolina. There also happens to be a very favorable trend working in Louisville’s favor, as top-level teams (>=80% win pct.) are 22-3 ATS when playing on the road against a team with a winning record with a line of +3 to -3 over the past five seasons.

The Cardinals have the most explosive offense in the nation and QB Lamar Jackson (1,330 yards, 13 TD, 3 INT passing / 526 yards, 12 TD rushing) currently finds himself in a one-man race for the Heisman Trophy. Jackson has already scored 25 touchdowns this season, which is more than seven teams scored in total in the 2015 season (Charlotte, Kansas, North Texas, Vanderbilt, Kent State, UCF, Missouri). This should, however, be his toughest test to date. Clemson has a very good defense and Jackson will need to be careful with his throws against this ball-hawking secondary. Defensively, practicing against Jackson will certainly help this Clemson team prepare for Deshaun Watson. Watson is a less explosive version of Jackson, so he’ll be hoping to beat the Cardinals with both his arm and legs. The Cardinals, however, have one of the best groups of linebackers in the nation and it’ll be hoping to shut down this Tigers offense on Saturday.

Clemson was so close to winning the championship a year ago, but the team has struggled a bit to open up this season and now finds itself as an underdog at home against Louisville. Head coach Dabo Swinney has all the bulletin board material in the world coming into this one and the atmosphere in Memorial Stadium should be wild on Saturday. QB Deshaun Watson (996 yards, 9 TD, 4 INT) is going to need to be on his game in order to help his team pick up a huge victory in this one, though. Watson was the preseason favorite to win the Heisman, but he is now an afterthought because of the play of Jackson. It is, however, early in the year and the winner of this matchup will come a long way in determining who wins that award and also which players team will be in the College Football Playoff. Look for Watson to come out and play a great game in this one, as he always performs at a high level when the bright lights are on. Defensively, Clemson must find a way to make sure Jackson is a pocket passer in this game. If he is running all over them then Louisville is likely looking at another blowout victory.