For the first time in nearly six years, the Clemson Tigers (+175 at FanDuel Sportsbook) are not the preseason favorites to win the ACC title, indicating a potential opportunity for backers to bet on a program that has been among the top contenders to win the national championship in recent years, offering tremendous value amid hypothetical South Carolina sports betting.
After a season that fell short of their expected standards, burdened with more uncertainty rather than solutions when ex-starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei departed for Oregon State and former offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter was dismissed, 2023 will welcome fresh opportunities for the Clemson Tigers.
Led by the 19-year-old signal caller Cade Klubnik (+2500 to win the Heisman at FanDuel), who previewed a glimpse of his formidable potential clinching last year’s ACC Championship game MVP, is expected to have a breakout season.
Partnered with his new offensive coordinator, Garrett Riley, who previously handled the same duties with the 2022 National Championship runner-ups, TCU, Klubnik is poised to excel under Riley's guidance and propel to toward stardom, much like Riley did with Max Duggan.
If Klubnik and Riley quickly develop chemistry, Dabo Swinney’s Tigers can once again reclaim their dominance in the ACC, as they did 7 out of the last 8 years. But according to sportsbooks, this season will not be as much of a cakewalk as it was in previous years. With the Florida State Seminoles (+160) leading the conference as favorites, which other schools will present a challenge to the Tigers on their path to repeat as champions?
Methodology
BetSouthCarolina.com created a point system to determine the toughest 3-game stretch of the Clemson Tigers’ 2023 schedule for the upcoming college football season. We awarded 4 points to each opponent that won at least 7 games last season, 3 points to each opponent that won at least 6 games, 3 points for an away game, and 2 points for a conference opponent.
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Toughest Stretch of Tigers' Schedule Is...
Toughest Test for Defending ACC Champs
All eyes are set on Sept. 23 when the Clemson Tigers welcome the Seminoles at Death Valley, which can either define or break their season. The Tigers can bolster their resume and begin to present a compelling case to the College Football Playoff Committee to start this difficult three-game stretch.
Led by Heisman candidate Jordan Travis (+1200 for FanDuel's Heisman), coach Mike Norvell will retain the majority of his roster that achieved a 10-3 record last season, won the Cheez-It Bowl over the Sooners, and secured a final AP ranking of 11. With the additions of Keon Coleman and Fentrell Cypress through the transfer portal, the Seminoles have drastically improved all around and will be a team to look out for deep into the season. This clash will possibly offer a preview of the ACC winner.
The following week, the Tigers will travel to upstate New York to face Syracuse. The Orange delivered a disappointing 7-6 record last year with a defeat in the Pinstripe Bowl against Minnesota, but should remain optimistic. Syracuse almost completed an upset over the Tigers last season, until a 17-0 shutout in the fourth quarter handed Clemson the victory, 26-21. Clemson will be sure to not repeat that again.
The final game of this stretch will be against the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest, who finished with an 8-5 record, which included beating No. 11 Florida State, an overtime loss against the Tigers and a Gasparilla Bowl victory over Missouri. All three of Clemson’s opponents from Weeks 4-6 have made postseason appearances and that seems to remain unchanged for the upcoming season.
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