Clemson Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Picks and Prediction for Saturday, January 3rd, 2025
Use Code WWWC The Clemson Tigers (11-3, 7-7 ATS, 6-8 O/U) clash with the Pittsburgh Panthers (7-7, 7-7 ATS, 7-7 O/U) in an ACC bout on Saturday afternoon, and we have the prediction. The Tigers posted a win against Syracuse on Wednesday. The Panthers dropped a meeting against Miami in their most recent action. The Tigers posted an overtime road win in the only meeting against the Panthers last season.
Can the Panthers keep the score within three points on Saturday? Check out the Tigers vs. Panthers prediction. Nobody does it better when it comes to NCAAB Picks!
Clemson Posts Win in ACC Opener
The Clemson Tigers are seeking their 12th win of the season. Clemson has been inconsistent at times, but it's also been a tough schedule. They dropped meetings against Georgetown, Alabama, and BYU. The squad posted a win against Cincinnati before the break.
Clemson earned a 64-61 road win against the Tigers on Wednesday in a clash that had the Tigers as 1.5-point favorites. That marked their first conference game. Clemson shot 48% while Syracuse posted a 40% mark. The Tigers have covered the spread in two of their past five games.
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RJ Godfrey has been kept in check, scoring 10 or fewer points in three of his past five games. The senior forward has delivered an average of 11.5 PPG and 5.6 RPG. Jestin Porter has reached double digits in three of his last five games. The senior guard scored nine points in the win on Wednesday and has recorded an average of 10.5 PPG on the season.
Carter Welling scored seven points on Wednesday. The junior forward is having an outstanding season, netting an average of 10.2 PPG and 5.5 RPG. Dillon Hunter has been sharp, connecting on 50% of his field goals in five of his past six games. The senior guard is averaging 9.4 PPG. Zac Foster has missed the last few games with an injury, and his status is in question. The freshman is averaging 6.9 PPG.
The Tigers are positioned 35th in DI in Ken Pomeroy’s ratings. They stand at 0-2 on the road, including the loss vs. Alabama. Clemson is averaging 84.6 points on the season, rating them 120th. The Tigers are squandering an average of 70.5 points, placing them at 75th in the country.
Pittsburgh Drops Conference Opener vs. Miami
The Pittsburgh Panthers are targeting their first ACC win of the season. Pittsburgh is not a contender in the ACC. They are 2-3 in their past five games. This includes defeats against Texas A&M and Hofstra. They also dropped a road meeting against Villanova in that span. Pittsburgh earned a dominating win against Penn State before the holidays.
Next, Pittsburgh was hit with a 76-69 road defeat by Miami to begin conference play on Wednesday. They were tabbed as the 9.5-point dogs. Pittsburgh sank 45% of its shots while Miami posted a 45% efficiency. The Panthers have covered the spread in three of their past five games.
Cameron Corhen leads the team in scoring, but is not a huge threat. He has reached 20 points on just one occasion this season. The senior forward is solid in the defensive end. Corhen is sporting an average of 13.6 PPG on 50% shooting on the season. Brandin Cummings has scored double digits in two of his last five efforts. The sophomore guard has posted an average of 12.2 PPG on the year.
Barry Dunning Jr. has been dangerous, sinking 16 or more points in three of his past five games. The senior guard has reported an average of 12.5 PPG. He is shooting a dazzling 50% on the season. DaMarco Minor has converted on 50% of his shots in three straight efforts. The senior guard is averaging 10.7 PPG and 3.6 APG. Omari Witherspoon has been a threat, scoring double digits in two of his past three games. The freshman guard has contributed with 7.7 PPG on the season.
The Panthers are marked 95th in the country in Ken Pomeroy’s ratings. They stand at 6-3 on their home court, including a minor upset win against Ohio State in November. Pittsburgh is scoring an average of 73.6 points on the season, pegging them 309th. The Panthers have conceded 63 or fewer points in two of their past three games and are keeping opponents to 68.5 points, placing them 51st in the country.
Clemson vs. Pittsburgh Pick
Spread Pick for Clemson vs. Pittsburgh
- Clemson Tigers -2.5 (5 units)
The Clemson Tigers are a good team and have won four of their past five games. They beat South Carolina and Cincinnati in that span. The Pittsburgh Panthers are a mediocre team and will be in the bottom half of the ACC this season. They have been charged with the defeat in six of their past nine games. They have dropped two of their past three home bouts.
Furthermore, the Tigers' defense will be the difference in this one. They are keeping opponents to 98.2 points per 100 possessions, ranking them 30th in DI in adjusted defensive efficiency. This is 6.5 fewer points per 100 possessions than Pittsburgh. Also, Pittsburgh leans on its three-point shooting but has a daunting task against a Tigers defense that is among the best at defending threes. The Tigers are marked 12th in DI in three-point defense.
Over/Under Pick for Clemson vs. Pittsburgh
- Under 135.5 (5 units)
I expect this one to go under. Clemson and Pittsburgh play at a slower pace. Clemson ranks 329th in DI in adjusted tempo, while Pittsburgh is 348th. Clemson has netted 68 or fewer points in four of their past five games.
In addition, Pittsburgh is only shooting 45.6% on the season. When it comes to defense, they are strong. They kept Penn State to only 46 points a few games ago. I can’t see Clemson breaking out. They are shooting 33.3% from deep. The under is a convincing 5-0 in the Tigers' past five games.
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