2012 Chick-Fil-A Bowl LSU vs. Clemson Picks & Predictions
By ATSSportsline.com
ATLANTA, GA (ATS Consultants) - LSU and Clemson will meet for the third time in the two schools' history when they battle it out in the 2012 Chick-Fil-A Bowl.
Clemson (10-2 SU, 8-4 ATS, 6-5 O/U) ended the season on a tough note, falling at home to another SEC team , South Carolina, 27-17, laying 6.5 on Nov. 24. They take on another defensive-minded SEC team in LSU (10-2 SU, 5-7 ATS, 5-6 O/U), who won their last three games, but fell out of BCS Championship picture, after losing to Alabama, 21-17 at home on Nov. 3, getting 7. LSU takes a trip to Atlanta to take on Clemson from the Georgia Dome in the Chick-fil-a-Bowl at 7:30pmET.
ODDS: According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, LSU is 6-point favorites versus Clemson while the over/under total is currently sitting at 59 points. LSU finished 10-2 overall and 6-2 in the SEC, while Clemson was 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the ACC
LINE MOVEMENT: LSU opened as 3.5-point favorites but the spread has climbed to 6 at most sports books. The total, meanwhile, opened at 57 but has been bet up to 59 points.
PUBLIC BETTING: Of the current wagers placed on tonight’s game, 68% of College Football public bettors currently favor LSU. This information is subject to change, however, so make sure you click on the link provided to get the most updated public betting numbers.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL PICK: Take LSU. According to latest college football trends, LSU is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 bowl games, 12-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record and are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 neutral site games. Clemson is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss, 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games in December, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games and are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 bowl games.
This is about offense against defense or ACC vs. SEC. In that case, defense usually comes out on top and the SEC almost always defeats the ACC in bowl games. Clemson does have QB Tajh Boyd and the 13th-ranked passing offense, but they will face a very athletic secondary, who anchors the 20th ranked pass defense. LSU's offense is based on a strong running game led by Jeremy Hill, who led the way with 631 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's only a freshman who started out fifth on the depth chart and moved to number one. They have a plethora of good backs led by Hill, Kenny Hilliard, Michael Ford and Spencer Ware. Clemson's defense allows 413 yards per game and 161 yards per game on the ground. But expect LSU to come out throwing, even though Zach Mettenberger has been up-down-this year. He did threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 11 scores. But it's the defense that shines led by safety Eric Reid, who has two of LSU's 18 interceptions and linebacker Kevin Minter, who has recorded 111 tackles and 13.5 TFLs. The stop unit allows just 17ppg, 298ypg and 103ypg rushing. Defense wins over offense again.
2012 CHICK-FIL-A BOWL FREE PICK: LSU TIGERS -6
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