College Football Picks: LSU vs. Clemson Best Bets
Kick off the 2025 college football season with BetMGM promo code ROTOSPORTS featuring a First Bet offer of up to $1,500! RotoWire has plenty of college football betting tools and info to keep you in the loop this season. From the latest college football odds to college football futures and Heisman odds, we have you covered.
The last time LSU and Clemson met, Joe Burrow threw five touchdowns (two to Ja'Marr Chase) on the way to a decisive 42-25 win in the 2019 College Football Championship Game. Both teams regressed since that season, with talents like Burrow, Chase, Trevor Lawrence and Tee Higgins joining the NFL ranks. Fast forward to 2025, and both teams have reloaded and seem poised for a playoff run. Brian Kelly steers the ship for LSU, and QB Garrett Nussmeier, QB 37 in our weekly college football rankings, is his primary offensive weapon. Coach Dabo Swinney has added former DC Tom Allen to his staff to pair with OC Garrett Riley, and the brain trust is intent on catching lightning in a bottle once again. While Nsssmeier and Heisman hopeful Cade Klubnik will steal most of the big headlines, I think this game will come down to a chess match between coaches, as I'll illustrate below.
LSU vs. Clemson Betting Odds for Week 1
Spread: Clemson -4 (-110 DraftKings Sportsbook), LSU +4.5 (-114 FanDuel Sportsbook)
Total: Over 57.5 (-105 ESPN Bet), Under 57.5 (-110 FanDuel Sportsbook)
Moneyline: Clemson -182 (FanDuel Sportsbook), LSU +160 (ESPN Bet)
Get a piece of the action during the 2025 college football season with a DraftKings Promo Code for $200 instantly on a $5 bet!
Public money has flowed to Clemson's side in the past 24 hours, with odds rising to -4 and even -4.5 in some places. The O/U and moneyline have both remained relatively stable since settling at their current levels earlier in the week. I expect the line to keep moving in LSU's direction as we get closer to kickoff. As you'll see below, I am not taking the full game spread as my preferred bet, but I feel my reasoning is sound.
LSU vs. Clemson Team Betting Picks for Week 1
Next to the Texas-Ohio State matchup, this game carries the most playoff implications this week. The winner will earn an inside path to the bracket, while the loser will likely need to run the table in their conference to stay in. That's an easier feat for Clemson, which could afford a loss here and still win the ACC Championship. Not so for LSU, which will face Alabama, South Carolina and Texas A&M as its toughest conference foes. One could easily say more is on the line here for LSU, and that intangible makes a straight bet on this game a risky endeavor.
That's why I dug a little deeper.
If we look at Clemson's offense from last year, they started cold in most games, save for the mercy opponents on the schedule. Where did Clemson get all of those points, then? The third quarter. Last season, Clemson was one of the best teams in the country in the third quarter, averaging 10.3 points per quarter at home. Coach Swinney has consistently emphasized the importance of the last four minutes of the second quarter and the first four minutes of the third quarter, and they run drills specifically tailored to these timeframes. The conclusion? Swinney knows how to make adjustments. Riley knows how to make adjustments, and I expect Tom Allen to have the defense ready for whatever LSU throws at them. This is not a knock on Brian Kelly as a coach, but I think the newly minted trio at the real Death Valley (regardless of what Kelly thinks) will outclass Kelly's staff and come out swinging in the second half. It takes a minute to find it, but FanDuel will show you this bet after a couple of clicks.
LSU vs. Clemson Expert Pick: Clemson Third Quarter -1.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
Join in on the 2025 college football season with a FanDuel Sportsbook promo code featuring $300 in Bonus Bets on a $5 bet if your bet wins!
LSU vs. Clemson Predictions for Week 1
I expect Klubnik and Nussmeier to air it out early and often, with Klubnik getting the edge due to his mobility out of the pocket. While LSU has a solid back to depend on in Caden Durham, Clemson's backfield is more of an open question. Adam Randall made the move from wide receiver to running back. Swinney has heaped loads of praise on the youngster, but I question his durability as the season wears on. The room is deep, with blue-chipper Gideon Davidson and redshirt freshman David Eziomume waiting in the wings, and standout Jay Haynes just weeks away from returning. At least you can guarantee Randall's skills as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, and a revitalized Wide Receiver U made up of Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore will give the LSU secondary headaches. Clemson's front line will need to hassle Nussmeier to keep him off balance, and Durham is a dangerous runner out in the open. LSU's receiving corps is also dynamite, and Clemson's cornerbacks will have to play lights out to keep Aaron Anderson, Chris Hilton and Zavion Thomas in check. Despite the offensive firepower on both sides, this game will come down to defense. Will Tom Allen return the team to defensive supremacy? Can LSU DC Blake Baker find a way to improve a defense that faltered in key moments last season? These are key questions that even surpass the aforementioned halftime adjustments.
