#9 LSU vs #4 Clemson NCAAF Pick: A Key Clash in Death Valley (Aug 30)

• LSU finished last season unranked at 9-4, following a Texas Bowl win over Baylor.
• Clemson was bounced from the CFP’s first round by Texas, finishing the year 10-4.
• These two teams last met in the 2019 National Championship, which LSU won 42-25.

LSU and Clemson meet in the opening week of the season for a top-10 clash. Both teams are CFP hopefuls, with the winner claiming the spot as the nation’s best “Tigers”. LSU enters as the underdog on the road.

LSU Seeks Signature Win

The Tigers are no stranger to opening the season with tough matchups. In past years, they’ve struggled to lock down the early win, making their path to the CFP more difficult. LSU faces another difficult path this season with a trip to Death Valley their very first destination of the season. That being said, LSU returns a good deal of talent from last season, most notably QB Garrett Nussmeier, setting them up for early success.

Clemson Has High Hopes for 2025

Clemson has had a few off years since their dynasty in late 2010s, but they are expected to return to the title mix this season. Fielding one of the very best recruiting and transfer classes, the Tigers will feature a ton of new talent this season. It may cause them to get off to a slow start, which is something to watch for in this game, but Clemson is just as likely to be dominant by the time November and December come around.

LSU vs Clemson Pick

Clemson should have a slight edge in this game in front of their home crowd. That being said, there are reasons to be wary about taking them in this game. They have seen much speculation about large success in the preseason before, only to not live up to expectations. Also, Clemson will be facing an experience and chemistry gap against an LSU team that kept more of the same faces. LSU should cover, even on the road.