Clemson vs Pitt Odds, Prediction: NCAAB Betting Guide & Pick (Sunday, Dec. 3)

Below, we have Clemson vs. Pitt odds and a prediction, including an NCAAB betting guide for Sunday, Dec. 3.

Teams are dipping their toes into conference play throughout the country, and the ACC is no different. Clemson heads north to Pittsburgh for the league opener for both teams.

This one likely means a little more for the host Panthers. They swung and missed on their two big non-conference chances (losses to Florida and Missouri), so they must perform well in the ACC to have a shot at returning to the NCAA tournament.

Clemson, meanwhile, is rolling. Undefeated with a few solid wins and a standout scalp at Alabama, the Tigers have been outstanding out of the gates on both ends of the court. Passing that test in Tuscaloosa should give the Tigers confidence as they set out on the road to kick off conference action.

Clemson’s offense can beat you in multiple ways, but if you cannot contain potential All-American PJ Hall, you might be doomed from the start. Hall is an inside-out monster, a skilled 6-foot-10 big who dominates the glass, facilitates for teammates and buries triples at a 40% rate.

Pitt has a few different bodies to throw at him, but few can match Hall’s combination of mobility and strength.

Of course, if you send extra attention his way, the Tigers’ supporting cast is lethal. Joe Girard III’s arrival from Syracuse has added another sniper to a formidable shooting corps, and he pairs with big-bodied point guard Chase Hunter to give Clemson an outstanding backcourt.

Reserve guards Dillon Hunter and Josh Beadle inject even more speed and playmaking.

Brad Brownell’s squad also has tremendous depth and size. He can play four different players who stand 6-foot-10 or taller, and that doesn't even include powerhouse forwards RJ Godfrey and Ian Schieffelin.

Defensively, the Tigers are less dynamic — they won't harass you for turnovers — but they're incredibly sound. Only Girard is a weak link individually, and the disciplined man-to-man scheme has sufficiently hidden him thus far.

To score on Clemson, you have to beat the Tigers. Brownell defenses rarely surrender easy baskets.

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The Panthers have played an extremely disparate schedule, and the results have followed that pattern. They've smashed bad competition — going 5-0 ATS against inferior foes — but against Florida and Mizzou, they failed to cover by 11 and 14 points, respectively.

The defense struggled in both games, as the two SEC foes posted 1.10 and 1.09 points per possession, respectively. Pitt’s length in the paint can be tough to handle, but its young backcourt doesn't always keep drivers in front, and patient opponents can drive-and-kick the Panthers to death for open jumpers.

The offense can be potent, but it's also prone to droughts. That's likely a result of relying heavily on freshmen playmakers. Carlton Carrington and Jaland Lowe were devastating in buy games, but they’ve hit some hiccups against more physical, veteran defenses.

Clemson offers just that, so Carrington must prove he can handle the size of the Hunter brothers.

If all else fails, at least Pitt can lean on Blake Hinson, a true matchup nightmare as a 6-foot-8, 230-pound perimeter threat. He can shoot over the top with nearly infinite range, but Florida and Missouri each had success playing him with a quicker defender who can force him to put the ball on the floor

I'm inclined to believe this will be an efficient one on both ends. Pitt has enough perimeter weapons and creators to succeed against Clemson’s shell, while the Tigers' offense can create mismatches inside and out.

Only a slight concern about pace slowing in a league game is keeping me off the over.

Instead, I will back the road squad. At this stage, I trust Clemson more, and the Tigers have proven far more emphatically that they have the ability to compete with the highest level of competition.

Plus, Pitt’s overall value is still slightly inflated by its mega blowouts. That creates some opportunity with Clemson, even as the Tigers’ own market value continues to rise.

Pick: Clemson -1.5 (Play to -2)

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