The No. 4 Clemson Tigers host the No. 9 LSU Tigers in their own Death Valley on Saturday, Aug. 30.
This matchup, which will be broadcast on ABC at 7:30 p.m. ET, is one of three top-10 matchups in Week 1 and could be one of the best games of the 2025 college football season.
Clemson comes into the game as a -4 favorite on the spread while sitting at -185 on the moneyline. LSU, meanwhile, sits at +4 and +150. The over/under is set at 57.5 total points.
Let's take a look at the Clemson vs. LSU odds and college football picks for this Week 1 NCAAF clash.
Clemson vs. LSU Odds
| Clemson Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4 -110 | 57.5 -110o / -110u | -185 |
| LSU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4 -110 | 57.5 -110o / -110u | +150 |
Week 1 of the 2025 college football season is upon us, and there’s certainly no easing into the year for college football fans.
Saturday is filled with marquee matchups, and among them is the Tiger clash of Clemson and LSU.
LSU head coach Brian Kelly has lost his opening game in each of his first three seasons at LSU, and now he has to go on the road to Clemson to try to snap that streak.
This is a make-or-break year for him in Baton Rouge, and a road win over a top-five opponent would be the exact start LSU is looking for.
Meanwhile, for Clemson, expectations are sky high with veteran quarterback Cade Klubnik returning alongside plenty of other key pieces.
Like LSU, Clemson has lost its openers to Georgia in recent years, and with an ACC schedule that provides limited opportunities for ranked victories, this is a game the Tigers need to take care of at home.
With playmakers on both sides of the ball for each team, this game should be a classic that comes down to the fourth quarter.
Our staff weighs in below on how we think it will play out, both from a side and total perspective.
Spread Pick
Our Spread Pick: LSU +4
By Pete Ruden
In this top-10 SEC/ACC clash, we're siding with the ninth-ranked team catching points.
The Bayou Bengals have a few advantages in this matchup, and it all starts with the man under center: Garrett Nussmeier. Nussmeier is one of, if not the, most dependable quarterbacks in the SEC and maybe even the country.
Last season, he threw for 4,052 yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Nussmeier also returns his top pass-catcher in Aaron Anderson, and Chris Hilton Jr. serves as a big-play threat. The additions of Barion Brown from Kentucky and Nic Anderson from Oklahoma will only help his cause.
Hilton and Anderson both posted over 20 yards per catch in their last healthy season, which could be big against a Clemson defense that ranked 110th in Explosiveness allowed a season ago.
Add in a Finishing Drives rank in the top 30, and we feel confident that the Tigers can keep this within four points.
Defensively, LSU DC Blake Baker has done a great job getting his team to generate a solid pass rush. The return of Harold Perkins Jr. helps, as well.
If there's one area where LSU can be exposed, it's in the secondary. The Tigers ranked 81st in PFF coverage grade last year.
If everything breaks right for Clemson, Klubnik can absolutely take advantage. But all in all, we believe the Bayou Bengals can keep this game tight.
Over/Under Pick
Over 57.5 | 4 Picks |
Pass | 2 Picks |
Under 57.5 | 3 Picks |
Our Over/Under Pick: Over 57.5
The LSU-Clemson matchup is shaping up to be a high-scoring affair, with the over/under set at 57.5 points.
Both teams feature capable quarterbacks who can push the pace offensively with LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik.
Clemson averaged 6.0 yards per play last season and could perhaps be more successful in 2025.
Klubnik, now a year older and more experienced, commands a Clemson offense that boasts a more explosive skill corps and home run-hitting wide receivers with big-play ability.
On the other side, LSU under Brian Kelly has typically been potent offensively. The Bayou Bengals have been plenty capable of putting up points but have struggled at times to keep the opposition off the scoreboard.
The Action Analytics team is leaning toward the over 57.5, highlighting expectations for a potential high-scoring clash.
Notably, when analyzing Action PRO data, there’s a heavier flow of money betting the over compared to ticket count, indicating smart money’s strong confidence in a high-scoring game.
Can Clemson defensively contain LSU’s skill? Last year, the Tigers allowed an average of 36 points per game to SEC opponents.
Given the offensive talent on both sides and sharper money favoring the over, expect a thrilling contest that pushes the nightcap past the 57.5-point mark.
