The Clemson Tigers take on the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Saturday, Sept. 5. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
LSU is favored by -10.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -425. Clemson, meanwhile, enters as a +10.5 underdog and is +320 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 50.5 total points.
Here’s my Clemson vs. LSU predictions and college football picks for Saturday, September 5.
Clemson vs LSU Prediction
- Clemson vs. LSU Pick: Under 51 or Better
My LSU vs. Clemson best bet is on both teams to go under the total. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Clemson vs LSU Odds
| Clemson Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+10.5 -110 | 50.5 -115o / -102u | +320 |
| LSU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-10.5 -110 | 50.5 -115o / -102u | -425 |
- Clemson vs LSU point spread: Clemson +10.5 (-110), LSU -10.5 (-110)
- Clemson vs LSU over/under: 50.5 (-115o / -102u)
- Clemson vs LSU moneyline: Clemson +320, LSU -425
Clemson vs LSU College Football Preview
Clemson Tigers Betting Preview: Another Season for Dabo
A 7-5 regular season and a loss in the Pinstripe Bowl have the Clemson faithful asking if the decline is linear or a brief dip.
Head coach Dabo Swinney enters his 18th season with an impressive resume that includes two national titles and nine ACC Championships.
The Tigers have played in the College Football Playoff just once since the pandemic season of 2020, a first-round loss to Texas.
Changes were made heading into 2026, including the return of Chad Morris as offensive coordinator, a role he held during previous Clemson national title seasons.
Quarterback Christopher Vizzina held off highly-touted freshman Tait Reynolds for the starting role in Morris' smash-mouth spread offense.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen will look to get Clemson back as one of the best defenses in the nation. The Tigers unexpectedly fell out of the top 50 in explosives allowed and also fell outside the top 60 in coverage grading.
The defensive line will be without one of the best players on the roster, Vic Burley, who's serving a suspension for disorderly conduct.
LSU Tigers Betting Preview: On the Lane Train
LSU has generated more off-field noise than any other team in college football, from the arrival of Lane Kiffin to the acceptance of recently cut NFL players.
The impact of tight end Dae'Quan Wright may not be enough to change the spread, but all eyes are on Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt from the first snap.
The former Sun Devil suffered an injury in late 2025 that required surgery. Leavitt hasn't taken a competitive snap since the injury.
The defense has a few more questions, as unresolved eligibility cases involve defensive linemen. LSU is set to start a freshman in the defensive trench, but the linebacker group continues to be solid for holdover defensive coordinator Blake Baker.
Whit Weeks and Ole Miss transfer TJ Dottery bring a wealth of experience to patrol the middle.
The addition of edge Princewill Umanmielen from Ole Miss adds 51 pressures from a season ago, indicating that Clemson skill positions will be under heavy duress.
Clemson vs LSU Pick, Betting Analysis
The Clemson offense could sputter out of the gate. Morris hasn't called a college football offense since the 2020 season with Auburn.
Vizzina is not a finished product under center for the Tigers, as the third-year quarterback has 71 career passing attempts with two big-time throws and seven turnover-worthy plays.
The Clemson offensive line entered camp with Collin Sadler and Harris Sewell as multi-year starters. That will not bode well against an LSU defense that pulled a number of blue-chip names from the transfer portal in the offseason.
The LSU offense is expected to have a bit more success, as Leavitt will be protected by Colorado transfer tackle Jordan Seaton.
A number of pass-catching options flashed at previous stops, including Jackson Harris at Hawaii with 73 targets and 2.8 yards per route run.
The Action Network projections list LSU as more than a two-touchdown favorite, indicating the Tigers as the play on the side.
However, the better bet may come on the total, where Clemson's offense will look for answers on the offensive line, while LSU is hoping Leavitt can connect with new targets out of the gate.
Pick: Under 51 or Better
Clemson vs LSU Betting Trends
