FSU opens as substantial underdog to Clemson

No surprises here. The opening betting line has been released for Saturday’s Florida State vs. Clemson game in Tallahassee, and the No. 2 Tigers are heavy favorites over the Seminoles. The ’Noles open as 17-point home underdogs, per VegasInsider.com. Home teams tend to get about 3 points, so this means that, on a neutral field, Vegas thinks CU is about 20 points better than Florida State.

Clemson (7-0) has defeated FSU in the schools’ last three meetings, and the Tigers are coming off a 41-7 drubbing of North Carolina State, a game many thought would have been closer, as the Wolfpack entered without a loss as well. The Seminoles (4-3) are fresh off a 38-17 homecoming win over Wake Forest. Florida State leads the all-time series 20-11.

Only once has FSU dropped two consecutive games to Clemson in Tallahassee, and those contests were separated by more than a decade (1976 and 1989).