Clemson is hosting Troy on Saturday afternoon of Week 2. The game will take place at 3:30 P.M. ET in Clemson, South Carolina. Clemson is looking to bounce back against Troy after an opening week loss.
The Tigers are 31.5-point home favorites in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 51.5 points. This is a preview, prediction and pick for this Troy-Clemson non-conference matchup.
Troy vs. Clemson Preview
Troy Preview
Troy started their season with a win over FCS Nicholls State 38-20. They ran the ball really well, but struggled on defense relative to their competition. This is Troy’s second season under head coach Gerad Parker, after going 4-8 last season. Their starting quarterback, Goose Crowder, got a couple of starts last season and is a decent dual-threat option. However, he is likely to struggle against Clemson in this spot. He has never started a game against a Power Four opponent, let alone one with top-tier athletes like Clemson has. This is a game where Troy is unlikely to be competitive and will just take the opportunity to get their players some experience against high-end talent.
Clemson Preview
Clemson is starting their season in a hole after losing their season opener against LSU. Clemson was discussed as one of the favorites to win the National Championship and was a heavy favorite to win the ACC. Against LSU, they showed the same struggles that have held them back over the last couple of seasons. Against lesser competition, Cade Klubnik puts up big numbers and their defense dominates. However, against elite competition, Klubnik is not up to par and Clemson struggles to stop the run. It was their problem against Georgia, South Carolina and Texas last season, and against LSU last week. This week, they should take advantage of the opportunity to get their offense into a good flow against Troy before an important ACC game against Georgia Tech next week.
Troy vs. Clemson Pick
Clemson is a huge favorite in this game, and for good reason. Cade Klubnik has struggled in big games throughout his career, but against lesser competition, he has the skill and experience to pick opposing defenses apart. The Clemson offense really struggled against LSU, and they need to get some momentum heading into a tough road game against Georgia Tech. Normally, coming off a big game against LSU, with another important game on deck, would be a time to fade Clemson. However, after the way they played against LSU, they will want to take some anger out on Troy. They should shut down the Troy offense and put up a lot of points, covering this large number at home.
