There are multiple high-profile college basketball games tipping off on Tuesday. One of the headline matchups will be between the Clemson Tigers and the No. 10-ranked BYU Cougars.
This is just the third time these programs have matched up on a basketball court in their history. Clemson won both of these games, with the most recent taking place in the 1990 NCAA Tournament. Tuesday’s action is part of the Jimmy V Classic and will take place at Madison Square Garden.
Looking at the odds, BYU enters as a 6.5-point favorite with -270 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Clemson holds +220 odds of winning outright, with the game total set at 152.5 points.
Clemson vs. BYU preview
The Clemson Tigers are off to a 7-2 start to the season. They are looking to bounce back from a loss to Alabama in the previous game, with their other loss coming against Georgetown. Clemson is 5-4 against the spread this season, with the over cashing in six of their nine games.
RJ Godfrey leads the team in scoring with 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Carter Welling and Jestin Porter are both averaging just over 10 points per game, as well. Dillon Hunter and Jake Wahlin are each shooting over 40% from beyond the arc, as well.
Clemson leans on a team-oriented style of attack for their success. They are averaging 85.1 points per game, which ranks 66th in the country, and sit at 23rd in offensive rating. The Tigers rank 24th in the league in rebounds per game, but are shooting just 32.8% from beyond the three-point line, which ranks 215th in the country. Defensively, opponents are scoring 66.7 points per game against the Tigers, which ranks 56th. They are posting the 46th-best defensive rating and rank 40th in opponents’ field goal percentage allowed at just 39.1%.
The BYU Cougars are off to a 7-1 start to the season, with their lone loss being a two-point defeat against UConn. They are 5-3 against the spread, with the under cashing in five of their eight games.
Expected top draft pick AJ Dybantsa headlines the production with 19.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Dybantsa possesses some rare ball-handling and movement skills for his 6-foot-8 frame and is a matchup nightmare on a nightly basis.
Richie Saunders adds 18.9 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 42.6% from deep. Baylor transfer Robert Wright III pitches in 16.9 points, 6.3 assists, and four rebounds while shooting 42.4% from the perimeter himself. Kennard Davis averages double figures, while Dawson Baker, Keba Keita, and Khadim Mboup round out most of their notable depth.
BYU is averaging 85.3 points per game, which ranks 64th in the nation, and they are producing the fifth-best offensive rating. They are shooting 36.9% from beyond the perimeter, which ranks 65th, and posting the 45th-best field goal percentage. Defensively, the Cougars own the 19th-best defensive rating and hold opponents to 68 points per game.
Clemson vs. BYU pick, best bet
There is more top-end talent on this BYU roster, but these teams are constructed fairly similarly. They are helmed by two of the better coaches in college basketball, take excellent care of the basketball, and can win games in different ways. Both have shown the ability to score the ball at a high rate and can also lock down in the half-court defensively.
This Clemson team deserves more buzz than they are receiving, and I am backing them to cover the 6.5-point spread in this matchup. The Tigers are 13-4 against the spread in their last 17 games as underdogs. They pushed Alabama and Georgetown to the brink, with both losses being decided by a combined 11 points. This roster may not be as talented as last year’s on paper, but their chemistry has been undeniable early on.
Neither of these teams is completely proven yet, but expect Clemson to have a game plan that slows down Dybantsa and the rest of BYU’s top-end talent. They struggled with this against Georgetown, allowing KJ Lewis to score 26 points, but they have shown defensive improvement since then. Holding Alabama to 90 points in the previous game was a positive sign, considering they are averaging 95.1 points per game and have scored 100+ in three matchups already this year. Clemson’s ability to keep pace and score with them was even more encouraging.
Expect this effort level to carry over into Tuesday’s matchup, with Clemson hungry for a statement win. The bright lights of Madison Square Garden and tournament atmosphere will bring a high level of intensity, and this is a matchup that should come down to the wire. The Tigers have rebounded the ball at a high level and do a nice job limiting turnovers, which will give them a chance in most matchups. I am backing Clemson to cover the 6.5-point spread and view them as live underdogs in this matchup.
