No. 9 LSU vs. No. 4 Clemson is the showcase primetime game on theWeek 1 college football slate. The energy in Death Valley should be electric, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, giving Clemson a strong home-field advantage for this highly-anticipated top 10 matchup.
Below, we’ll break down our Clemson vs. LSU prediction and picks for PrizePicks CFB in Saturday's matchup that headlines the Week 1 CFB slate as we get to see tonight's marquee clash.
The Tigers vs. Tigers game on Saturday night has all the makings of thriller: two high-profile quarterbacks in Clemson's Cade Klubnik and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier squaring off, and defensive question marks on both rosters. in a rowdy environment to start the season.
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LSU vs. Clemson Prediction, Preview: CFB Week 1
Coach Brian Kelly’s LSU squad is trying to regain consistency after a leaky defense — 72nd in Expected Points Added per play — and pressure-prone quarterback play from QB Garrett Nussmeier hurt them in 2024.
Dabo Swinney’s Clemson team is leaning on roster continuity and a retooled staff as they try to prove their playoff potential is alive again. For LSU, the defense will need to hold up after surrendering 24.6 points per game and 6.06 yards per play (87th in CFB) in 2024.
Both teams have loaded talent, transfer additions, and major questions in the trenches. Saturday night’s primetime test should serve as an early measuring stick for both programs.
Whereas the Texas vs. Ohio State game has some Playoff implications, it could be said that this game has more; both of these teams missed the Playoff last season, and could find themselves fighting for a playoff bid late in this season.
Clemson Team Preview
Clemson’s offseason told a different story. For years, Swinney resisted the transfer portal; but this offseason he embraced it, bringing in reinforcements on both sides of the ball. Paired with the hiring of defensive coordinator Tom Allen, Clemson seems committed to revamping its identity.
Ideally, Allen's hiring will revamp this Clemson defense that was a major liability last year when it mattered most; they coughed up 33points to Louisville, then 38 to Texas in the College Football Playoff.
Allen inherits an elite defensive front headlined by edge rusher T.J. Parker (11 sacks) and interior disruptor Peter Woods (20 pressures). Together, they could overwhelm LSU’s patchwork offensive line.
On the back end, Clemson’s depth and physicality should test LSU’s transfer-heavy receiving corps.
On offense, QB Cade Klubnik returns for another season under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, bringing another year of stability. Klubnik has steadily cut down on mistakes, lowering his turnover-worthy play rate to 2.3% in 2024, compared to 3.3% in 2023, while distributing to a deep receiver group.
WR Antonio Williams remains the go-to target in the slot, as he finished last year with 100 targets. WR Bryant Wesco Jr. emerged late last season as a big-play option, with a 13.6 aDOT. Add in a veteran offensive line with 135 combined starts, and Clemson’s offense looks like the team to beat in the ACC.
The key wrinkle: former wide receiver Adam Randall’s transition to running back adds another weapon out of the backfield. His versatility could stress LSU’s tackling issues, especially if Harold Perkins Jr. doesn’t return to his freshman form as a defensive centerpiece.
LSU Team Preview
The Tigers added transfer playmakers at wide receiver, including Barion Brown (Kentucky) and Nic Anderson (Oklahoma), giving Nussmeier plenty of firepower. Nussmeier has shown flashes, but his inconsistency under pressure is the storyline to watch. Last season, he faced 153 pressures on 553 dropbacks, and his turnover-worthy play rate tripled when the pocket collapsed.
LSU’s offensive line rotation remains unsettled, with as many as eight players likely to rotate early. That uncertainty could be problematic against a Clemson defense stacked with pass-rushers that created 2.6 sacks per game in 2024.
If the line struggles, Nussmeier’s quick release and connection with his new receivers will need to carry LSU in this matchup.
On defense, the pass rush showed flashes last season, but coverage breakdowns were a constant problem. LSU ranked 81st in PFF coverage grade and 88th in contested catch rate. Their defensive pass success rate ranked 81st in college football, per Game on Paper.
The secondary should be improved with transfer Mansoor Delane (16 pass breakups, 6 INTs at Virginia Tech) anchoring things, but communication in a hostile road environment will be tested immediately in Death Valley tonight.
LSU vs. Clemson Picks & PrizePicks Plays – CFB Week 1
This SEC vs. ACC matchup is loaded with top players to target on PrizePicks CFB, where you can predict More or Less on player stats to win real money in every major college football game.
With two quarterbacks capable of big plays and defenses that still have question marks, there’s projections to target on both sides of the board. Below are three player projections worth takin a look at before the 7 p.m. ET lock time tonight.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier Projection: 283.5 Passing Yards
LSU senior QB Garrett Nussmeier has the arm talent and the receivers to hit big plays, as shown by his 4,052 yards and 29 TDs in his first full year as a starter. But the pressure is the concern.
Against defenses with a consistent pass rush last season, Nussmeier's efficiency dropped significantly, and his mistakes increased. In games where he faced at least 15 pressues, Nussmeier
Clemson’s front is among the best he’ll face all year, and communication issues along LSU’s offensive line could create havoc in Death Valley.
The Tigers piled up double-digit sacks from their edge rushers last year and were top-20 nationally in pressures generated. That’s a nightmare combination for an LSU offensive line that may need to rotate eight players to find consistency. If communication issues show up on the road, Nussmeier will be forced into quick decisions that limit his downfield production.
Given that LSU may also lean on its run game to slow Clemson’s rush, Nussmeier could still make a handful of explosive throws in this one.
Find more CFB DFS picks for Saturday's Week 1 games in here.
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik Projection: 215.5 Passing Yards (PrizePicks Discount)
Cade Klubnik's passing yards projection is discounted to 215.5 on PrizePicks only today. His standard pass yards projection is 270.5 passing yards. Join PrizePicks here with promo code PLAYBOOK to get $50 instantly in Lineups after your first $5+ Lineup to get the Klubnik discount.
Klubnik’s efficiency and decision-making improved last season, and with a stacked receiver group returning, he’s set up well in this matchup vs. an LSU pass defense that ranked 81st in pass success rate allowed, per Game on Paper.
LSU’s revamped secondary may eventually become a strength, but this early test in a raucous home environment could give Klubnik an edge, especially after he finished 2024on a heater.
Look for Klubnik to spread the field and get Williams and Wesco involved often.
With 135 combined starts returning up to the line up front, Klubnik should enjoy one of the cleanest pockets in college football —or at least an improvement from their 73rd ranked pass rush grade last season, per PFF. That’s especially important against LSU's defense.
Clemson WR Antonio Williams Projection: 56.5 Receiving Yards
Williams is Klubnik’s most trusted option, seeing 100 targets from the slot last year. Against an LSU defense that ranked 88th in contested catch rate, his ability to find space underneath and break tackles will be critical in this matchup.
Williams has quietly developed into one of the most reliable slot receivers in the country. He consistently works underneath and breaks tackles to extend plays. Williams finished the 2024 season averaging 87.2 yards per game over his last five games with five TDs.
Against LSU’s secondary, Williams’ ability to win in traffic and pick up yards after contact could be a major difference-maker.
Williams had eight performances where he toppled 50 yards through the air in 2024, including a 149-yard performance against Pittsburgh that officially set the tone for a monster second half of the season.
LSU’s cornerbacks are talented, and even if Clemson spreads the ball around on Saturday, Williams' target share gives him one of the highest floors on the slate.
Make LSU vs. Clemson Picks on PrizePicks
Saturday night brings us one of the best non-conference games of the season between LSU vs. Clemson in Death Valley. With two Heisman hopeful QBs on top 10 teams, this game should be electric.
Ahead of the LSU vs. Clemson showdown at 7 p.m. ET tonight, it's time to lock in your CFB picks on PrizePicks to win real money. Just pick your players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in on your predictions when you're right.
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