Clemson Tigers at Boston College Eagles
Sylvio O. Conte Forum – Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Thursday, January 12, 2012, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Clemson -8 1/2
Current Line: Clemson -8
Opening Total: 118 1/2
Current Total: 118
Opening Money Line: Clemson -360 / Boston College +300
Current Money Line: Clemson -370 / Boston College +310
The 9-6 Clemson Tigers won their ACC opener last Saturday at home against Florida St 79-59. Now the Tigers travel to take on the Boston College Eagles. The Eagles are 5-10 this season and lost their opener at North Carolina Saturday 83-60. Clemson leads the overall series 10-4 against Boston College, but the Eagles are are 4-1 at home. Clemson has won 2 straight games in the series, including 70-47 in the ACC tournament.
Clemson is coached by Brad Brownwell. The Tigers have wins over Iowa, Winthrop, Southern Illinois, and East Tennessee St. Clemson has losses to College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, UTEP, and Hawaii. Clemson has won 2 games in a row.
Boston College is coached by Steve Donahue. The Eagles have wins over New Hampshire, UC Riverside, Stony Brook, Bryant, and Sacred Heart. BC has losses to Holy Cross, UMass, St. Louis, New Mexico, Penn St, Boston University, Providence, Harvard, and Rhode Island. The Eagles have lost 3 games in a row.
Clemson is outscoring opponents 65-58 this season. Clemson is #14 nationally in points allowed. The Tigers are sho0ting 43.7% and 33.5% from 3 point range. Clemson makes 70.2% of their free throws. The Tigers averages 34.3 rebounds and have a rebounding margin of +3.8. Clemson averages 13.5 assists, 13.1 turnovers, 6.4 steals, and 4.3 blocks a game. Tiger opponents are shooting 40.6% from the field, and 33.8% from 3 point range. Clemson forces 14.2 turnovers a game on defense.
Clemson guard Andre Young averages 13.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.7 steals a game. Young leads the Tigers in scoring and steals, and makes 34.8% of his 3 point attempts. Tanner Smith averages 10.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists to lead the team, and 1.4 steals a game. He is shooting 35.3% from 3 point range. Devin Booker averages 10.7 points, 6.7 rebounds to lead the team, 1.1 assists, and 0.9 blocks a game to tie for the team lead. Milton Jennings averages 8.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 0.9 blocks a game.
Boston College is being outscored 69-62 this season. The Eagles are shooting 41.5% from the field and 33.8% from 3 point range. BC makes 67.4% of their free throws. The Eagles average 31.2 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of -5.8. BC averages 11.8 assists, 15.1 turnovers, 4.5 steals, and 3.2 blocks a game. Eagle opponents are shooting 42.5% from the field and 34.4% from 3 point range. The Eagles force 12.2 turnovers a game.
Guard Patrick Heckmann averages 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists a game to lead the team. Matt Humphrey averages 9.9 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists a game. Ryan Anderson averages 9.7 points, 6.4 rebounds to lead the team, and 1.1 assists a game. Dennis Clifford averages 9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1 block a game to lead the team. Lonnie Jackson averages 7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.9 steals a game to lead the team.
Boston College is 4-5 against the spread and the total is 3-6 this year. Clemson is 3-7 ATS and the total is 4-6 this season. Clemson is 8-2-2 ATS in the last 12 against BC, and the under is 7-3 in the last 10. The Tigers are 4-0-1 in ACC games, 2-5 in road games against teams with losing home records, 1-5 overall, 0-7 in Thursday games, 0-6 as a favorite, 0-4 against teams with losing records, 0-3-1 after a cover, and 0-4 as a favorite of between 7 and 12.5 points. The Eagles are 5-1 ATS in Thursday games, 4-1 as an underdog of between 7 and 12.5 points, 8-3 in ACC games, 5-2 as a home underdog of between 7 and 12.5 points, 1-4 after a cover, 1-4 against teams with winning road records, and 0-5 at home.
Boston College is very young with 9 freshman on the roster. They have struggled so far and it will only get worse for the Eagles as they begin play in the rugged ACC. Clemson is better than BC but they won’t compete with the elite teams. I like Clemson to win and cover against Boston College.
