LSU and Clemson enter this college football season in the top 10 in the rankings. They will face off in a huge Week 1 matchup on Saturday night in a game where the winner will claim that their home stadium is the real Death Valley. Before this game with huge playoff implications early in the season, I break this game down and give you my LSU vs Clemson prediction for Saturday’s action.
Our LSU vs Clemson Pick
- Pick: LSU +4
- Confidence: 3/5
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: LSU Tigers vs Clemson Tigers
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 30, 2025, 7:30 PM ET
- Venue: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
- Broadcast: ABC
LSU vs Clemson Odds
| Spread | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Clemson -4 | Clemson -185 / LSU +155 |
Key Storylines
- Both teams open their seasons in a primetime slot with College Football Playoff aspirations front and center. LSU enters this game ranked ninth in the country and Clemson is ranked fourth going into this top 10 showdown.
- LSU has added 18 players via the transfer portal. That tops the national rankings for transfer acquisitions. Clemson prefers stability over using the portal. The Tigers are returning nine defensive starters from a top-5 scoring defense in the ACC.
- Each team’s quarterback is considered among the elite at their position. Garrett Nussmeier for LSU and Cade Klubnik for Clemson each accounted for over 3,600 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in 2024.
- Weather forecasts call for excellent conditions. The temperature should be in the low 70s at kickoff with minimal chance of rain.
Quarterback Play
- LSU — Garrett Nussmeier: Nussmeier had over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns last season. Expect high-volume passing against Clemson’s defense from LSU.
- Clemson — Cade Klubnik: Klubnik had 36 passing touchdowns with over 3,600 yards. Klubnik is also a capable runner and his dual-threat ability will be a concern for the LSU defense.
Betting Trends & H2H
- LSU has dropped five straight season openers and three straight openers under Brian Kelly. Clemson has lost three of its last four season openers.
- Clemson went 6–8–0 ATS last season and 5–5 as a favorite of four points or more. LSU was 5–8 ATS in 13 games a season ago.
- Clemson went 7-7 in the over/under market last season and LSU was 5-8 on their totals.
LSU vs Clemson Model Projection
Score Projection: LSU 28 – Clemson 31
Win Probability: LSU 46%, Clemson 54%
Final Thoughts
Both teams should have some success offensively in this season opener despite facing an elite opponent. Nussmeier and Klubnik might not be Heisman Trophy caliber quarterbacks but they are firmly in that second tier going into the season. I expect both teams to move the ball and for this to be a close game with plenty of scoring on both sides. I’ll go with Clemson to win this game by a field goal in what should be one of the most entertaining matchups of Week 1.
