The Clemson Tigers look to rebound from a blowout loss to Georgia when they host the Appalachian State Mountaineers on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
For now, let's focus on this game and take a look at my App State vs. Clemson prediction.
Appalachian State vs. Clemson Pick, Prediction
- Appalachian State vs Clemson Pick: Appalachian State +17
My Appalachian State vs Clemson best bet is on the Mountaineers to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at BetMGM, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Appalachian State vs Clemson Odds for NCAAF Week 2
| App State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+16.5 -115 | 52 -110o / -110u | +600 |
| Clemson Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-16.5 -105 | 52 -110o / -110u | -900 |
- Point Spread: Appalachian State +16.5 · Clemson -16.5
- Total: Over/Under 52 Points
- Moneyline: Appalachian State ML +600 · Clemson ML -900
Appalachian State Mountaineers Football vs Clemson Tigers Football
App State Mountaineers Preview: Aguilar to Lead 'Neers
Aguilar was one of the best quarterbacks in the Group of Five last season and looks poised for another big season.
He averaged 8.1 yards per attempt and threw for 33 touchdowns compared to only 10 interceptions a season ago. Aguilar also finished in the top 20 of college football in both EPA and positive play percentage.
Now, he'll return his top four targets, who all are big-play threats with each one averaging over 13 yards a catch.
Appalachian State's leading rusher, Nate Noel, left for Missouri, but Kanye Roberts was actually the more productive running back last year. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry and 3.9 yards per carry after contact.
Clark had to rework the Appalachian State offensive line but brought in some really good transfers to the point that there really shouldn't be too big of a drop-off from last year, which is important because they ranked 35th in Offensive Line Yards.
Being able to put pressure on Klubnik is going to be key in this game, and Appalachian State has the defensive line to do just that. The Mountaineers ranked 36th in Havoc in 2023 and are bringing back two edge rushers who combined for 11 sacks as freshmen in Santana Hooper and Nate Johnson.
The greatest strength of the Mountaineers defense last season was their ability to limit teams inside the 40-yard line. They finished 13th nationally in Finishing Drives, allowing only 2.9 points per scoring opportunity. That's massive if you want to cover as a big underdog.
Clemson Tigers Preview: Out on Klubnik?
There was a lot of hype around Klubnik improving in Year 2 in Garrett Riley's system, but that doesn't seem to be happening.
He has a rough game against Georgia in Week 1, going 18-of-29 for 142 yards and an interception.
Klubnik's numbers last season weren't even considered average by FBS standards. He had a PFF passing grade of 63.9 and put up a grade above 70 in only two games against Charleston Southern and Georgia Tech.
He has a good offensive line to protect him, but even with a clean pocket, he averaged just 6.7 yards per attempt and had seven turnover-worthy plays compared to seven big-time throws.
And when he's under pressure, he's one of the worst quarterbacks in college football with a 38.9 PFF passing grade on the 32.9% of dropbacks with a crowded pocket.
So, Clemson has to be effective in running the football to not put a lot of pressure on Klubnik. Phil Mafah returns after averaging 5.4 yards per carry and scoring 13 touchdowns in 2023, so the Tigers will lean on him heavily in this game.
There are a lot of changes on the defensive side of the ball, but the players coming in are highly-rated recruits. They played well in the first half against Georgia, but as the game progressed and they started to wear down, the Bulldogs punished them.
Carson Beck ended up going 23-of-33 for 278 yards and two touchdowns.
But maybe the most concerning sign was that Georgia averaged 6.3 yards per carry without its two best running backs. Appalachian State is bringing a really good offense to town, so it better be ready to play for all four quarters on Saturday night.
How to Watch My App State vs Clemson Prediction
At this point, Klubnik should be viewed as an average quarterback at best.
He was supposed to progress in Year 2 with Riley, but given his performance against Georgia and the fact that he didn't even have one elite game last year, he's a big concern.
He's terrible under pressure, which is something Appalachian State is going to provide on Saturday night. Additionally, the Mountaineers are really good in the secondary, which is going to force Clemson to run the ball effectively.
If you want to hang around and cover large spreads like this as a big underdog, you have to have a quarterback who can put up numbers and throw the ball downfield. Appalachian State has that in Aguilar, along with a really good group of receivers that will give Clemson's secondary some problems.
The Mountaineers haven't been underdogs too often under Clark, but when they are, they've covered in six of their eight games.
Given the way Clemson looked against Georgia and how prolific of an offense Appalachian State has, I like the value on the Mountaineers at +17.
Pick: Appalachian State +17
How to Watch App State vs Clemson
| Location: | Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC |
| Date: | Saturday, Sept. 7 |
| Kickoff Time: | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ACC Network |
App State-Clemson Betting Trends
- Clemson has taken 58% of the bets but has generated 84% of the money.
- The over has landed 88% of the tickets and 84% of the money.
NCAAF Week 2 Weather: App State vs Clemson
