| MATCHUP | Clemson Tigers | LSU Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Spread | +10 -112 | -10 -108 |
| Moneyline | +295 | -375 |
| Total | Over 50.5 (-112) | Under 50.5 (-108) |
| Where | Tiger Stadium (LA), Baton Rouge, LA | |
| When | Saturday, September 5, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:30 PM EDT | |
| TV | ABC | |
Clemson Tigers Betting Preview
Last year the Tigers opened up with a No. 4 ranking in the AP poll. After losing their opener (to LSU), Clemson lost two of the next three games to lose their national ranking. losses to SMU, Duke and Penn State came down the stretch to cement a 7-6 run overall and a 4-4 stretch in the ACC. That would put Clemson in the lower-middle area of the standings. The Tigers got a bowl berth versus Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl, which they lost 22-10.
Clemson gets head coach Dabo Swinney back for his 18th full (19th overall) season, and they retain the coordinator staff. The Tigers have a couple of good options at QB alongside some interesting skill players in TJ Moore, Bryant Wesco and Gideon Davidson. The big concern on offense lies with the line, as Clemson had to replace three starters among that group.
LSU Tigers Betting Preview
Over on the LSU side, they had a similar campaign in 2025. The Tigers opened the year at No. 9 in the preseason poll and were looking good after the win over Clemson. LSU dropped four of five (admittedly tough) games in the middle of the season though, and closed with a couple of losses. One was versus Oklahoma, then came a Texas Bowl loss versus Houston 38-35 in a heartbreaker. In the end LSU went just 7-6 overall with a 3-5 run in a tough, tough SEC.
LSU gets a new head coach this year in Lane Kiffin, spearheading a reset after a disappointing 2025 run. The only coordinator still around is Blake Baker on defense (third season). These Tigers also have some good options at QB alongside one of the nation’s top-ranked transfer portal groups. There are some red-letter dates on the schedule this season, so the team will need to start finding their chemistry immediately.
Clemson Tigers @ LSU Tigers Betting Trends: Week 1
Why the LSU Tigers will win
- LSU has won each of its last 21 games against non-conference opponents at Tiger Stadium.
- Clemson has lost four of its last five season openers.
- Clemson has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four September games against AP-ranked teams.
- LSU has covered the spread in four of its last five games as a favorite against teams from South Carolina.
Why the Clemson Tigers will win
- LSU has lost six of its last eight season openers as a favorite.
- The underdog has won three of Clemson’s last four games.
- The underdog has covered the spread in each of Clemson’s last four games.
- LSU has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four games against non-conference opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Seven of Clemson’s last eight season openers have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Ten of LSU’s last 12 games as a favorite against non-AP-ranked teams have gone UNDER the total points line.
LSU Tigers Player Prop Facts
- Sam Leavitt has thrown zero interceptions in five consecutive games – equal-longest streak in the FBS.
Clemson Tigers Player Prop Facts
- Jerome Carter ranked 1st in the Sun Belt Conference for interceptions (6) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- LSU ranked T125th among FBS teams for rushing yards per game last season (104.0).
- LSU ranked T14th among FBS teams for red zone percentage against last season (74.3).
- Clemson ranked 120th among FBS teams for passing yards allowed per game last season (251.2).
- Clemson ranked 20th among FBS teams for 4th down conversion percentage against last season (41.4).
Clemson vs LSU Prediction
I’m going to lean toward LSU, but you could make a case either way. This matchup is set to be one of the must-see games of the weekend college football slate and it’ll be entertaining regardless. Most pundits are pretty high on LSU this year thanks to that excellent transfer class. Kiffin has all the tools available for nine or 10 wins this season if all goes well. The team could very well be on the verge of finding a playoff slot late in the year, but they’ve also got some tough games down the stretch. Three of the last five are on the road: at Auburn, at Tennessee and at Arkansas.
As for Clemson, they should finish around the eight-win mark or so if the preseason expectations are to be believed. These Tigers lost a ton of production (with much of it going to the draft) from last year, reloading with some lower-key transfer additions. If Swinney can get the best out of that low-profile group, Clemson could surprise a lot of people. If not, it’ll be another scenario in which the Tigers are happy just to get a decent bowl berth. This opener will set the early tone either way.