NCAA Football Predictions – Florida St @ Clemson Odds and Free Picks on ESPN – Week 4 NCAA Football Spreads and Odds

Week 4 Free College Football Picks and Spreads: Florida State Seminoles @ Clemson Tigers 2011 NCAA Football Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on ESPN Saturday 9/24/11: Two ranked ACC rivals square off Saturday when Florida State travels to “Death Valley” to face No. 21 Clemson. The Tigers are a perfect 3-0 entering the meeting, while the Seminoles are now 2-1 following a loss to No.1 Oklahoma last weekend. While national title hopes for FSU were likely dashed with the loss to the Sooners, a conference title and an automatic BCS bid are still up for grabs. However, Clemson has won four straight at home against the Seminoles and has its own dreams of an ACC title. Thanks to one of the best home crowd advantages in the country, the Tigers are a 2 ½-point favorite in this one.

The biggest storyline for this matchup is the health of FSU quarterback E.J. Manuel, who is dealing with a shoulder injury. Manuel was forced out of the Seminoles’ loss to the Sooners, and what little offensive rhythm Florida State did have left with Manuel. To make matters worse, the Seminoles have two starting receivers dealing with concussions and starting running back Chris Thompson has ongoing back issues. Putting points on the board has been the biggest issue for FSU in big games in recent years, and missing key players at the skilled positions isn’t going to help matters.

Putting points on the board has been easy for Clemson thus far. Quarterback Tajh Boyd and running back Andre Ellington have powered an offense that ranks in the top 10 in the country, piling up more than 500 yards per game. Boyd is having a particularly strong start to the year, throwing 10 touchdowns in three games. Last weekend, he picked apart defending national champion Auburn, tossing four touchdowns and nearly reaching 400 yards. Against an FSU secondary that has given up big plays in the past, Boyd could once again be the catalyst for the Clemson offense.

In order to slow down the Tigers’s attack, the Seminoles will rely heavily on their talented defensive line. Defensive end Brandon Jenkins leads a group that can terrorize opposing quarterbacks. Boyd hasn’t faced a lot of pressure in the pocket in his first three games, and if FSU can start piling up sacks, the high-powered Clemson offense could be ground. It certainly was last season in Tallahassee when the Tigers fell 16-13 to the Seminoles in a game that turned out to be a defensive struggle. Considering FSU was able to hold Landry Jones and the Sooners to just 23 points last weekend despite missing their starting QB, there is a good chance this weekend’s meeting will have a defensive tone once again.

If Manuel ends up playing, the Seminoles offense can reach a different level. However, early indications are that his shoulder is still tender, and if he does play, one hit could send him back to the sidelines. Once that happens, the pressure once again falls on the shoulders of the FSU defense. While the unit is among the stingiest in the nation, even the best athletes wear down over the course of a game if they end up on the field for a majority of the game. It happened to the Seminoles last weekend against the Sooners, and it could easily happen again this Saturday against the Tigers.

Jenkins and company will keep the Seminoles in the game, but Boyd and the Clemson offense are better than they were a year ago. Playing in “Death Valley” will only help the Tigers, and a fifth straight home win against their conference rival seems well within reach. The FSU defense will keep the score down, but the offense won’t bring enough to the table in this one.

Prediction: Clemson Tigers (-2 ½) Cover the Spread

Free College Football Picks and NCAAF Predictions: Clemson -2.5 to cover the spread

Stop by NSAwins.com daily throughout the NCAA Football season for daily Free College Football Picks and Vegas College Football Lines plus daily updated BCS National Championship Futures Odds.