Clemson Tigers 2016 College Football Betting Preview, Championship Odds

Clemson rolled all the way to the national championship game last season, coming within about a quarter of beating Alabama for the title. Now, the trick is to do it all again, plus one. And the oddsmakers at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark seem to like the Tigers' chances, lining them as the favorites in the ACC and among the favorites to return to the College Football Playoff.

2015 Clemson record: 14-1 SU, 8-7 ATS

2016 regular-season wins over/under: 10.5

2016 odds to win ACC: +150 (bet $100 to win $150)

Odds to win national championship: +800

Last Year in Review

Clemson catapulted off that bowl bombing of Oklahoma two seasons ago to sweep through last season, winning the big game over Florida State, outlasting North Carolina in the ACC title game and then beating the Sooners again in a national semifinal. The Tigers then led Alabama through three quarters in the national championship before eventually falling 45-40.

That's now five straight seasons of double-digit wins for Clemson, and not many programs can boast such a record.

This Year in Preview

The Tigers get back 12 starters this season, which is actually three more than they returned last season. Eight starters are back on offense, led by Heisman Trophy-favorite quarterback Deshaun Watson (4,109 yards passing, 1,105 yards rushing, 47 total touchdowns last year), 1,514-yard rusher Wayne Gallman, one of the best sets of receivers in the country and three along the offensive line.

However, only four starters return on defense after the departure of five of last year's top six tacklers.

Clemson 2016 Schedule

The Tigers open with a road game at Auburn, begin ACC play with a Thursday night game at Georgia Tech and play the big one at Florida State on October 29. They also get Louisville and Pittsburgh at home and miss the top three contenders in the Coastal Division—Miami, North Carolina and Virginia Tech. Clemson should be favored in every game this season except the one against the Seminoles.

Betting on the Tigers

Clemson is going to score a bunch of points again this season, but it might give up a few along the way as well. Tigers games averaged 60 total points last season, and that figure might increase. Keep an eye on the over result.