Clemson vs. SMU Preview: 3 Player Props and Best Bet for ACC Championship

Continuing a trend of other conference championship games, the ACC title could head back to a familiar home with the No. 18 ranked Clemson Tigers (9-3, 7-1 ACC) or head for the first time to Texas with the No. 8 ranked SMU Mustangs (11-1, 8-0 ACC) on Saturday night.

Clemson may have taken a circuitous route, but the Tigers are familiar with the ACC Championship game. Clemson has eight previous championships to boast about, having secured one in their last appearance in 2022.

SMU has yet to lose a game in the ACC during its debut season. The Mustangs’ closest game in two months was their overtime tilt against Duke, a game they won 28-27 on the road. Their championship contest may feel like a road game on Saturday as Clemson’s campus is less than 150 miles from the game.

Will the Tigers or Mustangs carry home the trophy from Charlotte Saturday night? We’ll cover that and our three best player prop bets below.

Clemson Tigers QB Cade Klubnik UNDER 261.5 Passing Yards

Junior quarterback Cade Klubnik has been up and down this season as he’s posted over 250 yards in back-to-back weeks only once this season. He’s followed up games like last week’s South Carolina loss – 280 passing yards and one interception – with games like the Citadel – 198 passing yards and three scores.

Which Klubnik should bettors expect to get this weekend? The answer is Mr. Hyde, not Dr. Jekyll. Expect Klubnik to either find success on the ground or through the ground game, but the aerial attack should be locked down the Mustangs. Take the under on this player prop bet.

SMU Mustangs WR Key’Shawn Smith OVER 44.5 Receiving Yards

SMU has been a run-first offense, running more than 57 percent of the time this year. When the Mustangs have looked to pass, quarterback Kevin Jennings has five different receivers to throw to, including senior Key’Shawn Smith.

The 6-foot-1 receiver started the year off slowly, recording only eight receptions in his team’s first four games. Since then, he’s hauled in 22 receptions and the vast majority of his 499 receiving yards.

While he’s not been accumulating huge numbers, Smith has led his team in receiving against California – their last outing – for only the second time this season. With him being the hot hand heading into Saturday’s championship game, expect him to cover this player prop bet.

Clemson Tigers RB Phil Mafah OVER 82.5 Rushing Yards

Clemson has a strong running attack as senior athlete Phil Mafah leads the way. The 6-foot-1 running back has recorded 1,078 yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 201 carries this season.

Against SMU, there’s reason to believe he would not meet this 82.5-yard mark. In his past three games, Mafah has finished with 97 total rushing yards. Still, Mafah should be expected to exceed this player prop figure as multiple teams have had success running against the Mustangs.

Best Bet: SMU (-2.5)

If you put these two teams together without revealing their identities, there’s no doubt that objective observers would favor the Mustangs. SMU has been dominant all season, and this team looks like an actual contender for the national championship.

Clemson’s line is jaded by the proximity to its campus and the name recognition they’ve earned. That’s why I believe this could be a high-scoring affair that SMU wins easily against the Tigers’ porous defense, claiming their first ACC Championship. Take SMU and the points on Saturday night.