First look: Top storylines, betting odds for Clemson vs. Duke football game

AUGUST 28, 2023 7:00 AM
The Clemson football season is almost here.
Coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers, who rank No. 9 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25, kick off their season a week from Monday against Duke in a primetime Labor Day contest.
Here’s your first look at the game.
VEGAS ODDS: CLEMSON VS. DUKE POINT SPREAD
Clemson opened as a 12-point betting favorite against Duke in most major sportsbooks, and that point spread has held up. The Tigers remain a consensus 12.5-point betting favorite, per The Action Network. The game’s over/under is 56 points.
CLEMSON VS. DUKE LAST MEETING, TRENDS
Clemson has won five straight games against conference opponent Duke and most recently beat the Blue Devils 35-6 in a 2018 game played in Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers are 37-16-1 all-time against the Blue Devils. Clemson and Duke only played five times in 17 years from 2005-22 since the former was in the ACC Atlantic Division and the latter was in the ACC Coastal Division. (The league is divisionless starting this season.)
STATE OF THE CLEMSON TIGERS
After missing out on an ACC championship and College Football Playoff spot in 2021, Clemson got halfway there last fall in winning its seventh league title in eight seasons. The Tigers were in contention for a CFP spot before losing their regular-season finale against rival South Carolina.
Coming off an 11-3 season and Orange Bowl loss to Tennessee, the Tigers haven’t been shy about their national championship goals. Swinney made arguably the splashiest assistant coach hire of the offseason in poaching offensive coordinator Garrett Riley away from TCU to get the Tigers’ offense back on track.
Oct 22, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard (13) runs with the football during the fourth quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard (13) runs with the football during the fourth quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Sam Navarro Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
STATE OF THE DUKE BLUE DEVILS
The Blue Devils were widely expected to be one of the ACC’s worst teams in 2022, but they went 8-4 in the regular season and won five ACC games under first-year coach Mike Elko to finish tied for second in the Coastal Division.
Duke also beat UCF in the Military Bowl to secure its first nine-win season since 2014 and ACC Football Coach of the Year honors for Elko, the former Texas A&M defensive coordinator who succeeded longtime coach David Cutcliffe.
CLEMSON VS. DUKE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik: After spending almost a year on the bench, Klubnik showed flashes of greatness in the ACC championship game and Orange Bowl. Now, the country’s former No. 1 QB recruit is the undisputed guy for the Tigers.
Clemson LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.: Trotter, the son of an NFL All-Pro linebacker, is already drawing 2024 draft buzz. The preseason AP All-American led Clemson in total tackles (92) and tackles for loss (13.5) in 2022 and tied for the lead in sacks.
Duke QB Riley Leonard: Duke will need a huge big from Leonard, a junior, to hang with Clemson. He’s one of only three returning FBS quarterbacks who had at least 20 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns last season.
Duke DT DeWayne Carter: Carter is a big-bodied, veteran defensive tackle who could give the Tigers some issues. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound fifth-year senior enters 2023 with career totals of 21.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and seven forced fumbles.