No. 13 Auburn vs. No. 3 Clemson College Football Preview

No. 13 Auburn visits No. 3 Clemson, the defending National Champions, in a nationally televised affair between the SEC and the ACC.

When: Saturday, September 9, 7:00 PM ET

Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina

The Auburn Tigers opened the season with an easy 41-7 win over the Georgia Southern Eagles last Saturday while the Clemson Tigers rolled past the Kent State Golden Flashes 56-3.

Head-to-Head
Auburn leads the all-time series 33-14-2 but Clemson has won the last three meetings, including a 19-13 road win on September 3, 2016, when Deshaun Watson passed for 248 total yards, including 174 to Mike Williams, who caught nine passes. Wayne Gallman finished with 30 carries for 123 rushing yards and one touchdown while Sean White completed 10 of 21 passes for 140 total yards and one interception.

Auburn Tigers
Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham completed 14 of 24 passes for 185 total yards with two touchdowns and an interception against Georgia Southern. He also rushed for 17 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Kam Martin finished with 136 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Auburn had 351 rushing yards in the win and Will Hastings led the team with four receptions for 68 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Clemson Tigers
Clemson jumped to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, piling up 665 yards of total offense while holding Kent State to just 120 yards.

Kelly Bryant completed 16 of 22 passes for 236 total yards with a touchdown and an interception while rushing for 77 yards and a touchdown on the ground and Travis Etienne led Clemson with eight carries for 81 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Tigers finished the game with 353 rushing yards.

Game Trends
Auburn is 0-1 ATS this season, 4-6 ATS as an underdog over the last 3 seasons, 5-3 ATS in road games over the last 3 seasons, 8-10 ATS when playing with six or less days rest, 3-6 ATS in September games and 5-6 ATS in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.

Clemson is 1-0 ATS this season, 8-6 ATS in home games over the last 3 seasons, 12-13 ATS as a favorite over the last 3 seasons, 3-1 in a home game where the total is between 49.5 and 56, 3-2 ATS against SEC opponents over the last 3 seasons, 16-10 ATS in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons and 9-4 ATS in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.

The total has gone Under in five of Clemson's last six games against Auburn and in Auburn's last six games.

Final Prediction
Auburn and Clemson are coming off easy wins in Week 1 and this promises to be an exciting, hard-hitting, evenly matched game with plenty of players looking to make a name for themselves. Auburn will come out hungry, looking to beat the defending champions to avenge last season's loss while Clemson wants to prove that they can defend their national championship without Deshaun Watson, Mike Williams and Wayne Gallman.

Visiting Death Valley is always tough but I'm taking Auburn to cover the 5 points. If you trust my two senses review YouWager as they will be offering odds all season long and get ready to place some action. I don't see them beating Clemson on the road but the game will be close.

Last year's meeting was relatively tight and Auburn is a better team this season. Also keep in mind that running back Kamryn Pettway was a coach's decision to sit out last week but he'll be fresh and ready to go against Clemson and he can be a difference-maker.