With college football season on the horizon, ESPN Chalk's college football experts -- Phil Steele, "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris Fallica -- combine to give you betting previews of the top 25 teams, according to the ESPN College Football Rankings. They break down each team's strengths and weaknesses, along with season win total bets and national title odds.
Odds from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Aug. 28.
Clemson Tigers
National title odds: 30-1 (opened 20-1)
Season win total: 9.5
FPI win total projection: 9.6
Phil Steele
Strengths: Clemson is strong in the areas that I value the most. The Tigers have my No. 5 rated offensive line in the country with four starters back, including left tackle Mitch Hyatt. They also have the best defensive line in the country. The defense has allowed just 313 and 311 yards per game in the last two seasons, despite having just three and four starters back. This year, they have seven starters back on that side of the ball, so expect defensive dominance.
Weaknesses: Deshaun Watson was a special quarterback, but Clemson also loses 1,000-yard running back Wayne Gallman, top wide receiver Mike Williams and top tight end Jordan Leggett. The Tigers are fine at running back, but weaker in the other skill areas. Clemson has ranked just No. 100, 96, and 66 in my special teams rankings in the last three years and must replace their punter, top kick returner and long snapper, as well.
Over/under (9.5): Clemson has some tough road tests with Louisville, Virginia Tech and North Carolina State all away from home, and it has to host Florida State. With that said, it is the favorite in Vegas in every game this year, and at this price, Clemson can afford to lose games and still go over. Take the over.
National title odds (30-1): The common fan looks at quarterback, running back and receivers, as those are the easiest to grasp. With the Tigers losing all the key guys from those units, they go from national champs to 30-1. I put an emphasis on offensive line and defense, and Clemson is at the top in those areas. Five of the last seven national champs have had a first-year starting quarterback. This is a definite take.
"Stanford Steve" Coughlin
Over/under (9.5): There have only been two teams to repeat as national champions in the last 25 years of the sport. So, we shouldn't like the chances of Clemson, right? Well, maybe. The Tigers will have one of the nastiest defensive lines in all of the land, led by Christian Wilkins (12 tackles for loss), true sophomore Dexter Lawrence and Clelin Ferrell. Dabo also returns four starters on the offensive line, which includes two all-conference players. That unit helped the Tigers average over 39 points and 503 yards per game last year.
Now, everyone will want to know who the guy taking snaps at quarterback will be for the defending national champions, but that's why Dabo Swinney makes a lot of cash. He's paid to make those decisions, and you have to trust him. I also believe Dabo will keep this team hungry, despite coming off the 'ship. I think they can win the division, but I think they will do so by going under 9.5 wins.
Chris Fallica
Over/under (9.5): The last time Clemson won fewer than nine games was 2010. The defense is going to be lights out, and that's going to take a lot of pressure off the offense early on as they break in a new quarterback. I don't see the Tigers and that defense losing at home to Auburn in Week 2, so to finish 9-3, they would then need to lose three of games at Louisville, at Virginia Tech, at NC State, vs. FSU and at South Carolina. I have hard time thinking that will happen.
True, this team has won 26 games against FBS opponents in the last two years, and 11 of those have been by eight points or fewer (eight by six points or fewer). And it is noteworthy that that was with Deshaun Watson, so some will say the luck will run out on Clemson this year. However, the last six years are good enough of a track record for me. Despite the uncertainty at quarterback, I'm thinking another 10-win season is in the cards for the Tigers.
National title odds (30-1): It is highly unlikely that Clemson will repeat as national champs, but it very easily could be going for three titles in a row this year. There's a good chance Clemson is favored in every game this year, and by the time the FSU game rolls around, the quarterback situation should be settled. Despite the odds against a repeat, I am a little intrigued at 30-1.