Queens (NC) vs Clemson Odds
| Queens Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total Points | Moneyline |
+20.5 -110 | 156.5 -110o / -110u | OFF |
| Clemson Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total Points | Moneyline |
-20.5 -110 | 156.5 -110o / -110u | OFF |
The Clemson Tigers are one of college basketball's pleasant surprises so far. They didn't start the season ranked, but beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa opened the national audience's eyes.
On Friday, the Tigers will face an upstart program in Queens (NC), which dominated the D-II level for nearly a decade before jumping to the highest level of basketball.
Here's NCAAB odds and a pick for Queens vs Clemson.
Queens Royals
Queens is one of the newer D-I programs, coming over from the D-II level last season. The Royals won 18 games in its first D-I season, but the start of this year hasn't been as smooth.
Grant Leonard's offense is 3-point-shooting heavy, as it's attempting 3s on over 42% of possessions. It's only connecting on only 30% of those looks, though. Live by the three, die by the three. That's the motto of Queens basketball.
Guards AJ McKee and Deyton Albury guide the Royals' offensive attack. Albury is the guiding force of Queens' offense, averaging 15.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per contest.
The two guards must step up even more against Clemson in Littlejohn Coliseum. If we've learned anything about unlikely upsets in college basketball, top players need to play like top players.
Queens will have issues slowing down Clemson's 2-point shooting offense. The Royals offer little resistance protecting the rim, allowing 56% of opponents' field goals to fall (ranking 336th nationally). Clemson's big bruisers will look to make their money inside the arc.
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Clemson Tigers
Clemson took its first loss of the year on Saturday against Memphis. The Tigers hope to get back on the winning track heading into the Christmas break and ACC play.
The Tigers' offense presents a difficult matchup for Queens, given the unit's ability to work inside and out. Once the Tigers establish PJ Hall — who looks like a true National Player of the Year contender — teams focus on defending the paint. That's when shooters like Joe Girard III find clean outside looks.
I could see Hall exploding for 25+ points fairly easily, unless Queens just tosses so many bodies his way to the point that he's finding open teammates each possession.
Chase Hunter is one guy who could make Clemson even better if he gets rolling. The super senior guard shows flashes of dominance, but he's shooting only 37% from the floor and 31% from deep. The Tigers are winning in spite of Hunter's offensive struggles.
Clemson hasn't faced a cupcake non-conference schedule like some high-major schools, as it's played only one team outside of KenPom's top 175 so far.
The Tigers will face a struggling program in Queens, so it should be a relatively easy game.
Queens vs. Clemson
Betting Pick & Prediction
Considering Queens' profile is about making perimeter jumpers, it's easy to see this game turning into a negative quickly.
Some positive regression is in the works, but it's tough to envision it against Clemson's stout defense.
Queens' defense is already poor, so I can't see the high-functioning Clemson offense helping the cause much. The Royals will need BJ McLaurin to step up on the defensive end, as he's the only reliable post option on the roster.
This feels like a complete Clemson rout.
Pick: Clemson -22
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