Clemson vs. SMU live stream, where to watch, TV channel, ACC Championship Game odds, pick

No. 17 Clemson and No. 8 SMU are set to face off Saturday night inside Charlotte, North Carolina’s Financial institution of America Stadium with an ACC title on the road. Although they now share the ACC, this would be the first-ever between two of faculty soccer’s most storied applications. 

It has been fairly the ACC debut for the Mustangs, who’re certainly one of 5 FBS colleges to make their convention’s championship sport of their inaugural yr with stated convention. SMU can be the primary crew in FBS historical past to make a title sport in an influence convention after being in a Group of 5 convention the yr prior. 

Clemson is again within the ACC highlight for the primary time since 2022 and simply the second time since 2020. This after Clemson gained six straight ACC titles from 2015-20. The Tigers additionally claimed two nationwide championships in that span whereas establishing a powerful fashionable dynasty. 

Saturday is one other alternative for Tigers coach Dabo Swinney, who has come underneath elevated scrutiny lately, to show that his program — and philosophy — are nonetheless able to battle it out on the high of the game. The Tigers are 3-7 of their final 10 video games in opposition to AP-ranked opponents, together with an 0-2 exhibiting in opposition to ranked groups in 2024. 

Observe alongside LIVE as Clemson and SMU battle for the ACC Championship.

How one can watch Clemson vs. SMU stay

Date: Saturday, Dec. 7 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Financial institution of America Stadium — Charlotte, North Carolina
TV: ABC | Reside stream: fubo (Strive at no cost)

Clemson vs. SMU: Must know

Main School Soccer Playoff implications: Because of an expanded School Soccer Playoff area, there’s an entire lot greater than ACC glory on the road Saturday. Clemson completely must win the ACC title to make it into the playoff and certain steal a bid from one other league. Even then, there’s the potential that the Tigers don’t get a first-round bye, since they presently rank behind the potential SEC, Huge Ten, Huge 12 and Mountain West Convention champions. 

SMU, in the meantime, is in respectable standing no matter what occurs, however a loss would put its destiny totally within the fingers of the School Soccer Playoff Choice Committee. The Mustangs must hope that, with 11 wins, they’ve already performed sufficient to make the minimize. If the committee is to be believed, when it stated that convention championship losses would not harm playoff-caliber groups an excessive amount of, then SMU ought to really feel good. 

SMU having fun with breakout season: This has been one of the prolific years in SMU’s storied historical past. The Mustangs are certainly one of simply two FBS colleges, with Oregon, to go undefeated in convention play of their first yr with a convention. SMU and the Geese are additionally the primary applications to attain that feat since Florida State in 1992. SMU additionally has a possibility to grow to be the third FBS program to win back-to-back championships in several conferences, one thing that hasn’t been achieved since Texas gained the Southwest in 1995 and the Huge 12 in 1996. SMU additionally gained 11 video games in consecutive seasons for the primary time in program historical past and — if it will get a twelfth win — would match a faculty document set in 1935. SMU’s 18-game win streak in opposition to convention opponents is the longest such lively streak within the FBS.   

Clemson protection struggling: “Struggling” is a relative time period, given how good Clemson has been on protection underneath Dabo Swinney. The Tigers are permitting 21.6 factors per sport this season, which is respectable sufficient by itself, however it’s additionally probably the most they’ve allowed in a single season since 2015. Clemson is giving up 357.2 yards per sport — its most since 2012 — and the Tigers have struggled notably in opposition to the frenzy with opponents averaging 150.3 yards on the bottom per sport. That is probably the most Clemson has allowed in 11 years. Once more, these aren’t horrible numbers on their very own, however they’re a far cry from what we’re used to with Clemson. 

Clemson vs. SMU prediction, picks

This will likely be, arguably, the most important check that SMU has confronted all season — no less than since its loss to BYU in Week 2. That being stated, Clemson has some apparent shortcomings this yr. As outlined above, its protection is not fairly as much as its regular elite commonplace and, although the Tigers have proven a capability to place factors on the board this yr, their offense is totally too inconsistent to rely on. The Mustangs have been a dominant pressure for a majority of the yr, and I anticipate them to maintain issues rolling on this sport. It will likely be an in depth, hard-fought battle, however SMU triumphs in the long run. Decide: SMU -2 (-135)

SportsLine’s confirmed laptop mannequin is asking for 3 outright upsets throughout faculty soccer’s championship week. Go to SportsLine now to see all of them, plus get unfold picks for each sport from the mannequin that simulates each matchup 10,000 occasions.