West Virginia vs. Clemson: Grit and Grind Matchup

Friday hoops are here, and we have a matchup that sets the tone for the night. West Virginia and Clemson square off in an ACC versus Big 12 battle filled with defensive intensity. This is the type of game that makes you lock in from the opening tip. Both teams pride themselves on physical play, slow tempo, and making every possession feel like a fistfight in a phone booth. It is not flashy or built for highlight seekers. It is for fans who love toughness, lock down defense, and low scoring battles. If you enjoy rock fights, settle in. This one will grind.

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West Virginia vs. Clemson Odds

Can Clemson handle Ross Hodge and the Mountaineers?

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.

Spread

West Virginia: +3.5 (-102)

Clemson: -3.5 (-120)

Total

Over: 133.5 (-110)

Under: 133.5 (-110)

Moneyline

West Virginia: +168

Clemson: -205

West Virginia vs. Clemson Best Bet

You made it! It is finally Friday and you get to take a load off and enjoy this ACC versus Big 12 clash between West Virginia and Clemson. This marks the Mountaineers first game away from home, while this will be just a short trip to Charleston for the Tigers as this game will be at TD Arena. This has the potential to be one of the more intriguing games on Friday. Both teams play similar styles, slow with lock down defense. We may not see anyone score 60 points, and that is exactly what we want in this matchup. Bricks.

Despite West Virginias total against Lafayette going over the other day, marking the first over under Ross Hodge, I am still going to ride this out a little longer. This should be another great spot for points to be at a premium, with both teams bringing very similar styles. With this being at a neutral site in Charleston, we should expect a rock fight from start to finish.

TEMPO TEMPO TEMPO

For starters, these are two bottom 20 teams in pace. So regardless of who dictates the pace of play, it will be as slow as your parents getting downstairs on Christmas morning.

On top of that, both teams are top 25 in defense. West Virginia, through five games, owns the 14th best defense, per Bart Torvik. They excel at forcing turnovers and attacking the glass. The Mountaineers are also the 20th best team in the country at defending the interior.

On the other side, Clemson has nearly the same defensive identity. They are currently sixth in eFG% defense, 77th in defensive rebounding, 24th in three point defense, and 33rd in two point defense. Two teams that have been suffocating the life out of their opponents.

Through the combined 10 games these two teams have played, they have allowed only one team to cross the 70 point mark. Clemson allowed Georgetown to score 79 in a 79 to 74 loss this past Saturday. Meanwhile, West Virginia has yet to allow a team to score over 65 points. Campbell was the only team to reach that mark.

Neutral Arena Impact

This will be West Virginias first game away from Morgantown, so it will be interesting to see how their offense responds. Clemsons lone loss to Georgetown was their first road test of the season. With this being at a neutral site, shooting could be impacted by an unfamiliar gym. Add in two suffocating defenses, and points will be at an all time premium.

All signs point toward a physical, defensive battle from start to finish. West Virginia and Clemson bring nearly identical identities, and neither side is built for a free flowing shootout. A neutral court, two elite defenses, and two slow paced teams create the exact environment we want in a game like this. Every possession will matter, every miss will feel bigger than the last, and points will come at a premium all night long. If you enjoy toughness and grind it out basketball, this matchup delivers exactly that. Expect a long night of stops, pressure, and very limited scoring.