Clemson vs. Florida State picks, predictions: Week 4 college football odds, spread, lines

Expert picks and predictions for Clemson vs. Florida State in this Week 4 college football game

This weekend brings us an intriguing ACC conference matchup between what was expected to be the two teams in line for the league title, but one side is already at one loss and hoping to avoid falling to .500 as Clemson welcomes Florida State to Death Valley in college football's Week 4 action on Saturday.

That Clemson team dropped a surprise 28-7 decision at a then-unranked Duke in the season opener and is still looking for the right offensive combination in defense of its reigning ACC championship, and has a way to go before proving it belongs in the College Football Playoff, where the Tigers haven't been for two straight years.

Florida State very nearly dropped to 2-1 itself last weekend in a close one at Boston College, keeping it tighter than expected early on, weathering an injury scare involving quarterback Jordan Travis, and holding off a late BC rally that included a fumble return touchdown, escaping with a two-point win, nowhere near the 27.5 point spread the Seminoles went into Chestnut Hill as.

What do the experts think of this matchup? Let's see how the College Football Power Index computer prediction model projects the game.

Florida State vs. Clemson picks, predictions

Florida State vs. Clemson picks, predictions / USA Today Images

Florida State odds: The computers are siding with the Seminoles, who have the 57.3 percent chance to win outright in this road clash, according to the models that pick winners by simulating games 20,000 times.

Clemson odds: Conversely, the home side has a 42.7 percent chance to pull off the upset, according to the simulations.

Point spread: Oddsmakers forecast a close game as Florida State comes in the narrow 2.5 point favorites against Clemson, according to the lines at SI Sportsbook.

Florida State predictions: Last week's result saw the Seminoles fall 5 spots on the index's 133 football rankings to No. 10 nationally, based on projections that the team is 19.8 points better than an average opponent, forecasted to win 10.5 games and lose 2.1 games with a 41.6 percent chance to win the ACC, based on the simulations.

Clemson predictions: Up 3 spots this week, the Tigers moved to No. 17 on the computer rankings, expected to be 14.9 points better than an average opponent, forecasted to win 7.3 games, lose 4.6, and fell to 7th in the conference with a 4.6 percent shot to repeat as ACC champions.

Florida State vs. Clemson schedule

When: Sat., Sept. 23
Where: Clemson, S.C.
Time: 12 p.m. Eastern
TV: ABC network
Stream live: fuboTV (Try for free)

College Football Power Index

Football Power Index (FPI) college football rankings and computer prediction model are a measure of team strength that predicts a team’s future performance.

Rankings and scores predictions are based on 20,000 simulations of a team’s season and games, using a combination of key analytics, including scores to date, quality of opponents, team talent, recruiting, and a team’s schedule.

College football rankings

A closer look at the AP top 25

First-place votes in parentheses

1. Georgia (57)
2. Michigan (2)
3. Texas (3)
4. Florida State (1)
5. USC
6. Ohio State
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Notre Dame
10. Oregon
11. Utah
12. LSU
13. Alabama
14. Oregon State
15. Ole Miss
16. Oklahoma
17. North Carolina
18. Duke
19. Colorado
20. Miami
21. Washington State
22. UCLA
23. Tennessee
24. Iowa
25. Florida

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