Clemson and the bookies

Never totally understood the people who assailed newspapers for publishing the betting lines because such a practice allegedly promotes gambling.

The supposition ignores a monstrous segment of the population (including yours truly) that gambles rarely, if ever, but still pays close attention to the betting lines.

It makes things compelling. Such as last week, when LSU was a 10-point underdog at home, at night. That presented quite the "wow" factor all week.

It's also fun sometimes to know that the gamblers are pulling their ever-living hair out as a result of crazy momentum swings in games.

Such as:

Clemson's game at Florida State. Noles go in as 14-point favorites, which seems like a lot. The people who took Clemson are up four touchdowns when Clemson takes a 28-14 lead in the third quarter. Then FSU completely overwhelms Clemson and is up 49-31, and there appears to be no way Clemson can cover ... until Clemson does cover by scoring the dreaded/delightful late touchdown for -- and I think this term is Cris' favorite in the English language -- the back door cover.

How about the Georgia Tech game? Clemson was an 11-point favorite, which seemed like a lot to me. And it definitely seemed like a lot when Georgia Tech, up 28-27 early in the third quarter, intercepted a Clemson pass deep in Clemson territory. At that point Clemson seemed a long shot to win straight-up, let alone cover. And then Clemson wins by 16.

Those two examples could serve as exhibits A and B for why it's stupid to gamble. But dang is it fun to follow.

A storyline this week is the gargantuan spread in the Maryland game. Started at 27 and is now up to 31.5.

How often have the Tigers been such a pronounced favorite in ACC play? If you're a pack rat and have saved every single Phil Steele preseason preview from the last 10 years, that information is readily accessible.

Dating to 2000, here are the times Clemson has been favored by two touchdowns or more:

2011
Boston College, -21, 36-14 win
Wake Forest, -16, 31-28 win

2010
Maryland, -14, 31-7 win
at Wake Forest, -14, 30-10 win

2009
Virginia, -21, 34-21 win

2008
N.C. State, -20, 27-9 win

2007
at Duke, -16, 47-10 win

2006
North Carolina, -16, 52-7 win
at Wake Forest, -16, 27-17 win
Maryland, -19, 13-12 loss
N.C. State, -18, 20-14 win

2005
Duke, -30, 49-20 win

2003
Duke, -14, 40-7 win

2001
Duke, -27, 59-31 win

2000
Wake Forest, -33, 55-7 win
at Duke, -37, 52-22 win
N.C. State, -21, 34-27 win
Maryland, -31, 35-14 win
at North Carolina, -19, 38-24 win

LW