Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Clemson Tigers

Quick read:

Clemson is the clear favorite, and for once, the spread doesn't feel like a trap. The Hokies are walking into a gauntlet with a body count that would make a horror movie director weep with envy. You don't need a crystal ball to see this one; you just need a functioning immune system and a willingness to admit that some teams are simply outmatched when their roster starts looking like a ghost town.

The writing is on the wall, and it's in a font size big enough to read from the parking lot. Virginia Tech's starting quarterback is in serious doubt, and their sophomore linebacker is out for the long term. When your signal caller is a question mark and your defense is missing its anchor, you're not playing football; you're playing a very expensive, very painful version of tag where one person is always 'it.' Clemson, meanwhile, is just trying to keep their own star player's death from derailing their week, which is a far more manageable problem.

The only real risk here is getting bored before the second quarter, or watching the line drift so far that you feel like you're picking up pennies in front of a steamroller. But if you can stomach the monotony of a blowout, this is as safe as it gets in a sport that prides itself on upsets. Just keep your expectations in check and your wallet in your pocket.