Clemson vs. Florida State Recap: Hauser's Five FGs Lift Clemson

Clemson beat Florida State 36-24 on the road. Florida State outgained Clemson 415 to 351, but it turned the ball over four times and converted just 1 of 10 third downs. Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser made all five of his field goals, including a 50-yarder at the end of the first half, and Clemson led 29-10 early in the fourth quarter. Florida State scored twice to cut it to 29-24 before Tait Reynolds broke a 79-yard touchdown run to put it away. Three DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

ALT: Clemson +6.5 (-118 FanDuel / -119 DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Clemson had covered +6.5 in 8 of its last 10 games, including 6 of 7 on the road, and Florida State had failed to win by 7 or more in 6 of its last 10. The main line sat around Clemson +5.5 or +6, so the alt bought an extra half point. - What happened: Clemson won outright by 12, which put this 18.5 points clear of the line. The only nervous stretch came after Jasen Lopez caught a 41-yard touchdown with 5:30 left to make it 29-24. Reynolds answered with the 79-yard run a little more than two minutes later. - Worth watching: Plus points on a road team that keeps games close is an angle we will keep checking. The extra half point did not matter here, but on a team that keeps games tight it is often worth asking for.

ALT: Clemson over 14.5 team points (-350 DraftKings / -390 FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Clemson had cleared 14.5 in 8 of its last 10. With Florida State -6 and a 49.5 total, the market implied about 22 points for Clemson. - What happened: Clemson scored 36. It moved past the line before halftime when Reynolds hit Olsen Patt-Henry for a 4-yard touchdown at 1:38 of the second quarter, making it 20-10. Hauser's five field goals did most of the rest, and the Tigers finished 21.5 points over. - Worth watching: Reynolds threw for 189 yards and two scores and ran for 85, and Clemson did not turn it over. A low team total against a market-implied number in the low 20s gives a lot of cushion.

ALT: Florida State over 20.5 team points (-390 DraftKings / -410 FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Florida State had scored 21+ in each of its last 8 home games and 8 of its last 10 overall, averaging 28.7. The market implied about 27.8. - What happened: This one took a while. Florida State sat at 10 points entering the fourth quarter. Ashton Daniels ran in a 13-yard touchdown and hit Desirrio Riles for the two-point conversion at 8:52, then found Lopez for 41 yards at 5:30 to push the Seminoles to 24, 3.5 over the line. Daniels threw for 350 yards, and Micahi Danzy had 108 receiving yards and a 46-yard score. - Worth watching: Florida State moved the ball through the air all night. Turnovers ended four of its drives, so a team total near the market number can feel close even when the offense is producing yards.

How the game played out

Florida State's four giveaways were three Daniels interceptions and a lost fumble. Elliot Washington II had two of the interceptions, and an interception also ended Florida State's final drive. Clemson only went 4 of 17 on third down, but it kept getting into field goal range.

Trends to watch

• Hauser made field goals from 35, 35, 50, 46 and 49 yards. A kicker with that range can keep a Clemson team total alive even when drives stall.
• Daniels threw 33 passes for 350 yards while Florida State ran for just 65 yards as a team. This offense leans on the pass.
• Reynolds ran 14 times for 85 yards on top of his passing. His legs give Clemson another way to score when drives bog down.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. For more on these bets, see our explainers on the alt line and the point spread, or visit the college football hub.