BETTING BLOG: Clemson vs. LSU

The culmination of the college football season is here.

Defending national champion Clemson (14-0) meets Southeastern Conference juggernaut Louisiana State (14-0) in the College Football Playoff title game at 5 p.m. PST Monday in New Orleans.

LSU is a consensus 5-point favorite with a total of 66½.

Refresh this blog throughout the game to track player props, movement on the live betting line, halftime bets and much more.

UPDATES

9:14 p.m.: FINAL: LSU 42, Clemson 25. LSU pulls away and covers as a 5-point favorite (-185 on the money line). Total goes over the closing number of 66½, but stayed under for many who got it at 69½ to 67½. Thanks for reading. We’ll be back Sunday for the NFL conference championship games.

9:10 p.m.: Second-half winners: LSU pick, total under 34½.

9:07 p.m.: Clemson was on the move, but Lawrence fumbles on a run, and that may be that for those sweating the total. LSU ball with 3:53 to play.

9:02 p.m.: Clemson gets the ball back with 4:46 to play, and just about the only drama involves those who were involved with the total before it ticked down. Live spread of LSU -16½ (-160) basically a prop on whether you think Clemson will score.

8:51 p.m.: Late over bettors who got the best of the number at 66½ have cashed. Others need one more score. Early under bettors trying to hang on.

8:48 p.m.: Clemson has to punt, and LSU is on the cusp of the championship. Money line is off the board at William Hill. Spread is up as -16½ (-150), total 74½ (under -125).

8:40 p.m.: Marshall was -110 to score a TD. Largest lead of the game over 16½ cashes (-125 odds). Burrow has sailed over his yardage prop (354½) with 442 so far. Was already over 3½ TD passes (5 now, -135 odds). Also over 27½ completions (29).

8:38 p.m.: That might do it. Terrance Marshall Jr. catches a 24-yard TD pass, and LSU leads 42-25 with 12:08 to go.

8:32 p.m.: End of the third quarter: LSU 35, Clemson 25. LSU now -1,200 on the live line (Clemson +700), spread -10½ (-105), total 77½ (under -140).

8:28 p.m.: Clemson can’t do anything and punts again. LSU now -800 on the live line (Clemson +525).

8:26 p.m.: LSU misses a field goal (after missing an open TD pass), and Clemson stays within 10.

8:21 p.m.: LSU forces a punt and has a chance to really take control here, up 35-25 with 3:36 left in the third quarter.

8:12 p.m.: Thaddeus Moss catches a 4-yard TD that holds up on review, and LSU is back ahead 35-25 with 5:13 left in the third quarter. LSU rises to -400 on the live line (Clemson +300 to come back), spread -9½ (-120), total 81½ (under -125).

8:05 p.m.: If Burrow’s rib is broken, those designed runs can’t be fun.

8 p.m.: LSU gets a stop and is back to -230 on the live line (Clemson +185), spread -3½ (-120), total 77½ (under -120).

7:54 p.m.: Realizing now that I jumped the gun on the Burrow rushing yards prop. Sack yards count against a college QB’s rushing total, so he’s down to 43 yards now from 55 at halftime. Still ahead of the prop number of 33½, but not a certainty.

7:52 p.m.: Clemson gets the ball right back and has a chance to take the lead. LSU now -175 on the money line (Clemson +145), spread -3½ (+110), total 80½.

7:45 p.m.: Etienne muscles into the end zone, Clemson converts a 2-point conversion, and the LSU lead is down to 28-25 very quickly in the third quarter. LSU now -230 on the live money line (Clemson +185), spread -4½ (-105), total 81½ (under -125).

7:40 p.m.: There were reports at halftime that Burrow has a broken rib, and he didn’t look very comfortable on that set of downs. LSU punts.

7:29 p.m.: Some decided props: Burrow longest completion over 54½ yards (had one for 56); Burrow over 33½ rushing yards (55 so far); Chase over 100½ receiving yards (162); will either team score three straight times (yes, -260); will there be a score in the final two minutes of the first half (yes, -250).

7:20 p.m.: My colleague Todd Dewey got the information on a bettor who won over $1 million over the weekend betting on the NFL. Todd says that same bettor has a bunch of bets on this game on Clemson with MGM Resorts sportsbooks. The bettor lost $220,000 on Clemson +3½ and $50,000 on Clemson money line +170 in the first half. The bettor has $220,000 on Clemson +5½ and $50,000 on Clemson money line +180 for the full game. Also has $110,000 on over 68½ for the game.

7:14 p.m.: Second-half line: LSU -0½, total 34½ at William Hill. LSU pick (-120), total 34½ at Westgate. LSU pick, total 34½ at Circa.

7:11 p.m.: HALFTIME: LSU 28, Clemson 17. First-half winners: LSU -3, total over 32½.

7:08 p.m.: Thaddeus Moss hauls in a 6-yard TD after Burrow scrambled into the red zone on the previous play. LSU, after being down 17-7, now leads 28-17 just before halftime.

7:03 p.m.: Bettors can get +8½ with Clemson now if they believe.

7:01 p.m.: Facing third-and-19, LSU is -230 on the live line (Clemson +185), spread -5½ (-125), total 74½.

6:58 p.m.: There’s been some beautiful punt coverage so far. Clemson pins LSU inside its 5.

6:48 p.m.: LSU goes in front for the first time on a 14-yard TD pass to Chase from Burrow. LSU leads 21-17 with 5:19 left in the second quarter. LSU now -250 on the live line (Clemson +200), spread -6½, total 78½.

6:40 p.m.: Clemson forced to punt. LSU now -150 on the live line (Clemson +120), spread -2½ (-125), total 72½.

6:32 p.m.: This is the game people expected. Burrow takes it in himself from 3 yards out, and LSU cuts the Clemson lead to 17-14 with 9:17 left in the second quarter. LSU is -150 on the live line (Clemson +120), spread -2½ (-125), total 74½.

6:23 p.m.: Wow. Receiver Tee Higgins powers into the end zone from 36 yards out on a reverse to give Clemson a 17-7 lead with 10:38 left in the second quarter. Clemson solidly favored now, as you would expect, at -150 on the live line (LSU +120), spread -2½ (-140), total 68½ (over -125).

6:18 p.m.: LSU punts but pins Clemson inside its 5. LSU still -150 on the live line, spread -2½ (-125), total 62½. A lot of punts, but the drives have been fast. Still a lot of time, keeping the total where it is.

6:10 p.m.: B.T. Potter hits a career-long 52-yard field goal to put Clemson back on top 10-7. LSU a -150 favorite on the live line (Clemson +120), spread -2½ (-125), total 65½ (under -120).

6:05 p.m.: End of the first quarter: LSU 7, Clemson 7. First-quarter winners: Clemson +½ (-120), total under 14½ (-135 odds).

6:02 p.m.: Chase will score a TD cashes at -180. Longest TD prop was listed at 62½, so that didn’t get it.

5:59 p.m.: There’s the LSU offense. Ja’Marr Chase catches a 52-yard TD pass from Joe Burrow to tie the game at 7. LSU back to a solid favorite at -175 on the live line (Clemson +145), spread 3½, total 65½.

5:56 p.m.: Clemson misses a chance to really take control and has to punt. LSU now slightly favored again at -120 on the live line (Clemson -110), total 59½.

5:52 p.m.: LSU has to punt again, and we have a new favorite to win the game. Clemson now -125 on the live line, spread 1½, total 59½.

5:49 p.m.: First score will be a touchdown cashes at -300. Etienne just missed a TD. The prop on whether he would score was Yes -425.

5:46 p.m.: LSU is still the favorite on the live line at -120 (Clemson -110), total 62½. Lawrence was 14-1 at the Westgate to score the first TD, 12-1 at Circa.

5:45 p.m.: Finally, some offense. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence runs in from 1 yard out, and Clemson leads 7-0 with 6:34 left in the first quarter.

5:40 p.m.: Line adjusting before Clemson drive. LSU -190 money line, 3½ (-120) spread, 56½ (under -125) total.

5:38 p.m.: The defenses have come to play. Another three-and-out for LSU, but a good punt puts the ball back in Clemson territory. LSU holding steady at -230 on the live line (Clemson +185), spread 4½, total 59½.

5:33 p.m.: A third straight punt to start the game, but LSU is again pinned inside the 5. LSU -230 on the live line (Clemson +185), spread 4½, total 60½.

5:30 p.m.: Clemson forces a quick three-and-out and has the ball in LSU territory.

5:24 p.m.: Clemson drives into LSU territory but ends up punting. LSU -230 on the live money line (was -185 pregame), -6½ spread, total 61½.

5:18 p.m.: And away we go. Clemson receives the kickoff.

5:06 p.m.: Player props available on South Point app minutes ago: Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence passing yards 297½; Clemson running back Travis Etienne rushing yards 95½ (over -120); LSU quarterback Joe Burrow passing yards 354½; LSU receiver Justin Jefferson receiving yards 98½ (over -120). We’ll track those and many more general props throughout the game.

4:58 p.m.: We are closing in on kickoff. LSU is mostly -4½ around the market. Station Casinos is at 4 now. Westgate went to 4 then went back to 4½.