Cincinnati vs Clemson Odds & Best Bets | College Basketball

Projected to be a contender in the Big 12 race this season, the Cincinnati Bearcats have had a tough start. Wednesday’s win over Alabama State ended a 2-game losing streak leaving UC at 7-4 ahead of their clash with the ACC’s Clemson Tigers. Clemson stopped its own 2-game skid with a pair of closer than expected wins improving to 9-3.

Cincinnati vs. Clemson Preview

The teams meet for just the fourth time when they tangle in the Greenville Winter Invitational on Sunday, December 21, 2025. The game tips at 3 p.m. ET from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC and will air on ESPN.

Public Betting Odds Factors

Prior to the start of the season the Bearcats were a top 40 team in the kenpom.com rankings. They had lost two straight and four of six before taking down Alabama State 88-51 on Wednesday night, covering the 21.5-point spread on the NCAA basketball odds for their first payout in 8 games.

Cincy got some relief with the return of last season’s leading scorer Jizzle James. Making his season debut Wednesday night, James scored 16 points in 20 minutes off the bench hitting 6 of 9 shots and 3 of 5 3-pointers. In 33 games last season James averaged 12.8 points.

The Bearcats have an All-Big 12 player in Baba Miller, who recorded his sixth double-double on Wednesday night. Miller made 11 of 12 from the field for 26 points and corralled 14 rebounds. He averages a double-double with 14.7 points and a Big 12 best 11.0 rebounds.

Last week’s 84-65 loss to Georgia in Atlanta dropped the Bearcats to 0-3 SU and ATS in road/neutral site games this season.

Clemson’s loss to BYU on Dec. 9 could have been more devastating than it was. The Tigers blew a 22-point second half lead and fell to the 10th ranked team in the country 67-64 getting outscored 45-20 over the final 18.5 minutes.

The Tigers snapped back, winning their next two games, though they failed to cover the 22.5-point spread in a 70-63 win over Mercer on Dec. 13 and in a 68-61 triumph over South Carolina as a 13-point favorite on the college basketball odds.

Shooting struggles have prevented Clemson from scoring more than 70 points in any of its last three games. As a team the Tigers rank in the bottom third of the ACC in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.

If not for RJ Godfrey things could be worse offensively for Clemson. Godfrey averages a team-best 11.4 points shooting 65 percent from the field.

Cincinnati vs. Clemson Predictions

Statistically both teams are better defensively allowing less than 66 points per game. And they’ve both struggled from behind the arc setting the stage for a low-scoring affair that plays below the total.

Having James in the lineup would’ve made a difference in the Xavier game and certainly in the upset loss to Eastern Michigan. He will be a difference maker for the Bearcats in this contest.

Cincinnati vs. Clemson Betting Tips

They have a winning record but Cincinnati has been a disaster at the betting window. They failed to cover the spread in 7 consecutive games before earning a payout on Wednesday. Overall they are just 3-8 ATS.

Clemson has a 2-game ATS losing streak and is 4-6 ATS in its last 10 games.

The OVER is 4-1 in Clemson’s five road/neutral site games.

Cincinnati has cashed the UNDER in two straight games and in four of the last five

Cincinnati vs. Clemson Head to Head and Key Stats

There is no recent history between the programs and very little overall. The teams have met just four times since the 1971-72 season with the last encounter more than 20 years ago. FWIW the Bearcats prevailed 79-56 taking a 3-1 series lead.