Call it a homer play, call it whatever. I am a Clemson guy.
That said, there are some reasons why betting Clemson is very good in this spot. 5 1/2 points is a lot, and that line will probably continue to move upward as people pound the homestanding Wolfpack.
Looking at Clemson's 5 games this year will show you something. Close wins over Texas A&M and Maryland, followed by overtime losses to BC and Miami. The Wake Forest game is a bit of an abhoration, as the Tigers always struggle against Wake Forest.
In my opinion, Clemson is the better team in this game. They won't be shaken by a big, rowdy crowd and have racked up some nice primetime wins over the past few years.
Clemson beat NCST last season with a team that is not nearly as good as this one. Should Clemson not win, I see no reason why NCST will be the first team to blow Clemson out. Solid defense plus the strong Clemson running game will keep the Tigers in this one, especially with the leadership of Charlie Whitehurst, who has been rock solid this season.
I look for this to go down to the wire. NC State has a good defense but an offense that relies on backyard plays and gimmicks. Tigers with an extra week to prepare won't be easily fooled.