Lane Kiffin makes his highly anticipated LSU Tigers debut on Saturday, Sept. 5, against another Tigers team in Clemson. Both squads are coming off 7-6 seasons a year ago, and LSU beat Clemson 17-10 in Week 1 last year. Kiffin left Ole Miss ahead of the College Football Playoff to accept the head coaching opening at LSU after Brian Kelly was fired, and that came after leading the Rebels to an 11-1 regular season mark. Both teams were ranked in the top 10 of the preseason poll a year ago before going 7-6. We have some insight on the trading markets available for LSU vs. Clemson at the best prediction market apps, Kalshi and Polymarket, for fans who want to jump on prediction market bonus offers for new users. Click here to get started trading on college football at Kalshi with the promo code CBSSPORTS:
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Clemson vs. LSU prediction markets
- LSU to win: $0.78 (Kalshi)
- Clemson to win: $0.23 (Kalshi)
- LSU to win by more than 10.5 points: Yes 46%, No 55% (Polymarket)
- More than 49.5 points: Yes 53%, No 49% (Polymarket)
LSU to win: $0.78 (Kalshi)
After taking a formerly middling Ole Miss team to new heights, Kiffin takes over what has been one of the SEC's more notable programs. The Tigers won the 2019 national title under Ed Orgeron then replaced him with Brian Kelly after two down seasons. LSU went 7-6 in 2025 after consecutive 10-win, top-25 seasons before a 9-4 campaign in 2024, so Kiffin will be tasked with getting the Tigers back in the national conversation. Kiffin's Ole Miss offense was second in the nation in total yardage (490 per game) and scoring (37 points per contest). Now Kiffin has former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt leading a transfer class loaded with talented players like receivers Jayce Brown (Kansas State), Tre Brown (Old Dominion) and Jackson Harris (Hawaii). Baton Rouge also is one of the toughest places in the nation to play, and the LSU defense allowed less than 20 points per game last season.
LSU went 6-1 at home in 2025, and a Tigers victory over Clemson is trading at $0.78 at Kalshi.
Clemson to win: $0.23 (Kalshi)
Swinney has been one of the nation's premier coaches over the past decade at Clemson, but the NIL/transfer portal era has changed things. The Tigers reached at least the CFP semifinal every year from 2015-2020, winning two national titles and losing in the championship game twice. Clemson lost in the CFP first round in 2024 and comes off a 7-6 season. It has lost at least three games five times over the past six years. Last season, Clemson was ranked No. 4 in the preseason AP poll. Christopher Vizzina is expected to step in at QB to run an offense that averaged just 392 yards and 27 points per game. Elite recruit Naeem Burroughs joins a receiver corp with TJ Moore and Bryant Wesco, who combined for 83 catches in 2025.
Clemson was 3-4 at home but 4-1 on the road last season, and a Tigers win is priced at $0.23 at Kalshi.
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LSU to win by more than 10.5 points: Yes 46%, No 55% (Polymarket)
Clemson has struggled in its past three season openers and lost to LSU 17-10 at home to kick off last season. In 2024, No. 1 Georgia beat the Tigers 34-3, and Duke stunned them 28-7 to kick off the 2023 season. However, LSU's victory last season was its first to open the season since 2019, when Joe Burrow led the Tigers to the national title. Only two of those six season-opening losses came against ranked teams. LSU has the firepower to score big, but Clemson's defense will be a good test, and sharpness is a concern -- especially on offense -- in the season kickoff games.
LSU to win by 11 points or more has a 46% probability at Polymarket, and shares on Clemson to lose by 10 points or fewer is at 55%.
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More than 49.5 points: Yes 53%, No 49% (Polymarket)
Both teams have the potential to score points with talent at the skill positions, but they might get off to a slow start and Vizzina has just one college start under his belt. He did throw for 317 yards and three scores in a 35-24 loss to SMU last season. Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards and 24 TDs in 2024, but last season was cut short as he threw for 1,628 and 19 scores in seven games. The LSU run game averaged just 104 yards per game in 2025, but the offensive line has been upgraded, and Caden Durham and Harlem Berry return after combining for 996 rushing yards. The Tigers were 6-0 when they topped 100 rushing yards. SMU transfer Chris Johnson, who ran for 479 yards (7.1 per carry) in 2025, joins Gideon Davidson (260 yards) in the Clemson backfield. The Tigers averaged 124.5 rushing yards, 11th in the ACC.
These teams to combine for 50 points or more has a 53% probability at Polymarket, while 49 points or fewer is trading at a 49% probability.
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