Dexter Lawrence News Hasn’t Had A Major Impact On Clemson Football’s Betting Line vs. Notre Dame

CLEMSON, SC – OCTOBER 03: (L-R) Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers talks to head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Clemson football is very likely to be shorthanded when it faces Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon, after news that superstar defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence failed a drug test ahead of the game.

Lawrence was one of three Tigers players—and the only significant contributor of the trio—to test positive for the banned substance ostarine.

The three players are having their B samples tested, and will try to appeal the decision.

It doesn’t sound like there’s much hope for getting him back by Saturday though.

Clemson coaches are treating the week as if Lawrence is an injured player. An NCAA insider told Yahoo Sports that the chances of Lawrence going on Saturday are “slim and none” and a “virtual impossibility” given the usual timetable.

The Dexter Lawrence news hasn’t had a major impact on the betting line for Clemson football vs. Notre Dame, though.

We could still see a swing ahead of the game, with a few days to go.

For now, though, things are holding firm. Clemson opened as a 10.5-point favorite, and jumped up to Clemson -12.5.

Things have gotten as high as Clemson -13 or -14 at some sportsbooks, but -12.5 looks like the standard line as of now.

Per OddsShark, 60-percent of the action has come in on Notre Dame’s side.

OddsShark

We’ll update if there is a big shift as more comes out about Lawrence’s status. He would be a major loss for the Tigers, but with the rest of the dominant defensive line in place, it is hard to know just how many points he’s worth.

[OddsShark]