Clemson Tigers vs Texas Longhorns Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 12/21/2024

Game Time: 4:00 pm ET, Saturday, December 21, 2024

Venue:  Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX

Where to Watch:  TNT, MAX

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Clemson +11.5, Texas -11.5; Over/Under:  52 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Clemson +11.5, Texas -11.5; Over/Under:  51.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Clemson +11.5, Texas -11.5; Over/Under:  51.5 points

Clemson Tigers:  10-3 (7-1) (2nd place, ACC)

Texas Longhorns:  11-2 (7-1) (1st place, SEC)

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Clemson Tigers:  won their last game at a neutral site against the SMU Mustangs 34-31.

Texas Longhorns:  lost their last game at a neutral site against the Georgia Bulldogs 22-19 in overtime.

Clemson is entering this game with a 10-3 record overall and they have a 7-1 record in their conference games too. They are 5-2 in their home games, 4-0 in their road games, and they are also 1-1 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against SMU 34-31. Cade Klubnik was the starting QB and he completed 24/41 passes for 262 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Phil Mafah led the team in rushing yards with 28. Bryant Wesco Jr. led the receivers with 143 receiving yards on 8 receptions and 2 TDs. Avieon Terrell led the defense in that game with 9 solo tackles and 0 assisted tackles while T.J. Parker and Cade Denhoff each led the defense in sacks with 1. Khalil Barnes came away with the only interception for them in that one.

 

 

 

Texas is entering this game with an 11-2 record overall and they have a 7-1 record in their conference games too. They are 6-1 in their home games, 4-0 in their road games, and they are also 1-1 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They lost their last game against Georgia 22-19 in OT. Quinn Ewers was the starting QB and he completed 27/46 passes for 358 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Quintrevion Wisner led the team in rushing yards with 51. Matthew Golden led the receivers with 162 receiving yards on 8 receptions. Andrew Mukuba led the defense in that game with 10 solo tackles and 1 assisted tackle while Michael Taaffe, Trey Moore, and Colin Simmons each led the defense in sacks with 1. Jahdae Barron came away with the only interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have Texas listed as an 11.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Texas has looked really good in their games this season with their 11-2 record overall and their 7-1 conference record which has them right near the top of the SEC. They finished the regular season with the best record in the SEC with it only being their first ever season in the conference, but they also went to the SEC Championship game and lost to Georgia. Both of their losses this season were against Georgia and even though they were embarrassed by them at home earlier this season, they looked a lot better in that SEC Championship game, losing by 3 points in OT at a neutral site. Meanwhile, Clemson has looked good in their games this season with their 10-3 record overall and their 7-1 conference record which has them right near the top of the ACC. They put together a great season and ended up going to the ACC Championship, beating SMU in it, but they were also fortunate to be there as they needed a loss from Miami in that final game of the season which they got. Clemson didn't really match up well with better teams though, losing to Louisville during conference play and getting smoked by Georgia 34-3 at the beginning of the season. They had a really weak schedule in the ACC that got them this far, and their offense has looked great in a lot of their games, but their defense has been a big issue as they have been giving up a ton of points to bad offenses all season, and they even blew their big lead in the ACC Championship almost going to OT in that one. Texas lost both of their games to Georgia as they have not been able to figure them out all year, but they have blown by a lot of their other opponents this season and they should have no issues with Clemson at home as the Tigers just don't match up well on defense. The best way to place a bet here is on Texas to cover the spread in this game. 

Clemson Texas Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, December 21, 2024 (4:00 pm ET start time) is Texas 28 Clemson 13.

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Clemson Tigers: 1-5 ATS against SEC opponents. 3-9 ATS in non-conference games. 4-8 ATS versus good rushing defenses - allowing 120 rushing yards/game or less. 10-4 UNDER in road lined games. 5-1 UNDER in a road game where the total is between 49.5 and 56. 8-3 UNDER after a game with a turnover margin of +2 or better.

Texas Longhorns: 12-7 ATS in home lined games. 8-3 ATS when the total is between 49.5 and 56. 8-4 ATS in non-conference games. 8-2 ATS versus good rushing teams - averaging 4.75 rushing yards/carry or more. 23-14 UNDER in all lined games. 22-13 UNDER as a favorite. 11-5 UNDER vs. good passing teams averaging 250 or more passing yards/game.

Clemson Tigers:  T. Brown (WR) Questionable - Ankle. J. Haynes (RB) Questionable - Leg. K. McCloud (LB) Out - Knee. D. Pennington (OL) Questionable - Undisclosed. T. Howard (OL) Out - Knee. C. Gipson (CB) Out - Undisclosed. T. Stellato (WR) Out - Thumb. E. Thurmon (OL) Out - Ankle. C. Sadler (OL) Out - Foot. Q. Castner (K/P) Out - Leg.

Texas Longhorns:  K. Banks (OL) Questionable - Undisclosed. D. Williams (DB) Out - Lower Body. V. Gardner (RB) Out - Undisclosed. T. Owens (QB) Out - Lower Body. C. Clark (RB) Out - Achilles. C. Baxter (RB) Out - Knee.

“What a way to win. To head the playoffs for the seventh time, man, the heart of our guys. We have been so close but we found a way.” - Dabo Swinney after his team’s win against SMU in the ACC Championship.

“This stings. But we get a chance to regroup in a couple weeks and get into the College Football Playoff and go compete for a national championship. I think we’re plenty good enough to go win that.” - Steve Sarkisian after his team’s loss against UGA in the SEC Championship.

Clemson Tigers 

WR Moore, T.J. 

WR Wesco Jr., Bryant  

WR Williams, Antonio 

TE Briningstool, Jake

QB Klubnik, Cade 

RB Mafah, Phil 

WR Bond, Isaiah

WR Golden, Matthew

WR Moore Jr., DeAndre 

TE Helm, Gunnar 

QB Ewers, Quinn

RB Wisner, Quintrevion 

Passing: C. Klubnik (3303)

Rushing: P. Mafah (1106)

Receiving: A. Williams (836)

Touchdowns: A. Williams (11)

Passing: Q. Ewers (2665)

Rushing: Q. Wisner (863)

Receiving: M. Golden (738)

Touchdowns: J. Blue (10)

Coaches:

Clemson Tigers: Dabo Swinney (17th season)

Texas Longhorns: Steve Sarkisian (4th season)