Clemson vs. Texas Picks, Predictions and Odds: Back the Longhorns Offense to Thrive Against the Tigers

• The Texas Longhorns have the second shortest odds to win the National Championship

• The Longhorns get home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs

• Clemson’s defense ranks well below league average in Def Success Rate, Explosiveness, and Finishing Drives

After losing to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Conference Championship, the Texas Longhorns have lost their bye and are forced to play in the first round of the playoffs. Fortunately for Texas, they at least get home field advantage as they host the Clemson Tigers on Saturday night. With the Tigers defense continuing to regress, expect the Longhorns offense to string together a dominant performance and light up the scoreboard.

UNLV vs. Boise State Odds

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Clemson vs. Texas My Pick

• My Pick: Texas Team Total Over 31.5 (-105) at BetMGM

Normally a team known for their vaunted defense, the Clemson Tigers have looked anything but the part as they head into the playoffs ranked near dead last in Def Success Rate, Explosiveness, and Finishing Drives. The Longhorns high powered offense will do them no favors in their efforts of rounding back into form as Quinn Ewers has excelled at generating pass production as their high mark in Pass Success Rate indicates.

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Clemson vs. Texas Predictions

Clemson Preview

After their loss to Louisville, it looked like Clemson was going to be the odd man out for the ACC Conference Championship. That was until the Miami Hurricanes lost to Syracuse in their season finale, thrusting Clemson back into the conference title game to face off against the SMU Mustangs. With their win over SMU, Clemson secured a spot in the playoffs as one of the power four conference champions.

With Boise State and Arizona State ranked higher than them in the final poll, the Tigers are forced to start their journey in the first round of the playoffs with a matchup against the Texas Longhorns. A daunting task as the Longhorns currently have the second shortest odds to win the National Championship. Especially with their defense playing at a very low level as the Tigers head into Saturday ranked 100th in Def Success Rate, 101st in Explosiveness, and 111th in Finishing Drives.

Their secondary has played a major role in their low marks on defense as their back end currently ranks 98th in Def Pass Success Rate. That means the Tigers struggle to stop opposing offenses from cutting the distance to gain in half on first and second down through the air, as well as convert on later downs. That opens the door for Quinn Ewers and company to sustain drives down the field by picking apart their gaps in coverage, potentially increasing their number of scoring opportunities as well.

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Texas Preview

Even after their loss to Georgia, the Texas Longhorns are still considered one of the favorites to win the National Championship. The Longhorns are arguably one of the most well rounded units in the league as they enter the playoffs ranked in the top half of the board in overall Success Rate, Explosiveness, Finishing Drives, and Havoc.

Against the Tigers, the Longhorns offense should face minimal resistance in their efforts of moving the ball down the field and into scoring position at a consistent rate. Especially through the air as Quinn Ewers has led the explosive Longhorns pass attack to top-25 marks in Pass Success Rate, Pass Explosiveness, and Pass PPA. Better yet for Texas, Clemson can ill-afford to sell out in coverage as their front seven also ranks well below league average in Def Rush Success Rate, PPA, and Explosiveness.

On the other side of the ball, the Longhorns defense are in a position to force Clemson’s offense into early outs as a majority of the Tigers success stems from their ability to generate methodical drives down the field. That spells potential disaster against Texas as the Longhorns defense ranks well above league average in Def Success Rate. Especially if Cade Klubnik is unable to generate Explosiveness, giving the Longhorns the ability to cheat up and lessen the quality of his passing lanes.

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Clemson vs. Texas How to Watch

• When: Saturday, December 21st

• Where: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas

• Where to Watch: TNT

Clemson vs. Texas Best Promos and Sportsbooks

Check out the best promos and online sportsbooks in the U.S. for the Big Ten conference matchup between Clemson and Texas.

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Clemson vs. Texas Injuries

Clemson Injuries

• WR Tyler Brown - Questionable

• RB Jay Haynes - Out

• LB Kobe McCloud - Out

Texas Injuries

• OL Kelvin Banks - Questionable

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