The No. 22 Clemson Tigers will battle the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2023 Gator Bowl at Noon ET on Friday, Dec. 29. The Tigers finished the season winning four in a row, including two against ranked opponents. Although not as sharp down the stretch, Kentucky defeated No. 10 Louisville to end the season and is riding high. They are listed as 4.5-point underdogs in the Gator Bowl, but a victory is definitely within reach.
Before kickoff, we’re taking a deeper look at the one of the best bowl games on the schedule this weekend. If you’re in the Bluegrass State, there is nearly $5,000 in Kentucky sportsbook bonuses up for grabs to get in on the action. The offers include guaranteed bonus bets, no sweat bets and more.
Kentucky vs. Clemson Odds and Preview
Both teams have similar playing styles — depending on the run game to open up the passing game for their QBs. That sets up a close game in which the smallest advantages can decide the outcome.
Clemson Rushing Attack
It took a while, but towards the end of the season, Clemson found its offensive identity as a running team. The Tigers started the season allowing sophomore QB Cade Klubnik to air it out, which didn’t go so well against quality opponents. As the season progressed, they significantly upped their rushing attempts and dialed back on passing attempts.
The biggest beneficiary was junior running back Phil Mafah, who received 56% of his carries in the last four games. That four-game stretch resulted in 455 rushing yards and three touchdowns. His backfield mate Will Shipley had a great stretch during that time as well. In the final four games, he had 50 carries for 304 yards and two touchdowns. He also chipped in 11 catches for 135 yards.
The play of Clemson’s two running backs made life a lot easier for their young QB, who managed the game comfortably as opposed to trying to win games with his arm. Although Kentucky’s rushing defense is ranked highly in the nation, it hasn’t fared well against upper-echelon opponents. The Wildcats allowed 254 rushing yards to Tennessee; 173 yards to Georgia; and 159 yards to Alabama. Clemson’s rushing attack is just as good as any of those programs, especially in the last quarter of the season.
Kentucky’s One-Man Band
One glance at Kentucky running back Ray Davis’ game log will tell you all you need to know about his impact for the Wildcats. The senior has 1,066 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He also has 317 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Kentucky’s offense has gone as he goes all season long, and that is likely to be the same in the Gator Bowl.
Clemson’s rushing defense has been pretty stout towards the end of the season with the exception of its matchup against North Carolina. However, the Tar Heels’ passing attack presented much more of a threat than that of Kentucky’s. Davis will need help from the passing game, led by QB Devin Leary, who has been up and down this season, to say the least.
Leary is up against a Clemson defense that is fifth in the country in passing yards allowed per game. If he doesn’t take advantage of his opportunities against stacked boxes and avoid turning the ball over (10 interceptions), the Wildcats won’t be able to keep pace with Clemson’s electric offense. However, if he pulls one of his better performances out of his bag, they could very well steal this game. Look for this one to be a thriller.
Kentucky vs. Clemson Prediction
With both teams prioritizing the run, the game is likely to be a low scoring affair. That will give the Wildcats a chance to win the game, but they’ll have to go to the air in critical points of the game, and against a passing defense like Clemson’s, Leary can’t be trusted not to turn the ball over.
Prediction: Clemson to cover the spread
