Clemson vs Tennessee Odds
| Clemson Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4 -110 | 61.5 -110o / -110u | -185 |
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4 -110 | 61.5 -110o / -110u | +155 |
When Florida and Syracuse met in 1999, it may have been the color scheme mixture that most closely resembled the Orange Bowl. Fast forward more than 20 years later, and HEX codes#FF8200 and #F56600 will represent the orangest game in history thanks to Tennessee and Clemson, respectively.
Both the Volunteers and Tigers had expectations of competing for the national title but were relegated to a New Year's Six bowl after both teams suffered two losses.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel resurrected the Volunteers to a national brand, racing to an 8-0 record before suffering a loss to Georgia. The Vols became the most explosive offensive attack thanks to Heupel's uptempo style.
A late-season loss to South Carolina kicked off a laundry list of opt-outs and injuries that will play a role in the bowl game.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney felt the appetite of replacing his starting quarterback all season long. The season finale loss, also to South Carolina, marked the end for DJ Uiagalelei at Clemson and the start of the Cade Klubnik era.
The Tigers enter the Orange Bowl with a roster in transition, looking forward to another College Football Playoff run in 2023.
Clemson Tigers
The Klubnik era has started for Clemson football.
After a two-year saga of finding consistency at quarterback in the post-Trevor Lawrence era, Klubnik flashed his abilities as a starter in the ACC Championship game.
The freshman won the conference title with a performance that included a 91% adjusted completion percentage, a touchdown through the air, a score on the ground and a receiving touchdown.
Phil Mafah throws to Cade Klubnik for a 20-yard gain and then punches it in from four yards out to put Clemson in front. pic.twitter.com/oxbJtpB0SB
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) December 4, 2022
There have been a large number of portal and opt-out names on both sides of the ball.
Clemson will be without the services of wide receiver Beaux Collins and running back Kobe Pace heading into the Orange Bowl. Collins was injured during the season before a comeback against South Carolina that saw him record two targets.
After 104 rushing attempts last season, Pace had a diminished role this season, logging only three carries in the most recent game against North Carolina.
Klubnik targeted 12 different targets in the conference title game, so Joseph Ngata and Antonio Williams are sure to be the hot receivers in Miami.
Tennessee Volunteers
After recording more than 3,100 passing yards on the season, Hendon Hooker suffered a season-ending injury that came with the announcement of his intention to enter the NFL Draft.
Hooker had one of the best seasons of any quarterback in recent history, throwing only two interceptions while posting a big-time throw rate triple that of his recorded number of turnover-worthy plays.
Michigan transfer Joe Milton took over duties under center, completing just half of his throws in the season finale against Vanderbilt.
JOE MILTON HAS A CANNON 🚀@Qbjayy7 | @Vol_Footballpic.twitter.com/3APW9uTFfP
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 27, 2022
Milton loves to throw the deep ball, ending the season with an average depth of target at 19.5 yards. The quarterback has as many attempts beyond 20 yards as he does at short range.
The Volunteers offense will be without key contributors in Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt and receiver Cedric Tillman.
The Tennessee defense did not have nearly as many losses due to the transfer portal or opt-outs, but inefficiency in general played a role all season.
The Vols finished outside the top 100 in coverage grading and pass rush, per PFF.
Defensive edge rusher Byron Young caught national attention for harassing opposing quarterbacks with 14 total pressures in back-to-back games against Florida and LSU. However, those numbers fell drastically over the final month of the season, as he recorded a total of three pressures over the final four games.
Clemson vs Tennessee Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Clemson and Tennessee match up statistically:
Tennessee Offense vs Clemson Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 11 | 29 | |
| Line Yards | 13 | 44 | |
| Pass Success | 6 | 25 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 94 | 7 | |
| Havoc | 9 | 4 | |
| Finishing Drives | 5 | 8 |  |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off) vs. Pass Rush (Def) | |||
Clemson Offense vs Tennessee Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 19 | 25 | |
| Line Yards | 14 | 12 | |
| Pass Success | 68 | 92 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 64 | 105 | |
| Havoc | 45 | 62 | |
| Finishing Drives | 20 | 29 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off) vs Pass Rush (Def) | |||
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 51 | 14 |
| PFF Coverage | 103 | 37 |
| SP+ Special Teams | 52 | 19 |
| Seconds per Play | 20.8 (3) | 26.0 (53) |
| Rush Rate | 55.2% (59) | 54.2% (65) |
Data via CollegeFootballData.com (CFBD), FootballOutsiders, SP+, Pro Football Focus and SportSource Analytics
Clemson vs Tennessee Prediction, Picks
This version of the Volunteers offense will not be nearly as efficient as the team that challenged Georgia for the right to move on to the SEC Championship.
The combination of Hooker, Hyatt and Tillman's absence in this game leaves a deep throwing offense with inconsistencies in hitting targets accurately.
The Volunteers' offensive line struggled to keep Hooker clean most of the season, ranking 94th in pass blocking. Clemson is expected to have its primary defensive linemen available in this game, including KJ Henry and Bryan Bresee. More importantly, cornerback Nate Wiggins will be available after posting nine forced incompletions this season.
Tennessee's defense struggled to generate a pass rush, especially over the second half of the season. The Volunteers' Defensive Success Rate declined in passing downs, grading 94th in opponent Success Rate.
Despite flashes of the uptempo offense that makes for great entertainment, this Tennessee team consistently struggled with mistakes. The Volunteers ended the season averaging eight flags a game, fourth-worst nationally.
Pick: Clemson -5.5 or Better |
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