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The Gator Bowl will see the Clemson Tigers squaring off against the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday, December 29, 2023. Kickoff is at 12:00 PM ET on ESPN.
The Wildcats are underdogs, but by less than a touchdown (+5.5), against the Tigers (with an over/under of 47 points).
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Game Info for Clemson vs. Kentucky
- Game Day: Friday, December 29, 2023
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Jacksonville, Florida
- Stadium: TIAA Bank Field
| Favorite | Spread | Favorite Spread Odds | Underdog Spread Odds | Total | Over Total Odds | Under Total Odds | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson | -5.5 | -110 | -110 | 47 | -109 | -111 | -216 | +177 |
Clemson Pick Insights
- So far this season, Clemson has put together a 6-5-0 record against the spread.
- When it has played as at least 5.5-point favorites this season, Clemson is 5-4 against the spread.
- The teams have hit the over in four of Clemson’s 11 games with a set total.
Clemson Stats & Insights
- Clemson ranks 50th in total offense this season (405.7 yards per game), but has been playing really well on the defensive side of the ball, ranking seventh-best in the FBS with 405.7 yards allowed per game.
- Defensively, Clemson has been a top-25 unit, ranking 24th-best by giving up just 19.9 points per game. The offense ranks 56th (29.2 points per game).
- Clemson ranks 63rd in passing yards this season (225.4 per game), but has been playing really well on defense, ranking fifth-best in the FBS with 162.6 passing yards allowed per game.
- Clemson is putting up 180.3 rushing yards per game on offense, which ranks them 40th in the FBS. The team’s defensive unit ranks 27th, allowing 116.5 rushing yards per contest.
- Clemson has the 52nd-ranked offense this season in terms of third-down efficiency (41.2% conversion rate), and has been more effective on defense, ranking 19th-best with a 31.8% third-down conversion rate allowed.
- With 24 forced turnovers (eighth in the FBS) against 20 turnovers committed (100th in the FBS), Clemson (+4) owns the 34th-ranked turnover margin in college football.
Clemson’s Best Players
- Cade Klubnik has 2,580 pass yards for Clemson, completing 63% of his passes and collecting 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season. He’s also helped out on the ground with 194 rushing yards (16.2 ypg) on 110 carries with four rushing touchdowns.
- The team’s top rusher, Phil Mafah, has carried the ball 168 times for 894 yards (74.5 per game), scoring nine times.
- This season, Will Shipley has carried the ball 156 times for 798 yards (66.5 per game) and five touchdowns, while also racking up 235 yards through the air with two touchdowns.
- Tyler Brown has hauled in 50 catches for 517 yards (43.1 yards per game) to lead the team so far this season. He’s found the end zone four times as a receiver.
- Beaux Collins has put together a 510-yard season so far with three touchdowns, reeling in 38 passes on 65 targets.
- Jake Briningstool has a total of 407 receiving yards so far this year, grabbing 41 throws and scoring five touchdowns.
- Jeremiah Trotter Jr., the team’s tackle and sacks leader, has collected 5.5 sacks, eight TFL, 71 tackles, and two interceptions.
- Khalil Barnes leads the team with three interceptions, while also recording 26 tackles, four TFL, one sack, and three passes defended.
Kentucky Betting Insights
- Kentucky has gone 6-6-0 ATS this year.
- Kentucky has a 1-2 record against the spread when an underdog by 5.5 points or more this year.
- In Kentucky’s 12 games with a set total, eight have hit the over (66.7%).
Kentucky Pick Insights
- Kentucky ranks 100th with 334.7 total yards per contest on offense, and it ranks 44th with 352.4 total yards allowed per contest on the defensive side of the ball.
- Kentucky is accumulating 28.6 points per game on offense this season (58th-ranked). Meanwhile, it is giving up 24.8 points per game (59th-ranked) on defense.
- In terms of passing, Kentucky ranks 94th in the FBS (203.8 passing yards per game) and 89th on the other side of the ball (238.6 passing yards allowed per game).
- Kentucky has been excelling on run defense, giving up just 113.8 rushing yards per game (25th-best). Offensively, it ranks 96th in the FBS by compiling 130.9 rushing yards per game.
- Kentucky ranks 70th in third-down conversion percentage (38.3%) on offense, but it has been worse defensively, ranking 19th-worst in the FBS with a 44.7% third-down percentage allowed.
- At +1, Kentucky owns the 53rd-ranked turnover margin in the FBS, with 17 forced turnovers (59th in the FBS) and 16 turnovers committed (53rd in the FBS).
Kentucky’s Best Players
- Devin Leary has compiled 2,440 yards (203.3 per game) while completing 55.9% of his passes and tossing 23 touchdown passes with 10 interceptions this season.
- Re’Mahn Davis is his team’s leading rusher with 186 carries for 1,066 yards, or 88.8 per game. He’s found paydirt 13 times on the ground, as well. Davis has also chipped in with 29 catches for 317 yards and seven receiving touchdowns.
- Ramon Jefferson has taken 24 carries and totaled 175 yards.
- Dane Key’s 553 receiving yards (46.1 yards per game) are a team high. He has 38 receptions on 65 targets with five touchdowns.
- Tayvion Robinson has 37 receptions (on 61 targets) for a total of 507 yards (42.3 yards per game) and four touchdowns this year.
- Barion Brown’s 82 targets have resulted in 40 catches for 439 yards and three touchdowns.
- Deone Walker has racked up 5.5 sacks to lead the team, while also recording 10 TFL and 49 tackles.
- Kentucky’s leading tackler, D’Eryk Jackson, has 74 tackles, four TFL, one sack, and two interceptions this year.
- Maxwell Hairston has picked off a team-high five passes. He also has 55 tackles, one TFL, and five passes defended to his name.
