Gator Bowl: #22 Clemson vs Kentucky Odds, and Picks (Dec 29)

• Clemson heated up quite a bit down the stretch, winning 4 straight games.
• Kentucky went 2-5 over the last two months, and will try to bounce back.
• These two teams last met on December 27, 2009, in a game Clemson won 21-13.

The college football season has reached the bowl games! Let’s preview the 2023 Gator Bowl between the Clemson Tigers and the Kentucky Wildcats. This is a classic bout between the SEC and ACC conferences.

How to Watch

• ESPN

Preview

Clemson started the season ranked #9, but plummeted after a 28-7 loss to Duke in Week 1. Their large amount of roster turnover resulted in the Tigers needing quite a bit of time to gel. That being said, once they gained that experience, they got significantly better. Clemson went 8-3 following their opener, with the worst loss coming by just 8 points on the road. They’ll try to end the year with five straight wins here.

Kentucky finished just 3-5 in SEC play, after opening the season 5-0. Despite their late-season collapse, the Wildcats bounced back in their final game, defeating a ranked Louisville team on the road. They’ll have the chance to build on their momentum with another win over a ranked ACC team in this game. Kentucky’s offense has big-play potential, but has been inconsistent. They need to be at their best to defeat Clemson.

Prediction

This should be one of the most competitive bowl games between two teams that were headed in different directions down the stretch. Opt-outs may end up making a difference, but Clemson should have the advantage in this game based solely on how well they’ve played lately. I expected Kentucky to keep this game close for a bit, but I ultimately see the Tigers pulling away and ending the season with another win.

NCAAF Picks:

• Clemson 27, Kentucky 21 ()