Clemson vs. Tennessee Orange Bowl game prediction, preview

Two premier faculty soccer powers meet up within the Orange Bowl trying to finish issues on a excessive notice after stumbling to forgettable late season showings as Tennessee and Clemson sq. off on Friday.

Clemson is the reigning ACC champion after taking out North Carolina and at last making the everlasting change at quarterback, as Cade Klubnik appeared good instead of D.J. Uiagalalei, who transferred out to Oregon State this offseason.

Going bowling: Faculty soccer bowl sport schedule for 2022

Tennessee was the No. 1 ranked offense in faculty soccer a lot of the season earlier than a loss at Georgia ended its excellent season after which a shock loss to unranked South Carolina knocked it out of the Faculty Soccer Playoff hunt.

Huge Orange additionally underwent a quarterback change, albeit involuntarily after phenom starter Hendon Hooker tore his ACL within the Carolina sport, and the Vols shifting to Joe Milton, himself a possible star with a giant arm and operating capacity.

This is what you’ll want to know concerning the sport between the Tigers and the Volunteers, with an up to date prediction and betting data.

Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Tennessee prediction, preview

The right way to watch, stream

When: Fri., Dec. 30

Time: 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT

TV: ESPN community

Stream: fuboTV (Strive totally free)

Recreation odds, level unfold, betting strains

Level unfold: Clemson -6 (-118) | Tennessee +6 (-110)

Whole: 63.5 factors | Over -110 | Below -125

Moneyline: Clemson -250 | Tennessee +170

FPI prediction: Tennessee has the slender 57.0 p.c probability to win the sport, in comparison with Clemson at 43.0 p.c, in response to the Soccer Energy Index pc prediction mannequin that picks winners by simulating groups’ seasons 20,000 occasions.

Unfold consensus choose: Clemson -6 (61% of bets are on the Tigers)

Place your bets: Clemson vs. Tennessee picks, predictions for Orange Bowl

+ Vols are 9-3 in opposition to the unfold total this season

+ Tennessee is 0-4 ATS of their final 4 impartial web site video games

+ UT is 4-0 in opposition to the unfold in its final 4 non-conference video games

+ The below is 7-0 in Vols’ final 7 when permitting <170 passing yards final sport

+ Clemson is 7-6 in opposition to the unfold total this season

+ Tigers are 0-4 ATS in final 4 non-conference video games

+ The over is 4-0 in Clemson’s final 4 after a SU win of 20-plus factors

+ Clemson is 4-0 ATS in its final 4 bowl video games

Orange Bowl: Keys to victory

Clemson wins if: Klubnik can get behind the Vols secondary. The Clemson quarterback has loads of choices to chop by any protection with a battery of middleman throws, particularly in opposition to a Tennessee again seven that ranks 127th nationally in opposition to the move and surrendered greater than 450 air yards in three completely different video games. 

Nevertheless it additionally had 20 takeaways, was plus-9 in turnover margin, and positioned fifth within the SEC in scoring protection. Clemson wants Klubnik, who had 279 yards and a TD within the ACC title sport, to be on level from the beginning as Tennessee was reasonably profitable in opposition to the run, permitting 112 yards per sport, and will bottle up Will Shipley (1,110 yards, 15 TDs) greater than he is used to being.

Tennessee wins if: It retains Joe Milton clear within the pocket and runs the ball properly. With how properly UT threw the soccer, it is simple to miss how properly they ran, averaging over 200 yards per sport, a bonus it’s going to should develop with Hooker out of the image after main the staff to No. 3 nationwide and No. 1 SEC marks in passing this 12 months.

Working the ball in opposition to Clemson is a troublesome job when taking a look at this stout defensive entrance that includes the likes of Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis, however notably not Myles Murphy, who is popping professional. Clemson notably struggled on the again finish at a number of factors this season and by attacking the secondary, the Vols can cancel out the Tigers’ energy up entrance. 

Clemson vs. Tennessee Prediction

Tennessee was the offensive darling of school soccer a lot of the season however with out Hooker, that manufacturing can not help however take a slight step backwards.

Milton has the arm to go deep and Clemson will give him just a few deep photographs, however the Tigers have sufficient energy up entrance to use sufficient stress on the Volunteers quarterback so he will not have the ability to take benefit typically sufficient.

Klubnik is an knowledgeable passer, a former 5-star recruit from Texas, and whereas he might not have the form of studs at receiver that Clemson has produced within the CFP period, there’s sufficient to adequately push the Vols’ sluggish again seven out of place. Which, in flip, will assist open operating lanes in shut vary for Shipley to maneuver the chains, lengthen drives, and run the clock late within the sport.

Often, the groups that may run the ball and play higher protection wins these video games. On paper, that benefit belongs to Clemson, however not with out a struggle.

Faculty Soccer HQ Orange Bowl prediction: Clemson 37, Tennessee 30 (Clemson -6, Over 66)

Extra faculty soccer from SI: High 25 Rankings | Schedule | All Groups

Observe Faculty Soccer HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Fb