Clemson will take on Kentucky on December 29th in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Earlier bowl projections had the Tigers heading to San Diego or New York for their postseason game. Still, after the College Football Playoff dust settled, Florida State was left out. So the Gator Bowl made Clemson one of their top College Football Betting priorities. After starting the season at 4-4, losing back-to-back games to Miami and NC State, Clemson’s season faced a fork in the road. Players could have left the team, preparing for the NFL Draft, and Clemson would’ve potentially missed a bowl.
Gator Bowl Clemson vs. Kentucky Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Friday, December 29, 2023, 12 p.m. ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL. |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson | -5½ -110 | 47 -110 | -220 |  |
| Kentucky | +5½ -110 | 47 -110 | +180 | |
| ||||
Gator Bowl Format
Although it has never been a top-tier bowl, the Gator Bowl has a long tradition of great teams and games. Currently, the Gator Bowl has conference tie-ins with the ACC, SEC, and Big Ten, and TaxSlayer has been the title sponsor since 2012.
The Gator Bowl was held at Gator Bowl Stadium every year from 1946 through 1993. Following a year at the University of Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, it returned to the refurbished TIAA Bank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, in 1995.
Gator Bowl Recent Results
Accordingly, the Florida Gators have the most wins at the Gator Bowl, with a total of seven. The Gators are tied with the Clemson Tigers for the most sportsbook appearances in the Gator Bowl with nine.
Last game, the Kentucky Wildcats won 38-31 against the Louisville Cardinals as 7.5-point road dogs. The game went over the College Football Betting total of 50.5. Kentucky has a record of 7-5 straight up, 6-6 against the spread, and 8-4 over/under the total. Kentucky ranks 100th for total offense, 95th for passing, 96th for rushing, and 59th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 44th overall, 85th against the pass, 26th against the rush, and 59th for points allowed. Also, Kentucky ranks 63rd for fewest turnovers lost and 71st for takeaways.
At the onset, Kentucky started the season 5-0 before being trounced by Georgia. The Wildcats would lose five of their next six, with their lone victory coming over Mississippi State. They did finish the season strong, taking down Louisville 38-31 a week before the ACC Championship appearance.
Last game, the Clemson Tigers won 16-7 against South Carolina as 7.5-point road favorites. The game went under the total of 50. Clemson has a record of 8-4 straight up, 6-6 against the spread, and 5-7 over/under the total. Clemson ranks 52nd for total offense, 63rd for passing, 41st for rushing, and 56th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 6th overall, 5th against the pass, 26th against the rush, and 24th for points allowed. Also, Clemson ranks 131st for fewest turnovers lost and 19th for takeaways.
Gator Bowl Prediction
Instead of folding, the Tigers took the other path, galvanizing their team and fanbase and ripping off four wins in a row. Including victories over North Carolina and Notre Dame, to finish the year. Clemson is 5-8 all-time against Kentucky. They won the most recent matchup in 2009 in the Music City Bowl to cap off Dabo Swinney’s first year at the helm for Clemson. In this situation, Clemson has momentum and a stronger roster.