The middle game of CFP triple-header Saturday features the teams in the “We Lost to Georgia” Bowl, the Greater Anderson Cow College Tiggers and the Texass Hamburgers at DKR Memorial Stadium. This game has all the look of a Texas easy win based on the teams’ performance throughout the year … home field advantage, offensive line play, and overall defense. On the other hand, this game isn’t Dabo’s first rodeo in the CFP and Clemson’s defensive line play. Let’s get to the preview.
Series Record: First meeting (I was surprised that these 2 schools had not even played in a bowl game)
Gambling Degenerate Facts: The Harrah’s sports book at the Venetian has Texas as a 11.5 point favorite with a money line of -455 and a point total of 51.5.
How Should a Refugee Watch This Game: We beat both of these teams soundly in the regular season, one on a “neutral” site and one in their backyard. We turned around and beat the Hamburgers again in Atlanta in an SEC championship game for the ages. Texas is one of the 2 teams in this thing that is built in a way to compete with us (IMHO, Ohio State is the other). To me, the Greater Anderson Cow College has the defensive front to do to Texas what we did to them twice … get pressure on Ewers and control the Texas running game. I’ll never consider Texas as part of the SEC, so I’ll be fine if the Tiggers go ahead and take them out of this thing. I would enjoy the Message Board Geniuses’ X feed if that happened.
Interesting Statistic: 0.86/2.25 (net yards per play for Clemson and Texas, respectively)
The difference in this statistic is stark. After drilling into the detail, the Longhorns’ defense is the real difference between these 2 teams. That doesn’t mean I’m saying Clemson’s defense is the weak link, but the Longhorn defense should be the best total unit on the field on Saturday and have been the most consistent unit throughout the season.
Early Outlook
Texas should win this game and should cover the spread if the game goes as the teams on paper would indicate. The problem for Texas is that the game isn’t played on paper. Similar to the 2 games against Georgia, the media and the talking heads are lining up with Texas against “little ole Clemson.” Turnovers (game 1) and drive-killing mistakes (game 2) changed the games. If those equalizers show up again on Saturday, this game will be a 4 quarter fist fight.
Clemson’s path to victory requires them to be able to run the ball effectively, stay in front of (or with) the chains and stay out of 3rd and long … the thing they did not do consistently in Mercedes-Benz Stadium against Georgia. The Tigers really need to turn this game into a low-scoring street brawl to have a chance to steal it in the 4th quarter. I’m not convinced about Sark’s in-game coaching prowess, and a close game in the 4th would only magnify those concerns.
I think the team with the most paths to victory is the likely winner. Therefore, the burnt orange of Texas makes a return trip to Atlanta to take on Arizona State in the Peach Bowl.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
EE, you’ve done it again with an outstanding post title!!
We lost to Georgia bowl. Dayuuuum 😂
HBTFD
I like Clem +11.5. Tight game. FG either way determines outcome.
I think Clemson is better than A&M offensively and can be a thorn in Texas’s side defensively. If they play that way, I totally agree with you, TEX.
RR will probably haunt me, but he didn’t have to put up with the insufferable entitlement that is UTw. I’m pulling for the Dabos.
Me too, Got.
Texas has rapidly ascended on my “hate” list..
It’s the media TX sycophants and the arrogant, entitled TX fans mostly.
This^.
Bama fans are bad enough, but at least they have the pedigree and trophies to justify it. Even obnoxious Auburn and Jorts fans have multiple titles to somewhat excuse their delusions. But what the ever loving fornication has TU done other than have an inexplicably big brand and money? They have 1 natty in the last 54 years. Yeah, they won their conference a bunch, but big whoop. It’s not like they had a lot of competition outside of Oklahoma. They were, in fact, the Clemson of the Big 12 for many years but never made it over the hump like Dabo.
Texas fans are just better dressed Tennessee fans.
LMAO! That’s a low fucking bar, Ugly.
I truly miss the Old Ranger.
You’re assuming that Texas gets past Ariz St. I watched the 2nd half of their game against Iowa St. Those boys can ball. That running back they have, Scatterboo or whatever his name is, is a freak of nature. Personally, I’d love for them to knock the Cow Patties out in the 1st round.
Yes, that will be fine as well.
Both ASU and Boise have scary running games. We could see Boise in the Orange Bowl.
If you’re talking about my comment about the teams built to compete against us, we would dominate the Sun Devils on both lines of scrimmage.
I just realized I had a brain fart this morning. I read the post and assumed this was a lookahead scenario because I thought that this weekend was TU vs ASU. I just realized that ASU got the bye.
That being said, I still would rather see ASU beat the winner of TU-CU.
I’d take clampson and the points…Dabo is a dipshit but his D line play is legit…they can stop the run but can their actually run on their D…imho it will be the entire key to the game.
to confirm, fuck both of these schools.
Agree with the sentiment here. Take the praying Dabos and if they get to Ewers while Klubnik does something in front of his home HS crowd they can pull this off.
I think Texas advances in a close one. If they need 11 to cover, I don’t think they get it.
Pulling for Auburn with a lake. I had rather see Clem’s son join the SEC than the spoiled cry babies west of the Mississippi.
Weeeell, there’s always a 12-5 upset in the basketball tournament????
That’s a good title, but I have to ask – if Texas is a team built in a way to compete with UGA why didn’t they? Either time. Especially at home, and later without our starting QB for the second half? And Dabo can be a sneaky little sumbitch. I’d take the Tiggers and the points. I think you overrate the NYPP stats.
They competed with us the 2nd time. We just happened to win.
The details behind the YPP stat does show the Texas defense could be the difference in the game.
Hard to pull for either, but I’ll go for Clemson. Texas is just too easy to hate.
I’m not so much pulling for Clempson…
It is more I can count on one hand the teams I dislike more than Big Horned walking ground beef patties.
I will be pulling for Clemson too. I agree that Dabo gives off big douche vibes but even with the dogshit ACC schedule the fact that he has done all of this at Clemson makes me give the coaching advantage to him over Sark who as of this writing has not impressed me when coaching against good teams.
I think that Clemson if that running back can play will be able to hold onto the ball and keep it tight enough to make Ewers have to make a play and I am very dubious that he can. I also think that Clemson will be much looser than Texas as they were written off in regards to getting in and Texas has been lauded as the best team in the country all season despite losing to Georgia twice and not having a win over a team that is worth a shit.
I can’t pull for either of these teams to win. TU is as arrogant as entitled as we were warned. The mistake by the lake is the lesser of two evils here. The 11.5 is way too many points for the short ribs.
Is it true tu hasn’t sold out their own stadium for a playoff game?
I’m praying for the earth to open up and swallow both programs whole. Actually, the chasm could open and just take the Texas fans on one side and Dabo on the other, and I’d be happy. Somehow, I think these two are a push, and I honestly would say Klubinik is the better QB because Ewers just doesn’t seem to have any swagger anymore. I don’t think the Manning shadow was doing him any favors. Clemson’s got some Moxie right now so I think it tips a little in IPTAY’s favor. call me crazy, but for Sark to be an offensive wizard, Texas’s O has underwhelmed me when playing competent opponents.
Dabo prays this one into existence, locusts will swarm the field, and somewhere off in the distance, an oil well explodes and burns darkened skies above. As the two combatants come to midfield and extend hands, Dabo retracts and speaks to Sarkisian. “Who was nursing you, poor Steve? One of Sankey’s sows?” Sarkisian stares in horror. “Don’t bully me Dabo!” Swinney continues. “Did you think your little song and dance and your McConaughey would help you, Steve? I AM THE THIRD REVELATION! I AM WHO THE LORD HAS CHOSEN!”
Clemson beats the spread, in other words.
Preach it! “And so, the Dabos arrived in ATX, as it was foretold in the Book of Billy Bob.”
Stubhub shows “get in” price at Texas Longhorns as $95, Ohio State $104, Penn State $45, and shockingly Notre Dame is $450!!!
Sounds like we may get a good crowd in New Orleans!
I don’t see much here on that texass fan’s hair. Do you not feel an overwhelming urge to see if you can press it down with your palm? Asking for a friend.