Clemson Tigers vs. Texas Longhorns Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 21st 2024

Preview and Prediction

The highly-anticipated College Football Playoff will feature a thrilling first-round matchup between the 5th seeded Texas Longhorns and the 12th seeded Clemson Tigers. The game will take place on Saturday afternoon in Austin, Texas.

The winner of this game will move on to the CFP quarterfinals, where they will face the 4th seeded Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on January 1st in Atlanta. Texas is currently favored by 10 1/2 points in what will be the first-ever meeting between these two historic programs.

The Longhorns, with a record of 11-2, are looking to bounce back from a tough 22-19 overtime loss to then-No. 5 Georgia in the SEC championship. On the other hand, the Tigers, with a record of 10-3, secured their spot in the CFP with a thrilling last-second 34-31 victory over then-No. 8 SMU in the ACC championship.

Despite facing adversity, Texas put up a strong fight against Georgia, dominating the first half of the game. Quarterback Quinn Ewers played through a sprained right ankle, while left tackle Kelvin Banks, who won the Outland Trophy for best interior lineman, was sidelined with an ankle injury. Both players are expected to be fully healthy for Saturday's game.

When asked about his health and role as the leader of the Longhorns' offense, Ewers stated, "I feel good. It was good to get some time off. I just try to get the ball to the playmakers and let them go to work at the end of the day. It sounds like a simple answer, but that's how simple it is."

Texas' only two losses this season have come from Georgia, ultimately costing them the chance to win the SEC championship in their first year in the prestigious league. Head coach Steve Sarkisian expressed his excitement for this game, but also acknowledged the challenge of keeping his team sharp during the long layoff between games.

Clemson, on the other hand, has had a tough season with losses to Georgia, Louisville, and South Carolina. However, they have shown their resilience and big-game experience, led by quarterback Cade Klubnik and a game-winning 56-yard field goal from freshman kicker Nolan Hauser in the ACC championship.

The Tigers will have to bring their A-game in what is expected to be a hostile environment in order to advance. Head coach Dabo Swinney, a two-time national champion, acknowledged the difficulty of playing on the road, but also expressed his excitement for the challenge.

Klubnik, who has completed 63.7% of his passes for 3,303 yards and 33 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions, will be playing in his hometown of Austin. He was a standout player at Austin Westlake, the same school that produced NFL quarterbacks Drew Brees and Nick Foles. Klubnik and Ewers faced off in a high school state championship game, with Klubnik leading his team to victory.

Ewers, who led Texas to the CFP last year, has had a successful season with 2,665 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. Swinney also confirmed that running back Phil Mafah, who has rushed for 1,106 yards and 8 touchdowns this season, will play despite a shoulder injury that will require surgery after the season.

This highly-anticipated matchup is sure to be a thrilling one, with both teams looking to advance to the next round of the CFP. Only time will tell who will come out on top in this exciting clash between two top-ranked teams.

PREDICTION

Clemson Tigers

Texas Longhorns