Clemson Tigers vs. Texas Longhorns 12/21/24 – In the NCAA tournament, the Clemson Tigers (10-3) play the Texas Longhorns (11-2) in an instant classic first-round match-up. While the two came into the game fresh from tight defeats against their conference champions, they proved with quality that they could contend for the national title. It will be intriguing to see how long the Tigers shot blocking and Texas’ crowd-influenced home game nerves will fare in an empty DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Clemson Tigers vs. Texas Longhorns 12/21/24
| When: | Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 4:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX |
| TV: | TNT |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tigers | +12 (-110) | 51.5 Over (-110) | +340 |  |
| Longhorns | -12 (-110) | 51.5 Under (-110) | -450 | |
| ||||
First-round showdown in The Lone Star State 🔜#Clemson pic.twitter.com/EwgpBo19eN
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 20, 2024
The statistics indicate that the match will not be a close one as Clemson opens up their campaign as 12-point underdogs against Texas. Texas enjoy playing at home and they possess a good depth to the squad and should be a hard team to beat. The moneyline for the Tigers, sitting at +340, is a good bet for those who like to play with risks. The over/under sits at 51.5; therefore, the game should be a relatively low-scoring match based on both defensive setups that the teams have. It wouldn’t be too unlikely for Texas to cover the spread but then again, this is the playoff pedigree of Clemson, and their away form can’t be ignored either.
Cade Klubnik QB vs. Quinn Ewers QB
Cade Klubnik of Clemson has had an impressive season by throwing 3303 yards and scoring 33 touchdowns, only getting 5 interceptions. His 63.7% completions, along with a problem he has mastered i.e. throwing long passes points towards the fact that he is a constant threat. Nevertheless, he has been on the receiving end of 20 sacks, which points towards his difficulties when under pressure. If he is to extend the play while trying to find his wide receiver Antonio Williams on the other side of Texas’ stern defense, it will be important for him.
Quinn Ewers of Texas has also been consistent, passing for 2665 yards and throwing for 25 touchdowns. Ewers completing 66.2% of his passes points to the fact that he is efficient, but his nine interceptions show that he does have some bad games. Ewers enjoys passing the ball for medium ranges however, he has been sacked 22 times, suggesting that the pass rush of Clemson may be able to utilize his weaknesses in protection.
Clemson Tigers: Road Warriors Ready to Roar
Clemson’s last game on the road was a solid win and it marked their fifth consecutive away game victory. The Tigers’ offense is quite harmonious in terms of productivity, with his over 1,100 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, along with Antonio Williams, who led the team in receiving yards with 838 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Clemson defense, despite their shaky performance against South Carolina in the loss, was solid in the critical moments against Pittsburgh and against SMU. Overall, their away form may play a pivotal role in this playoff contest.
Texas Longhorns: Defending the Home Turf
Texas comes into this game with an impressive 13-1 record at home. Running back Quintrevion Wisner carries the rushing attack with 863 yards, while wide receiver Matthew Goldin himself is a threat vertically with a little over 15 yards per catch. The Longhorns’ defense has been solid as they have limited teams such as Texas A&M and Arkansas to less than 10 points. It will be important to the team’s chances how they manage the pace of the game whilst taking advantage of any defensive mistakes that Clemson could make.
Trends
Clemson Tigers Betting Trends
Clemson is 15-3 SU in their last 18 games.
Clemson is 18-1 SU in their last 19 games played in December.
The total has gone UNDER in four of Clemson’s last six games.
Texas Longhorns Betting Trends
Texas is 17-3 SU in their last 20 games.
Texas is 13-1 SU in their last 14 home games.
The total has gone UNDER in eight of Texas’ last nine games.
Clemson Tigers vs. Texas Longhorns Betting Prediction
his matchup puts both the away strength of Clemson and the home strength of Texas into question. There is no doubt Texas will be the better pick since their schedule is deep, but the concern is the experience Clemson has steeled them within moments that matter, which means that this will be a closer game than some may think.
The 12 points might be a bit too welcoming for Clemson and thus makes covering it a viable option. Overall, the total also looks rather dank, with more emphasis on the under at 51.5, considering the two sides are quite adept at containing their opponents. Additional value could be presented in the prop betting markets on Cade Klubnik passing yards and Phil Mafah rushing touchdowns, respectively.
Score Prediction: Texas Longhorns 27, Clemson Tigers 21.
