December 29
Gator Bowl (@ Jacksonville)
Clemson (-4) vs Kentucky
Clemson (8-4)
— Clemson won its last four games, after a 4-4 start.
— Tigers are 8-0 giving up 23 or less points, 0-4 if they allow 24+
— Clemson is 9-6 SU in last 15 games overall.
— Last four games, Tigers are +6 in turnovers.
— Clemson held 3 of last 5 opponents under 260 total yards.
— 7 starters back on offense, 8 on defense
— 99 starts back on OL, with four returning starters.
— soph QB has completed 63% of passes, with 19 TD’s, 8 INTs
— Tigers are 5-4 ATS as a favorite this season.
— Clemson is 4-2 ATS in games with single digit spread.
— Tigers are 11-16 ATS in last 27 non-conference games.
— Under is 6-3 in last nine Clemson games.
— ACC non-conference favorites are 13-11 ATS
— Clemson lost three of its last four bowls SU.
Kentucky (7-5)
— Kentucky lost five of last seven games, after a 5-0 start.
— Wildcats are 7-1 giving up 31 or fewer points, 0-4 giving up 33+.
— Kentucky is 1-5 scoring less than 28 points.
— Kentucky was held under 300 TY in six of last seven games.
— 10 starters back on offense, 5 on defense
— 125 starts back on offensive line (four starters back)
— senior QB split two games vs Clemson while at NC State.
— Wildcats are 1-4 ATS as an underdog this year.
— in his career, Stoops is 30-33-2 ATS as an underdog
— Kentucky is 14-3 ATS in last 17 non-SEC games.
— Seven of last nine Kentucky games went over the total.
— Wildcats won four of their last five bowls (lost 21-0 LY).
— This year, SEC underdogs are 2-4 ATS out of conference.
— These teams haven’t met since 2009.
— Favorites are 6-3 ATS in last nine Gator Bowls.
— SEC teams are 6-2 SU in their last eight Gator Bowls.
— This year, ACC teams are 7-3 ATS vs SEC opponents.
Sun Bowl (@ El Paso)
Oregon State vs Notre Dame (-6)
Oregon State (8-4)
— Oregon State’s starting QB, coach have both left town.
— Beavers’ ex-coach is an OSU alum; big blow.
— Pac-12 has dissolved; OSU’s program is in limbo.
— Beavers are 0-3 in games decided by less than 7 points.
— This is only 2nd time this year Beavers are an underdog.
— under Smith, Beavers were 21-16-1 ATS as an underdog.
— OSU is 11-6 ATS in last 17 non-conference games.
— Beavers are 6-0 when they allow less than 22 points.
— 8 starters back on offense, 5 on defense
— 109 starts back on offensive line
— soph QB Gulbranson started 8 games last year.
— Four of their last five games stayed under the total.
— Beavers are 2-3 SU in last five bowls (were favored in all five).
Notre Dame (9-3)
— Notre Dame’s QB quit the team, won’t play in bowl.
— backup QB is 19-25/272 passing (4 TD’s, one INT)
— Notre Dame won four of its last five games SU.
— Irish scored 14-20-23 points in losses, 41+ in eight of nine wins.
— Notre Dame is 7-3 ATS as a favorite this year.
— 6 starters back on offense, 8 on defense
— 69 starts back on offensive line- new OL coach was at Wisconsin for 7 years.
— First career start for freshman backup QB.
— This year, Irish are 4-2-1 ATS in games with single digit spread.
— Notre Dame is +11 in turnovers in its wins, minus-5 in losses.
— Last five Notre Dame games went over the total.
— Irish lost three of last four bowls SU (3-2 ATS in last five).
— These teams haven’t met since 2004.
— Underdogs covered three of last four Sun Bowls.
— Pac-12 teams are 6-3 SU in last nine Sun Bowls.