Gator Bowl: Clemson Tigers vs Kentucky Wildcats Odds, AI Picks, and AI Prediction

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Some of the best college bowls will take place throughout the weekend, and that is the case with the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. The 2023 Gator Bowl will feature the Clemson Tigers from the ACC taking on the Kentucky Wildcats from the SEC. 

Even though neither of these teams were able to get to the top of the NCAAF standings in their respective leagues, ending the season on a high note is going to be a goal. The Gator Bowl odds for this game are tight, and that could set the stage for a terrific battle. 

Game Information 

Gator Bowl

CLEMSON TIGERS vs KENTUCKY WILDCATS

Location of the Game: Everbank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL

Date and Time: Friday, December 29, 12:00 PM ET

Reason: 2023 Gator Bowl

How to watch: watchlivesports.co

AI Betting Picks

ODDS	AI BETTING PICKS
OVER/UNDER	Under 44.5
SPREAD/MONEYLINE	Kentucky Wildcats +5.0

Even though the Gator Bowl odds favor the Clemson Tigers in this game, it will be the Kentucky Wildcats that have more to prove. Kentucky had a very difficult NCAAF schedule throughout the year, and they just weren’t able to get past some of the elite teams in the SEC. 

This Gator Bowl: Clemson Tigers vs Kentucky Wildcats matchup is going to come down to one or two plays, and Clemson will ultimately make winning plays down the stretch. It’s not going to be easy for Clemson to get that done though, and taking the five points and backing Kentucky is the way to go. 

This is going to be a defensive struggle at times, and taking the under 44.5 points is another way to go. These two teams have a ton of pride, and they will both be coming up with some big plays on defense. 

Gator Bowl Odds

The Gator Bowl odds for this game favor the Clemson Tigers by five points, but that’s a relatively small spread for a college football game. NCAAF odds don’t always predict how a game is going to play out, but it will be something to keep in mind in this battle. 

Making NCAAF picks on the total number of points is always a solid option as well, and that betting line is at 44.5 total points. When trying to break down a matchup, you will want to consider how those betting lines are going to work together. 

Betting Preview

Clemson Can Be Explosive

This Clemson roster is going to look much different next year as some players have already announced their plans to transfer. That was expected after another disappointing year, but Clemson will also get some players coming back to them. 

Quarterback Cade Klubnik is going to be on the field for Clemson in this game and he threw for 2.580 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. Running back Phil Mafah has also been a star as he has racked up 894 rushing yards on the ground. 

The NCAAF injury report impacted the Tigers in many ways this season, especially on the defensive side of the ball. That unit has still been able to put up some solid numbers, but they just haven’t been able to score like in recent years. 

Wildcats Want to Defend

The Kentucky Wildcats are averaging just 25 points per game this season, and at some point they are going to have to come up with big plays in this game. Kentucky tends to play conservative on offense, but that doesn’t work in a big college bowl game.

The Wildcats are averaging over 180 rushing yards per game, and that could ultimately wear down the Clemson defense in the fourth quarter. Running back Ray Davis has been a nightmare for SEC defenses this season and he is averaging 5.7 yards per carry this season. 

Kentucky is not a team that wants to try to win in a shootout, and they are going to slow the game down at every single turn. The Wildcats can set the tone on defense, but don’t be surprised to see them try to have some long drives in this game.

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