As the College Football Playoff (CFP) begins, analysts are offering predictions for the first-round matchups, which kicked off Friday with Notre Dame’s victory over Indiana. Highlighting the weekend’s action is the game between Texas and Clemson. Texas, the No. 5 seed, will host No. 12 seed Clemson at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin, which is expected to be a wonderful day for football. The winner of this contest will advance to face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl.
On Saturday, the CFP continues with a packed schedule starting with an 11 a.m. game featuring 11th-seeded SMU against sixth-seeded Penn State at Beaver Stadium. The day wraps up with a matchup pitting No. 9 Tennessee against No. 8 Ohio State.
Texas enters the game as a significant favorite against Clemson. Various experts from ESPN, CBS, and beyond have weighed in with their predictions:
From the Austin American-Statesman, several writers predict a Texas win by varying margins. Danny Davis points out Texas’s higher ranking throughout the season compared to Clemson’s playoff entry, while Cedric Golden predicts a Texas victory of 31-21, crediting the team’s ability to regain offensive momentum. Other predictions from the Statesman echo this sentiment, favoring Texas primarily due to their top-tier defensive performance.
CBS analysts largely support this conclusion, with six out of seven opting for Texas to win. The team’s betting odds show a split preference among analysts regarding the spread, with some foreseeing Texas will cover while others believe Clemson may do so.
ESPN aims high by largely favoring Texas as well. Their predictions give Texas an impressive 80% chance of winning, with most analysts forecasting Texas to outscore Clemson by noticeable margins.
USA TODAY’s predictions echo the consensus, with their staff also anticipating a Texas win by at least two touchdowns.
Currently, Texas is favored by 13.5 points, with over/under set at 50.5, indicating the bookmakers think this will be a game influenced by solid performances from the Longhorns.
In summary, as the first round of the CFP unfolds, there’s strong confidence among analysts in Texas’s ability to secure a victory over Clemson, setting them on the path for further success in the playoffs. With the stage set for an exciting game, fans eagerly anticipate whether the Longhorns can deliver on the expectations set by analysts across the board.
Overall, it’s an exciting time in college football as teams vie for a chance at the championship, and Texas fans have reason to be optimistic as they look forward to their team potentially continuing their playoff journey.