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ESPN’s FPI predicts outcome of Clemson-Texas CFP game
By Mark Kern
Published:
ESPN’s FPI is back with more predictions for the first round matchups in the College Football Playoffs.
The Texas Longhorns host Clemson with an opportunity to move on to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils in a quarterfinal matchup.
This is the first time the CFP will have 12 teams, and this is 1 of 4 first round matchups that will be played on either December 20 or 21. ESPN’s FPI is giving the Longhorns over an 84.4% chance to win this game, leaving the Tigers as huge road underdogs at only 15.6%.
Clemson was on the outside looking in last week, as the Tigers lost at home to South Carolina in the regular season finale. They looked to be all but eliminated from the CFP race because they weren’t in control of their own destiny. However, Fran Brown’s Syracuse team pulled a shocking upset against Miami to put Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.
On Saturday night, the Tigers won an absolutely thrilling game against SMU, winning the ACC title by a score of 34-31. The Tigers were up 17 in the fourth quarter, but SMU came back and tied the game up with 16 seconds left. However, Clemson was able to get in field goal range, and Nolan Hauser made a 56-yard field goal as time expired to give the Tigers the win.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik threw for 262 yards and 4 touchdowns, capping off a regular season in which he threw for 3,303 yards, 33 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
Texas is coming off a 22-19 overtime loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, which is the 2nd time the Longhorns lost to the Bulldogs this year. Those are the only 2 losses for Texas this season. The Longhorns dominated the game for much of the night, but they turned it over 3 times and finished with 11 penalties for 94 yards.
While they lost that game, Texas could be set up as well as any team in the CFP. The Longhorns are favored by 11 against Clemson, and will be favored by a similar number if they advance to take on Arizona State. Quinn Ewers threw for 358 yards against Georgia, but he had 2 big interceptions.
