PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's CFB Championship Game of the Month
(NCAAF) Tigers (CLE) vs. Mustangs (SMU),
Money Line: -134.00 Mustangs (SMU) (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -134.00 Mustangs (SMU) (Home)
Result: Loss
Dabo Swinney has had some great Clemson teams. This isn't one of them.
I have SMU as being the superior team. So I'm backing the Mustangs here.
I'm not keen on Clemson QB Cade Klubnik and the Tigers' best running back, Phil Mafah, is banged-up.
SMU's defense gives up nearly a yard fewer per play than Clemson's. The Mustangs have a top-20 defense, 37 sacks and rank fourth in run defense. The Tigers can't match those defensive numbers.
Only four teams averaged more points per game than the Mustangs' 39.2. Clemson is not one of those teams.
The Tigers' defensive strength is takeaways. They ranked 11th in the country with 23. SMU QB Kevin Jennings, though, has thrown just seven interceptions all season. He can attack a mediocre Clemson secondary and his running backs can pick up chunks of yards against the Tigers' 72nd-ranked run defense.
I have SMU as being the superior team. So I'm backing the Mustangs here.
I'm not keen on Clemson QB Cade Klubnik and the Tigers' best running back, Phil Mafah, is banged-up.
SMU's defense gives up nearly a yard fewer per play than Clemson's. The Mustangs have a top-20 defense, 37 sacks and rank fourth in run defense. The Tigers can't match those defensive numbers.
Only four teams averaged more points per game than the Mustangs' 39.2. Clemson is not one of those teams.
The Tigers' defensive strength is takeaways. They ranked 11th in the country with 23. SMU QB Kevin Jennings, though, has thrown just seven interceptions all season. He can attack a mediocre Clemson secondary and his running backs can pick up chunks of yards against the Tigers' 72nd-ranked run defense.
