Can Clemson beat Texas? Predicting the best possible result for Tigers against Longhorns 

The ACC champions Clemson Tigers are back in the College Football Playoff for the first time in four years with their last playoff win coming when Trevor Lawrence was still with the team. They qualified for the CFP on the back of a great special teams play on the final drive which culminated with a 56-yard field goal as time expired.

Meanwhile, the Texas Longhorns started off their first season in the SEC with a bang as it went 11-2, with their only losses coming both from the Georgia Bulldogs.

The game will be played in Austin at the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at 4:00 p.m. ET as TNT’s second game of a tripleheader. The winner will face the No. 4 seed Arizona State Sun Devils in the Peach Bowl.

Can Clemson beat Texas?

Clemson went 10-3 this season en route to winning the ACC. Quarterback Cade Klubnik and running back Phil Mafah were big pieces in those wins, with Klubnik throwing for 3,303 yards and 33 touchdowns to just five interceptions, while Mafah rushed for 1,106 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Head coach Dabo Swinney will lean on them heavily as they will be facing a defense that gave up the second-fewest points behind a strong defensive line and secondary.

This may also be a good time for Clemson to get the jump on Texas as they are currently facing some uncertainty as to who will be playing under center. Quinn Ewers has been the full-time starter under center this season and has done a good job, but he has struggled in recent games, throwing only two touchdowns while getting three interceptions in his last two games.

What’s making it worse is the calls to coach Steve Sarkisian to bench Ewers and play Arch Manning instead, who showed off his talents in the two starts he got filling in for an injured Ewers. Sarkisian has said that he is planning to use Manning and Ewers together to give the offense a spark and some variety but it remains to be seen if the offense does pick up in this year’s playoffs.

Who is favored in the CFP game between Clemson vs. Texas?

FanDuel, BetMGM and DraftKings all have the same lines with Texas going in as a 12.5 favorite, reinforcing their status as a No. 5 seed and a big favorite on their first matchup with Clemson. The over/under is set at 50.5, but a 51.5 line is also available on most sportsbooks at a slightly adjusted price. The money line is set at -550 for Texas and +400 for Clemson.

How many national championships does Clemson have?

The Clemson Tigers have won three national championships with their most recent in 2018 when they beat the Alabama Crimson Tide. Their other championships came in 1981 and 2016. This will be their seventh appearance in the College Football Playoff.

How many national championships does Texas have?

The Texas Longhorns have won four national championships, but it has been almost 20 years since they last won one in 2005 when they beat the USC Trojans. They won their other championships in 1963, 1969, and 1970. This will be the Longhorns’ second consecutive appearance in the playoffs after qualifying last year for the first time.

Who do you think will win when the Clemson Tigers face the Texas Longhorns on Saturday? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.