Music City Bowl – Kentucky Wildcats vs. Clemson Tigers

College Football Point Spread: Clemson -7

Kentucky: The Week That Was

The Wildcats – who lost in overtime to Tennessee in 2007 – once again took the rival Volunteers to an extra period, but still couldn’t break through.

Playing on home turf at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., coach Rich Brooks’ ballclub tied Tennessee at 24 in the final minute of regulation. UK stood a few plays away from gaining a second-place finish in the SEC East and a January bowl bid, but the fun didn’t last for Big Blue. A missed Kentucky field goal in overtime, followed shortly thereafter by a 20-yard touchdown run from Volunteer running back Montario Hardesty, allowed Tennessee to escape with a 30-24 triumph. The Vols have now won 25 straight against Kentucky; the last time the Wildcats defeated UT came in 1984.

Clemson: The Week That Was

The Tigers, who have embarrassed themselves on so many prior occasions in big games, acquitted themselves well in a 39-34 loss to Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game. Running back C.J. Spiller carried the ball 20 times for 233 yards with four touchdowns, as Clemson came from behind to snatch a late 34-33 lead. Unfortunately for head coach Dabo Swinney, Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense simply proved to be too much.

Yellow Jacket running back Jonathan Dwyer delivered a 15-yard scoring run to give Georgia Tech a five-point advantage with just 1:20 left in the game. Tiger quarterback Kyle Parker couldn’t mount a response in the final 80 seconds, and as a result, Clemson had to be content with its first-ever ACC Atlantic Division title.

The Week That Is:

These two teams have met before in the Music City Bowl. In 2006, Clemson was favored – as is the case this year – but Kentucky played with far more purpose and passion. The Wildcats flew all over the field and played the game faster than the sluggish Tigers did. While Clemson committed four turnovers, Kentucky rolled to a 28-6 lead and held on for a 28-20 upset win.

This year, it’s once again apparent that Clemson should – on paper – give Kentucky a good thrashing. No one on the Wildcats can match the dynamic breakaway speed of Spiller, who should have a field day before he collects an NFL paycheck.

On the other side of the ball, Kentucky’s quarterback situation – partly connected to injuries and partly connected to performance – has not created the stability Rich Brooks needs in order to carry his program to a higher level of prominence in the SEC. Mike Hartline got hurt in an Oct. 10 game against South Carolina and missed six contests. Morgan Newton and Randall Cobb have filled in for Hartline with mixed results. Kentucky does figure to fight hard, but as long as Clemson takes this game seriously, the more loaded Tigers should prevail.

College Football Betting Pick: Clemson -7