Clemson vs. Texas Prediction, Picks & Odds: College Football Playoff Round 1

Thanks to one of the most miraculous field goals in college football history, Clemson is in the College Football Playoff and headed to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin to face Texas on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET (TNT, Max).

• Our Clemson vs. Texas prediction expects Dabo Swinney's Tigers to put up a real fight against the Longhorns
• Despite not having a bye, Texas is right with Oregon as the college football championship odds favorite
• The Longhorns are 12.5-point favorites, making the Tigers the biggest underdogs among our college bowl game predictions this week for the College Football Playoff

Our college football bowl game opt-out tracker has you covered with the latest opt-out news and the impact on the college bowl game odds. 

Clemson vs. Texas prediction & best pick: College Football Playoff

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

• Against the spread prediction: Clemson +12.5 () vs. Texas ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• My best pick: Quinn Ewers Over 0.5 interceptions () ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Clemson vs. Texas ATS prediction

Clemson to cover the spread: +12.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -110 via bet365 | Implied probability: 52.38%

It's hard to feel confident in Clemson winning this game, especially when the Tigers are here thanks only to the leg of Nolan Hauser. But this spread is wildly large given Texas' resume.

Sure, the Longhorns are 11-2, but their most impressive win this season was by 10 points over an 8-4 Texas A&M. Outside of losing to Georgia twice, the second time against the Bulldogs' backup QB Gunner Stockton for the second half, who have they played? I guess beating 7-5 Michigan was an impressive win?

So while Clemson isn't a real contender, the Tigers are probably the best team Steve Sarkisian's team has seen this season that's not from Athens. And Texas is just 2-5 ATS since that first game against Georgia.

Klubnik, the best QB Texas has faced?

Texas' defense is a large part of why the Longhorns are sitting around +370 to win the title. It's one of the best in the nation and ranks No. 2 in , but it also hasn't been challenged by many high-end offenses or QBs as explosive as Klubnik.

While Klubnik certainly has his worts, he has Clemson's offense No. 16 in SP+ - Texas played just one team with an offense in the top 20 this season (Georgia). He's also arguably better than Carson Beck, ranking top-10 in the country in big-time throws (23) and top-30 in 10-plus-yard runs by QBs (18), per .

Is Klubnik going to lead an upset? It's unlikely, but he and Phil Mafah have the talent to lose by less than 13 points. And if they do, a $10 bet pays a $9.09 profit.

Clemson vs. Texas best pick

Our NEW college football player prop odds ;tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Quinn Ewers Over 0.5 interceptions ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -113 via Caesars | Implied probability: 53.05%

Is Ewers the best QB on his own team? There's a serious debate to be had because he hasn't shown up in big moments this season and seems to be good for at least one throw that only your drunk uncle would attempt during the backyard pickup game at Thanksgiving. 

Since his spectacular outing in Week 2 against Michigan, Ewers has led Texas against five teams that were ranked at the time of the game. He threw at least one interception in all five games - seven overall - and accounted for 14 turnover-worthy plays.

With a pass rush led by budding star T.J. Parker and a defense that's 16th in the country in interceptions (15), Clemson should be able to get at least one off Ewers. If he throws his 10th INT of the year, a $10 bet pays an $8.85 profit.

College Football Playoff expert picks

• Indiana vs. Notre Dame prediction
• Indiana vs. Notre Dame player prop picks
• Indiana vs. Notre Dame parlay picks
• SMU vs. Penn State prediction
• Clemson vs. Texas prediction
• College Football Playoff best bets
• College Football Playoff player prop bets
• College Football Playoff parlay picks
• College Football Playoff anytime touchdown scorer predictions

Clemson vs. Texas odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

Clemson vs. Texas live odds

Clemson vs. Texas opening odds:

• Clemson: +11 (-110)
• Texas: -11 (-110)

Clemson vs. Texas injuries

Clemson vs. Texas game info

• When: Saturday, Dec. 21
• Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
• Where: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin)
• How to watch: TNT, Max
• Weather: 63 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, wind 6 mph SE
• Favorite: Texas -12.5 (-110 via bet365)

College football betting odds pages

Here are our best college football betting sites:

• Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUSDYW | Read our Caesars Review
• BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
• bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
• FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
• DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission

Related pages

• Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)