Clemson Tigers 2022 College Football Preview
August 1, 2022
2021 Recap
Record – 10-3
ATS – 5-8
That wasn’t YO MOMMA’S Clemson Tigers, yo.
The Tigers opened the season with a seven-point loss to the eventual National Champions from Georgia and saw their playoff hopes go down the CRAPPER a few weeks later when they lost in OT at NC State. Clemson lost their third (!) game of the season at Pitt, but they kept fighting and won their final five regular season games. They ended the campaign with a Cheez-It Bowl win over the feisty Iowa St Cyclones (W 20-13), a 6000 STAR MEGALOCKS BOWL BONANZA STEAM LOCK winner.
Can Clemson get back to their typical place at or near the top of the college football world?
Clemson Tigers 2022 Outlook
OFFENSE
Yuck. That pretty much sums it up. The Tigers finished #100 (!) in the FBS in total offense (359 YPG) and #82 in scoring offense (26.3). This DEBACLE came just one year after they averaged 502 YPG and 43.5 PPG. QB DJ Uiagalelei was horrible (9-10 TD to INT, 6.0 YPA) and the Tigers will need a much better performance if they wanna make serious waves this year. Super-prospect QB Cade Klubnik is probably not ready to take the reins as a true freshman, but stay tuned! The WR/TE group is CHOCK FULL of talented youngsters but it’s an unproven bunch. We love the RB situation and the ground attack got rolling in the second half of last season behind the solid play of Will Shipley (738, 5.0, 11 TD). They’ve got a deep and talented RB room that’ll be running behind one of the best offensive lines in the ACC. We expect much better production on offense but that THROW GAME is still a question mark. <grabs popcorn>
DEFENSE
The Tigers gutted thru injury problems and got almost no help from the offense LY, but yet, they still played at an elite level. They finished the season ranked #8 in the FBS in total defense, #7 in run defense, #9 in pass efficiency D, and #2 (!) in scoring defense (14.8 PPG). The defensive line is one of most DEVASTATING units on paper in college football as they return all four starters and several sure-fire early NFL DCs. It’ll be especially great to have DT Bryan Bresee back as he missed the majority of 2021. The back seven is talented, as you would expect for Clemson, but there are only a pair of returning starters to rely upon. When you think about losing arguably the best DC in college football, one can only worry about the stop unit living up to previous iterations.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Clemson will need to fine a new punter but bring back their excellent PK BT Potter (21-26 FG LY, 12-14 40+) and KR Will Shipley (27.1). Hopefully, they can find a decent PR and finish better than #117 in the nation.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – It’s a walk in the park, yo. The only scary road game is a visit to South Bend and they get NC State and Miami at home.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – October 15 – at Florida St
This will be Clemson’s 3rd road game in four weeks and they’ll probably be happy to get out of Tallahassee with a one-point win. Not a spot where we’ll be laying the road chalk.
Season Win Total
per BetOnline Aug 1
Over 10.5 +100
Under 10.5 -130
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
It’s hard to see them losing two regular season games but they still have a question mark at QB and lost their outstanding DC.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Clemson has booked 11 (!) consecutive double-digit win seasons. That’s just ridiculous.
The Tigers are pretty good at home. How does a record of 33-0 over the L5Y sound?
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
These guys are still the most talented team in the ACC, but there’s no doubt that the gap between them and the next small handful of teams is closing. The only units that blow you away on paper are RB and DL, so it’s not unthinkable that they get upset somewhere along the way. They’re our logical PICK to CLICK for the ACC title but we wouldn’t take a short price in the futures market.
Want more Clemson football ?
WEBSITE
https://clemsontigers.com/sports/football/
FORUM
http://forums.theclemsoninsider.com/
http://www.tigernet.com/forums/post!default.jspa?forumID=1
https://clemson.forums.rivals.com/forums/the-west-zone.8/
http://clemson.247sports.com/Board/Clemson-Tigers-Football-Basketball-Message-Board-Forum-22
http://thetigerfanforum.com/forum/
NEWS
http://www.tigernet.com/football/
http://rubbingtherock.com/football/
http://www.independentmail.com/orange-white/football/
http://www.shakinthesouthland.com/
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/228/clemson-tigers