Clemson Tigers 2023 College Football Preview
July 11, 2023
2022 Recap
Record – 11-3
ATS – 7-7
Yup, a “disappointing” season in the land of the mighty Clemson Tigers means “just” winning another ACC Championship, but not participating in the College Football Playoff. The offense and defense failed to live up to their high standards yet they STILL managed to bag some hardware.
Are they ready to make a National Championship run in 2023?
Clemson Tigers 2023 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Tigers were an inconsistent bunch on offense LY and ended the campaign ranked #5 in the ACC in rushing and #6 with the THROW GAME. It’s Cade Klubnik’s time to shine this season and he showed some promise in limited action LY (61%, 2-3 TD to INT, 139 rush 2 TD). Klubnik loses two of his top-three targets but he’ll be happy to see #1 WR Antonio Williams back in the mix (604, 10.8, 4 TD). As with last season’s squad, there are plenty of doods with raw talent at WR/TE, but they’ll need one of two of them to rise up and be legit weapons if Clemson wants to be a championship-caliber squad. ALL-MEGALOCKS TEAM RB Will Shipley returns for duty and all he did LY was carry the team on his back at times (1,182, 15 TD; 38 receptions). And Phil Mafah is a fantastic backup plan (515, 5.3, 4 TD). As Robert Griffin III once said, “He’s a bad Mafah!”. A potential under-the-radar development is the fact the offensive line looks to be the strongest it’s been in a few years. They’ve got four returning starters, nice size, and a lot of experience. This will be a very good offense with the chance to be elite if new OC Garrett Riley (TCU) can get them to stretch the field.
DEFENSE
The Tigers allowed a very “un-Clemson-like” 21 PPG last year (#4 ACC) but we expect them to be back to their old trick of dominating opponents in 2023. The DL is absolutely loaded with potential stars, and at least one current star in senior DT Tyler Davis (9.5 TFL, 15 QBH LY). The HITS KEEP COMING when you realize that they might have the best LB duo in the country in Jeremiah Trotter (#1 tackler, 13.5 TFL) and Barrett Carter (10.5 TFL, 11 QBH). Clemson was mediocre vs the pass LY (#6 ACC pass efficiency D) but we expect things to be much stronger on the back end given they’ve got every starter coming back, and you’ve gotta believe the front seven will do a great job of pressuring the QB.
SPECIAL TEAMS
There’s a lot of continuity on special teams but they’ll have to find a replacement for PK BT Potter (20-26 FG, 49-49 XP). Will Shipley does a great job on KR (24.9).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The Tigers should be able to roll into their home date with Florida St at 3-0 without much issue. They also get North Carolina at home near the end of the regular season. Notre Dame provides a stern non-conference test but that game is at Clemson.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at NC State (Oct 28)
This is a tricky sandwich situation as the Tigers will be coming off a road duel with YOUR Miami Hurricanes and they’ve got Notre Dame on deck. Be reminded that the Wolfpack SHOCKED the WORLD and beat the Tigers in 2OT the last time they came to town.
Season Win Total
Market consensus July 11
Over 10 -115
Under 10 -115
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
We’ve got slight LEANAGE to the ‘over’ as it’s really hard to see this squad losing three regular season games. Two losses and you PUSH IT, PUSH IT REAL GOOD.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Clemson has hit the double-digit mark in wins in an impossible twelve consecutive seasons.
Thomas Green Clemson, the university’s founder, explicitly stated in his will that he wanted the university to be modeled after what is now Mississippi St University. **
** SHOTS FIRED from Starkville!
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
Game on.
The Tigers look ready to make a run for the College Football Playoff and there’s no reason to think that they can’t achieve that goal. They’ve got an elite defense but the offense will have to take it up a notch if they wanna get past some explosive players in the ACC. They’re our PICK to CLICK in the ACC and a legitimate SURPRISE PACKAGE to win the whole thing for those that want to back someone other than Georgia and ROLL TIDE.
Sing it with us……
Where’s that Tiger?
Where that Tiger?
Hold that Tiger!
Hold that Tiger!