Music City Bowl Betting Odds

Opening Line: Kentucky +7.5 / Clemson -7.5 O/U 52

Time: 8:30 PM EST Sunday December 27, 2009 on ESPN

In a game between a couple of teams that played killer schedules the Clemson Tigers face the Kentucky Wildcats. The teams combined to play 7 ranked teams this season. Clemson dropped their last 2 games of the season and Kentucky lost their season finale, but had won 3 previous games. The Wildcats have won 3 straight bowl games while the Tigers have lost 3 straight.

Both teams have a better defense than offense, but Clemson has one of the best RB's in the nation, which is not good for a Kentucky rushing defense that ranks 100th in the nation. Tigers' RB C.J. Spiller was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best RB, and has 7,416 career all-purpose yards, which is the 3rd most in NCAA history. Overall, Kentucky has the nation's 90th ranked offense and 59th ranked defense and Clemson ranks 69th on offense and 22nd on defense.

This season Kentucky was 6-5 ATS and Clemson was 7-5 ATS

In their last game the Wildcats lost to Tennessee 30-24 in OT and the Tigers lost to Georgia Tech 39-34.

Clemson does have a decent passing offense led by QB Kyle Parker (2,385 yds 19 TD, but Spiller is their big weapon in the backfield. If Spiller has a big game the Tigers have a great chance to win this game. If Kentucky stacks the line then the Parker will have to move the chains in the air. Parker should not see much pressure n this game, as Kentucky only ranks 104th in the nation with 16 sacks. To add insult to injury Kentucky will be without their best defensive player, as LB Sam Maxwell, who had 80 tackles and was tied for 2nd in the SEC with 6 interceptions, is out for this game after shoulder surgery.

Kentucky does not have a pass-happy offense to say the least, as they rank 114th in the nation in passing yards per game. They will have to run the ball in this game with the duo of RB Derrick Locke (843 yds 6 TD) and WR Randall Cobb (537 yds 10 TD). The one good think for Kentucky is that Clemson D is much better against the pass than the run, as their rushing defense ranks 69th in the nation.


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