2012 College Football Bowl Picks: LSU vs Clemson Odds and Predictions – Free Chick-fil-A Bowl Picks

Chick Fil A Bowl Odds and Picks: LSU vs Clemson Predictions – Free College Bowl Picks 12/31/12: While there have definitely been some entertaining bowl games thus far, there hasn’t really been that can’t-miss matchup just yet. That will change Monday night when the eighth-ranked LSU Tigers (10-2, 6-2 SEC) and the 14th-ranked Clemson Tigers (10-2, 7-1 ACC) help usher in the new year when they meet in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The game is a matchup of the of the best teams that didn’t win their conferences or make a BCS bowl, and it is also a clash of one of the country’s best offenses versus one of its best defenses. Hailing from the mighty SEC, LSU is a six-point favorite.

For LSU, a stout defense has been there all season, but the offense took some time to develop. Led by powerful defensive line, the Tigers rank 11th in the country in points allowed at just 16.9 per game. The unit ranks ninth in the country at stopping the run and 10th in interceptions with 18. Offensively, Jeremy Hill has become the workhorse of a multi-back, downhill rushing attack. The offensive line is also one of the best in the country, and the group is finally healthy after starting the year without both of its starting tackles. Meanwhile, quarterback Zach Mettenberger overcame a horrible start and has almost 2,500 yards entering the bowl game, albeit with just 11 touchdowns.

The Clemson offense is loaded with explosive weapons, and the Tigers currently rank sixth in the country in scoring at 42.3 points per game. Quarterback Tajh Boyd leads the 13-th-ranked passing attack, and he has thrown for 35 touchdowns and more than 3,500 yards. Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins are both dangerous weapons at receiver, and after Watkins led the way last year, Hopkins has taken center stage this season with 16 touchdowns and more than 1,200 yards. The running game isn’t too shabby either with Andre Ellington having already topped 1,000 yards and Boyd adding nearly 500 yards himself to go along with nine more touchdowns. Clemson’s defense has been decent for the most part and is giving up 24.9 points per game on the year. However, the unit has had some issues against tougher competition, allowing 30 or more points four times and 48-plus points on two occasions.

The LSU Tigers Win If:

It has been a rough year for Mettenberger, but he has topped 200 yards in his last four games and has had his three best passing efforts of the year during the stretch. If he continues to provide balance to the LSU offense, it is going to make it even tougher for an average Clemson defense to handle LSU’s powerful ground game. Defensively, LSU needs to win at the line of scrimmage, forcing Boyd to make quick throws and neutralizing Ellington. If LSU takes away the big plays from the Clemson offense, Clemson isn’t going to be able to put enough points on the board to cover up for its lackluster defense.

The Clemson Tigers Win If:

If Clemson is going to topple LSU, it has to get its offense on track early. In order for that to happen, the Clemson offensive line has to hold its own against the LSU defensive front so that Boyd has time to get the ball in the hands of his speedy receivers. Defensively, Clemson has to control the LSU ground game and make Mettenberger beat them. Clemson’s defense needs to give its offense as many chances as possible to hit some big plays, and that isn’t going to happen if LSU is controlling the clock with its rushing attack. At the end of the day, Clemson has the offensive firepower to outscore an average LSU offense, and if Clemson turns this game into a shootout, LSU is the team that will be in trouble.

Bottom Line:

For anyone that doubts just how good the top teams in the SEC really are, consider what happened when each of these teams faced South Carolina. LSU went on the road against a healthy Gamecocks’ bunch and came away with a 23-21 win. Clemson hosted a South Carolina team that was missing its starting running back and starting quarterback and promptly lost 27-17. Clemson’s high-powered offense was stifled by the South Carolina defense, and LSU’s unit is just as stout if not better. After all, LSU’s defense shut down Heisman winner Johnny Manziel and held the Texas A&M offense to just 19 points. Boyd and company couldn’t handle the Gamecocks, and they won’t handle LSU either. Heck, Clemson only managed 26 points against an Auburn team that went winless in SEC play. Les Miles’ bunch will ground the high-flying Clemson offense and run over the average Clemson defense on its way to a win.

Prediction: LSU Tigers (-6) Cover the Spread

LSU vs Clemson Vegas Odds and Total
Date: 12/31/12
Line: LSU -5
Total: Over/Under 60.5
Television: 7:30 PM EST on ESPN

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