You know you are a true football factory university when your team wins ten games, including its last six in a row and that is considered a disappointing season.
But that’s how it goes when Dabo Swinney and company managed to set such a high bar of excellence. Before last season, the Tigers had made it to six straight College Football Playoffs, including two championships and two losses in the final game of the season. They had won the ACC six straight times and they spent an astounding 97 straight weeks in the AP Top 10 before their early season struggles last year.
One streak they still have going for them is 11 straight double win seasons, and now they’ll look to return to the absolute top of the college football food chain.
Their biggest issues last year were their offense and there’s no doubt that highly touted QB DJ Uiagalelei for all his NFL quality tools, was not able to put it together in his full first year at the helm.
He completed just 56% of his passes for nine touchdowns and ten interceptions. As a result, the Tigers had the worst offense in the ACC and 100th in the nation.
This year, he’ll be pushed by super-recruit Cade Klubnik, so the leash will be considerably shorter and the expectation is that the experience gained last year will serve him well in season two.
He’s got plenty of talent all around him at receiver, running back and tight end, so if the Tigers can score even at an average rate this year, the sky is potentially the limit.
2022 Clemson Tigers NCAA Football Futures Odds
- Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 10/1
- Odds to win the 2022 ACC Conferences: -130
- 2022 Regular Season Win Total: Under 10½ (-135)
- Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +145 | No -190
- 2022 Heisman Contenders: DJ Uiagalelei +5000 & Will Shipley +8000
- Official website: clemsontigers.com
- Twitter Account : @ClemsonFB
Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 10/1
At these odds, the Tigers are a step ahead of everyone else to this point in the rankings and a clear favorite. And they should be. They play in one of the weaker conferences in the Power-Five, their defense is still one of the best in the nation -and was last year- and the offense is almost certainly going to improve over last year.
The two titles, four finals and six straight CFP appearances also is strong evidence that this team is among the best at capitalizing on its opportunities.
10/1 odds might be relatively low odds, but it still means an excellent payout.
The Verdict: A solid bet
Odds to win the 2022 ACC Conference: -130
They are the favorites in an improving conference, and they lost to NC State on the road last year as part of their three losses. This year they get the Wolfpack at home. Wake Forest will be without its star QB and towards the end of the season they get to host Miami.
Their biggest test will come at the start of November against Notre Dame, but even if they lose that one, they will be strong favorites in all the rest of their games.
The Verdict: A solid bet
2022 Regular Season Win Total: Under 10½ (-135)
The way the schedule lines up, with their toughest conference games coming at home, they should be able to get to 11 wins even if they lose at Notre Dame.
There is just too much talent on this team, they have one of the best coaches in football, and the step back last year will undoubtedly light a fire under everyone to get back on top.
The Verdict: A solid bet
Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +145 | No -190
The competition to make the playoffs this year should be fierce. There is improved competition in both the Pac-12 and Big-12 and we can all but give at least two, if not three spots to the SEC and Big-10. That leaves a very tight window for the last spot (or two). If the offense is only mediocre and they lose to Notre Dame, it is no gimme that Clemson will be in, even if they are ACC champs with a 1-loss season.
I still like their chances, but if the return at these odds seems too small for you to take a chance, I get it.
The Verdict: Worth a small bet
2022 Heisman Contenders: DJ Uiagalelei +5000, Will Shipley +8000
Uiagalelei would need to take a huge -possibly historical- leap forward to pull this off. It helps that expectations have been lowered somewhat, but better to save your money.
RB Will Shipley should be a driving force for this offense, but it’s a team with a lot of talent that likes to spread the ball around in the backfield. And it doesn’t help matters that he’s no threat to catch the ball out of the backfield.
The Verdict: Skip them both
Odds According to Bovada as of August, 2022
Clemson Tigers 2022 Schedule
SEASON | |||
Date | Time | Opponent | TV |
5-Sep | 8:00 p.m. | vs. Georgia Tech | ESPN |
10-Sep | 3:30 p.m. | Furman* | ACCN |
17-Sep | 8:00 p.m. | Louisiana Tech* | ACCN |
24-Sep | at Wake Forest | ||
1-Oct | NC State | ||
8-Oct | at Boston College | ||
15-Oct | at Florida State | ||
22-Oct | Syracuse | ||
5-Nov | 7:30 p.m. | at Notre Dame* | NBC |
12-Nov | Louisville | ||
19-Nov | Miami (FL) | ||
26-Nov | South Carolina* | ||
Home stadium: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
*Non-conference game – All times are in Eastern time
Bet on the Clemson Tigers 2022 Season at Bovada Sportsbook.