We can blame Dabo Swinney for some of the playoff controversies earlier this month. Why? His Clemson should never have lost that game to FSU in September, triggering the Noles' push thru the remainder of the regular season. Indeed, there are a lot of regional observers who believed the Tigers were really the best of the ACC this season, though a strange self-destruct mechanism contributed to four Clemson defeats before Halloween. Down the stretch, however, the Tigers were hot, winning and covering their last four, with QB Cade Klubnik cutting down his mistakes and RB Phil Mafah emerging. UK's best efforts were well-spaced this season, contributing to a mild disappointment for NC State transfer QB Devin Leary. Play Clemson (Gator Bowl)

The opt-outs are predominantly defensive players, and NFL-bound RB Ray Davis of Kentucky has admirably elected to play one more college game, which makes the Over attractive. All three Clemson players headed for the pros work on defense, and four Tigers sitting out play the secondary. That should ease the burden of Kentucky QB Devin Leary, who faced Clemson three times while at N.C. State and excelled once. The Wildcats will miss just one player on defense. Six of Kentucky's previous nine games went Over.

Expect Tigers offensive coordinator Garrett Riley to open up the offense, let quarterback Cade Klubnik sling it around the yard and take a ton of risks in a game that could provide the program momentum heading into a critical offseason. The Wildcats will be forced into a track meet in order to keep it close, and they have enough firepower to do it … at least for a while. This one feels more like a high 20s or low 30s style matchup.