Tracking Lawrence's Bowl picks...
They are 17-10 so far (not counting Florida A&M/Howard). 63%
Kentucky is his 3-star Best Bet. Liberty is his 5-star Best Bet
3 STARS - Kentucky over Clemson by 6
We doubt Dabo Sweeney wrote “play in the Gator Bowl” as one of his goals for the 2023 season, but that’s what 8-4 gets you. The Tigers did fi nish strongly with a four-game win streak including two victories over Top 25 teams. The Tigers are normally the guest you want in your house, thanks to a loyal fan base and good teams. Clemson is 11-4 ATS in their last 15 bowl games, but anytime the ACC matches muscles with the SEC, it tends not to go well. ACC teams are 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS in the last seven bowl games vs the Southeastern Conference. This just in…our sources tell us Kentucky is in fact a member of the SEC and when they traipse outside the conference, UK is 24-1 SU in their last 25 non-con games, plus 9-1 ATS when both teams are coming off non-conference games (Clemson beat South Carolina). Wildcats coach Mark Stoops, who apparently packed his bags and spent time on Zillow.com looking at College Station, Texas real estate before that all fell apart, will bring in a 16-4-1 ATS off a nonconference win if the foe is .667 or greater. We understand why Kentucky is the underdog here but when visiting the Humane Society, we gravitate towards the dogs that don’t get the love they deserve. Clemson hasn’t been invited to the prom in two straight years and we wonder how they’ll handle rejection. So does the Well-Oiled Machine, who really earned its stripes by spitting out THE CLINCHER…Bowl favorites off consecutive wins, the last one a revenge victory, are 1-8 ATS if they scored 16 points or fewer in the victory. The Tigers beat the Gamecocks 16-7… as Hall of Fame baseball announcer Mel Allen would say “How About That!”