2022 Orange Bowl Preview

The 2022 Orange Bowl features the 10-2 No.6 Tennessee Volunteers against the 11-2 No.7 Clemson Tigers. Here is the 2022 Orange Bowl preview.

No.6 Tennessee Volunteers (10-2)

It was a huge year for the Tennessee Volunteers. They recorded wins over six bowl eligible teams including huge wins at SEC West winner LSU and at home against rivals No.3 Alabama. It was the first time Tennessee had defeated Nick Saban, with the last win coming in 2006. Unfortunately they fell to Georgia which knocked them out of the SEC Championship game, as well as South Carolina which may have knocked them out of the playoffs.

Tennessee lead the nation in points per game at 47.3. They were outstanding through the air with 332.3 yards per game (ranked 3rd) and were also very effective on the ground with 206 yards per game (ranked 18th).

Tennessee’s fast paced, high octane offense will be severely hindered through the air in the bowl game. Do it all quarterback and First Team All-SEC Hendon Hooker is out with injury as are the two most talented receivers in Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt. They’ve shouldered the depth issue at wide receiver with Tillman missing half the year. But backup quarterback Joe Milton poses a significant drop off for them. He was 11-for-21 for 147 yards and a touchdown in his lone start as Hooker’s replacement.

Tennessee allowed 23.5 points per game which ranked 45th in the country. They were ahead of only Vanderbilt among the power five against the pass allowing 287 yards per game (ranked 127th). They were much better against the run allowing 111.8 per game (ranked 20th). Defensively they are affected by only linebacker Jeremy Banks’s opt out. Banks was third on the team in tackles. Defensive lineman Byron Young was First Team All-SEC and led the team with five sacks. Both were big parts of a strong run defense.

No.7 Clemson Tigers (11-2)

Clemson had a very good season by most standards but fell short of the College Football Playoff again. They recorded six wins against bowl eligible teams. This included big wins on the road against Wake Forest and Florida State, wins at home against NC State, Syracuse and Louisville, and a dominating win in the ACC Championship against UNC. The losses came against solid teams in Notre Dame and South Carolina.

Clemson averages 34.7 points per game which ranks 25th. They throw for 225.6 yards per game (ranked 72nd) and run for 179 per game (ranked 46th).

Freshman Cole Klubnik will take over for starter DJ Uiagalelei. This isn’t the worst thing as Klubnik provided a much needed spark in relief during the ACC title game. They have opt outs from some receivers as well but that shouldn’t really impact the offense. The rushing game was their strong point with sophomore Will Shipley running for 1,110 yards and 15 touchdowns. Phil Mafah runs behind him with 476 yards and four touchdowns.

The Tigers allowed 20.08 points per game which ties for 19th in the country. They allow 230.2 yards through the air (ranked 76th) and are very good against the rush allowing 101.1 (ranked 10th). Clemson will be without two of their most impactful players in Trenton Simpson and Myles Murphy. Simpson was second on the team in tackles and Murphy was tied for the team lead in sacks.

Prediction

The combination of Clemson being very effective on defense this year while Tennessee losing a chunk of their offensive stars does not bode well for the Volunteers. If the Volunteers can get the run game going without Hendon Hooker they may stand a chance. But expect Clemson’s offense to be methodical and limit mistakes against a subpar Tennessee defense.

Tennessee 20 Clemson 28

Make sure to check out our college football page for more content like 2022 Las Vegas Bowl Preview!

You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!