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Clemson football vs SMU score prediction, scouting report in ACC Championship with CFP on the line
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- Clemson football vs SMU score prediction, scouting report in ACC Championship with CFP on the line
CLEMSON — Clemson football looks to end its three-year CFP drought with a win in the ACC Championship Game .
The No. 17 Tigers (9-3) face No. 7 SMU (11-1) on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, ABC) in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium. The winner will receive an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff and a possible first-round bye.
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Here is what to know about the 2024 ACC Championship Game:
Will third time be the charm for Clemson football ?
Entering November, the Tigers needed to finish 3-0 in ACC play to go undefeated in the conference to improve their CFP résumé and make the conference championship. However, they suffered a shocking home night loss to Louisville that sunk their chances.
Clemson recovered to finish 7-1 in the ACC and was positioned to receive one of the seven CFP at-large bids thanks to multiple higher-ranked teams being upset in Week 13. Yet, it ruined its chance by losing to South Carolina at home last week.
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Still, the Tigers were given another life preserver when Syracuse upset Miami last week to help them clinch an ACC Championship Game bid. Now, they control their CFP destiny again and will face SMU , which has won nine straight games.
"God has opened another door for us, and that's really exciting," Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik said.
What to know about SMU, Rhett Lashlee, Kevin Jennings
SMU made the ACC title game in its first season in the conference. It is led by coach Rhett Lashlee, who was Miami's offensive coordinator from 2020-21. It is one of two Power 4 teams to go undefeated in conference play.
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The Mustangs average 39.2 points, the fifth most in the country. They are led by third-year quarterback Kevin Jennings, who became the starter in their fourth game this season. He has 2,746 yards passing for 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also uses his legs, rushing for 344 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Brashard Smith is a dynamic threat too, rushing for 1,157 yards for 14 touchdowns.
SMU is 19th in FBS in scoring defense, allowing 19.8 points per game, and tied for 11th in sacks with 37. It also has the No. 4 rushing defense, averaging 95.8 yards allowed.
MORE: Why Clemson football QB Cade Klubnik never imagined he would face SMU in ACC Championship Game
Can Clemson football's offense, Cade Klubnik return to being consistent?
The Tigers' offense averages 35.7 points, the 14th most in the country, but they struggled in November. Excluding their game against FCS opponent The Citadel, they averaged 20.8 points in four games (Louisville, Virginia Tech , Pitt, South Carolina).
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Clemson's unit endures lulls, where it cannot move the ball or score points. It endured injuries to their offensive line at left tackle and left guard in two of those games, but the line was healthy against Louisville and South Carolina. Its starting skill players were healthy too, but turnovers, penalties or three-and-outs plagued the Tigers in key moments last month.
Clemson's history vs SMU
This will be the first meeting between these two programs.
Under Tigers coach Dabo Swinney, Clemson is 8-1 in the ACC Championship Games. Swinney's team is also 36-9 following a loss.
Clemson score prediction vs SMU in ACC Championship Game
Clemson 27, SMU 24: This game has the makings to be a shootout with both teams carrying potent offenses, but it will turn into a gritty, rough game in the second half. Both are fighting for a CFP spot, but the Tigers will come out victorious. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik will get a chance to redeem his late-game mistake against South Carolina last week to lead the Tigers on a game-winning drive to punch their ticket to the CFP.
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Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson-SMU in ACC Championship score prediction: Winner makes CFP
