Gator Bowl betting guide: What to know about Clemson vs. Kentucky spread, prop bets

Kentucky football will look to close the 2023 season on a high note Friday with a second consecutive win against a ranked ACC foe in the Gator Bowl against No. 22 Clemson. Residents of Kentucky can legally bet on the Wildcats’ bowl game for the first time this year.

Here is a closer look at what you need to know about four bets you can make on the Gator Bowl.

What is the spread for the Gator Bowl?

As of Wednesday evening, Clemson was listed as the favorite for the game but with the spread varying depending on which sportsbook you use. Caesars and DraftKings listed Clemson as a five-point favorite while FanDuel listed them as a 4.5-point favorite. Both Kentucky and Clemson are 6-6 against the spread this season.

What is the over/under for points scored in the Gator Bowl?

FanDuel and Caesars set the over/under for combined points scored in the game at 44.5 points. DraftKings has it at 45 points. It should be noted that Kentucky struggled to score for much of its Southeastern Conference slate but totaled 38 points in the regular season finale against Louisville. Clemson’s top-10 ranked defense will be playing short-handed due to opt-outs and transfers.

How many passing yards will Devin Leary total in the Gator Bowl?

Caesars and DraftKings have set the over/under for Leary passing yards against Clemson at 194.5. Just three opponents topped that number against Clemson during the regular season, but the Tigers will be without at least four normal defensive starters in the game. Earlier this month, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney joked he might have to play cornerback because the team’s depth situation at that position was so dire. Leary has thrown for more than 194.5 yards against just two Power Five opponents this season, but he did reach the 200-yard plateau in the regular season finale against Louisville.

Can Kentucky win another close bowl game?

If you like Kentucky to pull off the upset, you might be interested in the odds for margin of victory at DraftKings. The Wildcats are listed at +400 to win by 1-6 points. Of Mark Stoops’ four bowl victories at UK, only one has come by more than six points (a seven-point win over Virginia Tech in the 2019 Belk Bowl thanks to a Kentucky defensive score on the game’s final play after the outcome had already been decided). UK is +750 to win by 7-12 points at DraftKings.

This story was originally published December 28, 2023 at 7:54 AM.

Jon Hale

Lexington Herald-Leader

(859) 414-6776

Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the Herald-Leader in 2022 but has covered UK athletics for more than 10 years. Hale was named the 2021 Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year. Support my work with a digital subscription