This year will mark the 89th annual time the Capital One Orange Bowl will have been played, and this matchup will certainly be one of the “orange-est” ever played, as it features the sixth-ranked Clemson Tigers taking on the tenth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers.

The Tigers are currently 5-point favorites against the Volunteers, and Vegas expects a high-scoring contest, with the over/under set at 63.5. This season, Clemson is 7-6 against the spread (ATS) and 11-2 straight-up, while Tennessee is 9-3 ATS and 10-2 overall. Both teams have hit the over slightly more than the under this season.

Orange Bowl Odds at BetOnline

Spread: Clemson – 5
Moneyline: Clemson -205, Tennessee +175
O/U: 63.5

>> Lock in these odds at Betonline

Both of these teams had college football playoff hopes that were dashed in the final weeks of the season, but there’s still plenty to play for in this one.

One of the most intriguing storylines will feature Clemson’s all-world freshman QB Cade Klubnik, as it will be interesting to see how he performs in a high-stakes matchup against an elite opponent.

Should you take Tennessee and the points, or do you think Klubnik and Clemson have what it takes to cover?

For an in-depth look at what our experts predict will happen in the Orange Bowl, read on.

Orange Bowl Info

Teams: Clemson Tigers (ACC Champs, 11-2) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (#2 SEC West, 10-2)
Date: Friday, December 30
Time: 8 p.m. EST
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Channel: ESPN
Latest odds: Clemson -205, Tennessee +175

Orange Bowl History

First played in 1935, the Orange Bowl is, along with the Sun Bowl and Sugar Bowl, the second-longest running college football bowl game in the country, trailing only the Rose Bowl. When it’s not serving as a playoff game, the Orange Bowl typically pits the ACC champion versus a top SEC team.

That’s the case this year as well, as the Clemson Tigers cruised to the ACC Championship, whereas the Tennessee Volunteers nearly earned a playoff spot before dropping two in a row and winding up in Miami.

The SEC has won all four of its most recent contests in this venue, although two of those were against non-ACC opponents. The last time an ACC team took home the Orange Bowl Trophy was in 2016, when Florida State squeaked by Michigan 33-32.

To get an ACC victory over an SEC team, you’d have to go all the way back to 2014, in which the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets bested the Mississippi St. Bulldogs 49-34.

Tennessee also holds the edge in the historical rivalry, with a record of 11-6-2 against the Tigers. The last time these two teams played was in 2004, with Clemson notching a 27-14 victory over Phillip Fulmer’s Tennessee squad.

All of this history would seem to favor the Volunteers, but Vegas doesn’t agree, installing Clemson as an early 5-point favorite in the 2022 matchup.

Related: College Football Betting

Keys to the Orange Bowl Game

Pinpointing exactly what might happen in this game is difficult, to say the least.

Both teams have had moments of pure dominance this season — Tennessee in beating Alabama and dominating LSU, Clemson in creaming North Carolina and destroying Miami.

Then again, both have fallen flat at times this season as well, with Tennessee being another in a long line of Georgia victims and Clemson getting humiliated by Notre Dame. Both teams also lost to South Carolina as well — results that were baffling at the time, but with the benefit of hindsight, still seem baffling today.

So, what needs to happen for either team to win? Let’s break it down.

Clemson Will Win If:

Cade Klubnik Balls Out: Klubnik, a 5-star freshman out of powerhouse Austin Westlake High School in Texas, has been as good as advertised in a few brief appearances this season. In his first start in the ACC Championship Game, Klubnik went 20-24 for 279 yards and a touchdown against Mack Brown’s overmatched North Carolina Tar Heels.

In fact, Klubnik was so good that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney anointed him the starter moving forward — causing the Tigers’ other 5-star QB, incumbent D.J. Uiagalelei, to transfer to Oregon State.

If Klubnik plays like the long-term answer for the Tigers in this one, then this is likely where his legend will begin. However, if he plays like a true freshman, it could be a long night for the Clemson faithful.

Tennessee’s Secondary Doesn’t Show Improvement: One bit of good news for Klubnik is the fact that Tennessee’s secondary is clearly the Achilles’ heel of the team. This unit was lit up by the likes of Anthony Richardson, Stetson Bennett, and Spencer Rattler — not exactly a murderer’s row of QBs.

In fact, the Volunteers will trot out the 5th-worst pass defense in the nation to try to harness the kid from Austin, and if they don’t play markedly better than they did in the regular season, Klubnik might just exit this bowl season as next year’s Heisman frontrunner.

Their Defense Can At Least Slow Tennessee Down: For as bad as Tennessee’s pass defense has been, their offense has been nothing short of incendiary. This is a team that outscored Alabama and their Heisman-winning QB in a shootout and took LSU behind the woodshed, after all.

Clemson’s defense has been stout (if not spectacular) all season long, but it will be without All-Americans Myles Murphy and Trenton Simpson for this one. They’ll still have likely first-round defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, but don’t expect them to completely muffle this Volunteers’ offense.

Fortunately for Clemson, this won’t be the same Tennessee team that smoked so many SEC defenses. Starting QB (and one-time Heisman favorite) Hendon Hooker is out with a knee injury, and 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt has opted out to focus on the NFL Draft.

>> Click here to bet on Clemson to win

Tennessee Will Win If:

Joe Milton (Finally) Lives Up to the Hype: There have been at least two blue-chip programs who bet big on Joe Milton to be their QB of the future, and so far, both those teams are still waiting.

Milton was supposed to be the long-term answer behind center for Michigan, especially after Dylan McCaffrey transferred, but instead he bolted for the presumably greener pastures of Tennessee. His tenure as starter in Knoxville was short-lived, however, as he was replaced by fellow transfer Hendon Hooker after only a few games.

Now that Hooker’s injured — and on his way to the NFL — it’s once again Milton’s turn to show this is his team. If he’s able to do it, Tennessee will enter 2023 as national title favorites; if not, it could be back to the drawing board for this long-suffering program.

They Get Their Running Game Going: While a big game from Milton would answer a lot of Tennessee prayers, it’s the rushing attack that will likely be key to their chances in this one.

In several games this season (most notably against the Georgia Bulldogs), the Vols were unable to get anything going on the ground, and it put a ton of pressure on their passing attack. Without Hooker behind center, it’s unlikely that Tennessee will be able to outscore Clemson in a shootout, so they need to control the ball — and the clock — in this one.

One little problem: Clemson’s run defense is formidable. They’ve only given up more than 150 rushing yards to two teams this season, so Tennessee’s O-line will need to show up in a big way to keep them in this one.

They Build an Early Lead: This isn’t a team that’s built for playing from behind. When falling behind early in games, this Vols team has shown a tendency to collapse rather than regroup.

On the other hand, when they jump out to an early lead, Tennessee has shown a propensity for strangling the life out of their opponents, piling on touchdown after touchdown.

If you enjoy in-game betting, we’d urge you to take note of the score at the end of the first quarter in this one. If Tennessee is up by a score or two, you might want to jump on them — or back Clemson in a big way if the Volunteers are behind.

>> Click here to bet on Tennessee to win

Best 2022 Orange Bowl Bets

If you’re looking for some good action on this year’s Orange Bowl, these bets stood out to us:

Clemson -5

While 5 points may seem a lot to lay in a game like this, the stars are really aligning for the Tigers in this one. They have their QB of the future, while Tennessee is trotting out an also-ran. They match up well on paper.

Oh, and 8 of the last 10 Orange Bowls have been decided by 5 points or more.

We’re not saying you won’t sweat, but lay the points and take the Tigers.

Over 63.5

These are two high-flying offenses, even without their longtime starters at the helm. And with both defenses crippled by injuries and opt-outs, it’s unlikely that either team will have trouble moving the ball in this one.

We wouldn’t be surprised to see this one go well over 63.5 — especially if Tennessee falls behind early.

Defensive or Special Teams TD Scored: Yes (+194)

While Klubnik could be the future and Milton could still yet live up to his massive potential, the fact is that neither signal-caller has experienced a stage as big as the Orange Bowl quite yet.

All of those nerves — plus an eagerness to throw the ball around — make us think there’s a pick-six just waiting to happen in this one.

Get a Bonus to Bet on Clemson vs Tennessee

If you’re interested in making a real-money wager on the Clemson-Tennessee game, BetOnline is currently running a promotion where they’ll match 50% of your first deposit up to $1,000 using code BOL1000.

It’s a great way to pad your bankroll and test your skills at one of the most trusted and well-respected sportsbooks on the internet.

To claim this offer, you must deposit a minimum of $55 and satisfy their 10x wagering requirement within 30 days.

In business for over 25 years, BetOnline has a sterling reputation among sports bettors for their fair lines, excellent customer service, and top-notch security practices.

Regardless of whether you’re just looking to bet on the Orange Bowl or wager all year-round, BetOnline has all the action you can handle.

Where to Bet on the 2022 Orange Bowl

If you’re looking to place a bet on the Orange Bowl at a football betting site, you’re not alone — thousands of people do it every day.

However, not all online gambling sites are equally trustworthy (this is the internet, after all).

This is why we generally urge bettors to stick with trusted names like BetOnline or Bovada. These are established companies that are looking to stay in business for the long haul — scamming you just doesn’t make long-term sense.

Besides that, a site like BetOnline can offer you:

Thousands of lines on all your favorite sports: regardless of what sports you follow, chances are the larger sportsbooks will have odds for you. There’s college football betting during the fall, basketball during the spring, and Czech table tennis during the summer — all without ever leaving your couch.
Unmatched security: sites like BetOnline use state-of-the-art encryption practices and keep player funds in an escrow account to prevent funny business. Your money and personal information are as safe here as they are with any online retailer.
Generous deposit bonuses: competition between online bookies is fierce, and that’s good news for players, as it means you’ll have the chance to nab some sweet bonus money. Bigger online sportsbooks can usually afford to offer bigger bonuses, which is why we recommend starting there

Why Bet on the Orange Bowl Online?

If you’re used to placing bets with a local bookie (or not betting on sporting events at all), the concept of wagering online might be a bit foreign to you.

It’s become much more commonplace in recent years, though, as millions of sports fans are learning how fun and easy it is to bet on games like the Orange Bowl online.

For those who have never taken the plunge, here are just a few reasons why betting online is exploding in popularity:

It’s convenient: placing a bet on your game of choice is as easy as whipping out your phone or walking to your computer. You can get an account set up and funded in just a few minutes, and from there, you can make bets any time of the day or night
It makes watching the games more fun: most sites allow you to place in-game wagers, so if you’ve spotted a trend you want to take advantage of (or you just want to hedge your Tennessee bet after they fall behind early), you can still find fun, player-friendly bets long after the opening whistle
The house has a tiny edge: unlike most casino games like slots or keno, the house has an extremely small edge in sports betting — just a few percentage points, in many cases. This can change if you chase long-shot bets like parlays, of course, but for most wagers, you’ll have much better odds than you would at any casino.

Guide to Orange Bowl Betting

Who is Playing in the 2022 Orange Bowl?

The 2022 Orange Bowl will match up the #6 Clemson Tigers and the #10 Tennessee Volunteers. Both of these teams had college football playoff hopes a few weeks ago, so this should be a spectacular game between two elite (and high-scoring) squads.

>> Latest Orange Bowl odds

Who is Favored to Win, Clemson or Tennessee?

At press time, Clemson was favored to win by 5 points. This is largely due to the fact that Tennessee’s starting quarterback, Hendon Hooker, is out with an injury, while their best player, wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, is sitting out to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Who Typically Plays in the Orange Bowl?

Typically, the Orange Bowl is a matchup between the ACC Champion and a highly-ranked SEC school. The playoff has thrown that in disarray in recent years, though, as it’s one of six bowls that’s frequently chosen to host either a college football playoff game or the national championship.

Where is the Orange Bowl Played?

The Orange Bowl is played in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. This is the home stadium of both the Miami Dolphins and the Miami Hurricanes. The original Orange Bowl Stadium, home to so much sports history (and incredible Orange Bowl games), was demolished in 2008.

Previously in college football & NFL:

How Does the Orange Bowl Point Spread Work?

Betting the point spread is very popular for college football bowl games, particularly among novice gamblers.

With a point spread, the underdog will be “given” a certain number of points to help bring balance to the game; essentially, the underdog will take the lead to begin the game.

For the Orange Bowl, Clemson is favored to win and are “giving” five points (-5), whereas Tennessee is getting five points (+5). If you are betting that the Tigers will win the game, they will need to win by more than 5 points for you to win the bet (which is called, covering the spread).

Or, if you wager on the Volunteers, even if they lose in the Orange Bowl by five points or less, you will cover your bet.

How Do I Read the Orange Bowl Moneyline Odds?

A bet on the moneyline is the easiest way to bet on the Orange Bowl because it is a straight-up wager on which team you think will win.

At all sportsbooks, the moneyline odds attached to the odds-on favorite will be listed with a negative number (such as -140) and the underdog will have a positive figure (such as +110).

In this game, most oddsmakers have Tennessee at (+175), so if you bet $100 on the Tigers and win, you’d get $175 profit. Meanwhile, since Clemson is listed at (-205), you’d have to bet $205 to win $100.

What Does the Orange Bowl Over/Under Mean?

There are other bets you can make on the Orange Bowl that don’t require you to pick a winner or loser. One of the most popular is the over/under (commonly listed as “O/U”).

An O/U bet is a wager on the combined score of the game. In this case, the over/under line is 63.5 points, so you’d have to add each team’s score together at the end of the game, overtime included, to see if the combined total was over or under 63.5 points.

For example, if the final score is 42-35, that would be 77 combined points and the over would win (it doesn’t matter which team wins for O/U bets) because it is greater than 63.5 points.

If the Orange Bowl turns out, somehow, to be a defensive showdown and the final score is 21-17, then the under would win since it falls short of 63.5 points.

What are College Football Game Props?

Playing props is another way to bet on games without picking winners. Prop betting allows you to wager on almost anything that can happen during a game, and different props will likely be available at different sportsbooks.

You can bet on anything with props, from which team will turn the ball over first to which player will have the most rushing yards.

Some college football games even have bizarrely fun props, such as whether the coin toss will be heads or tails or how many celebrities will be shown on the TV broadcast.

Props are a lot of fun to bet on, especially if you like to gamble in-game. Expect to be as glued to your phone as you are to the TV as BetOnline is known to add props in the middle of Orange-Bowl action.

Related Guide: UK football in-play betting

Who Do You Think Will Win the 2022 Orange Bowl?

As per usual, there are several fantastic college football bowl games this season, but the Orange Bowl might be the best of the bunch.

Pairing two elite teams quarterbacked by ultra-talented signal callers with something to prove, the scoreboard could get lit up in this one.

If you’re thinking about placing a bet on the game, we recommend taking Clemson (-5) and the over at BetOnline. Those both seem like picks that are just too juicy to ignore right now, but there are several other great lines available on the site.

Regardless of whether you’re betting on the game or just cheering along at home, this is one to make room in your schedule for.

The winner is likely to be one of the biggest college football playoff favorites in 2023 — which, come to think of it, is something else you might consider betting on once this is over.

Related Betting Guides:

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