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2023 Gator Bowl Betting Odds, Predictions, Preview

Kevin Rogers
Kevin Rogers Sports Betting Expert
7 minute read
Bowl Central

The 2023 Gator Bowl concluded on Friday December 29, 2023 and bettors watched Clemson outlast Kentucky, 38-35 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Recap all the 2024 Gator Bowl Betting Odds, Picks, Predictions and History below and be sure to check back for the 2024 installment.

Gator Bowl Betting Odds

CLEM @ UK Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • 1Q
  • 2Q
  • 3Q
  • 4Q
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-7 -110 -2.5 -110 -1.5 -115 -2.5 -115 -2.5 -115 -2.5 -112 -1.5 -115 -1.5 -110 -3.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+7 -110 +2.5 -110 +1.5 -105 +2.5 -105 +2.5 -105 +2.5 -108 +1.5 -115 +1.5 -118 +3.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
o47.5 -110 o21.5 -110 o21.5 +108 N/A o21.5 -105 o21.5 -108 o22.5 -115 o21.5 -108 o43.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
u47.5 -110 u21.5 -110 u21.5 -132 N/A u21.5 -115 u21.5 -112 u22.5 -110 u21.5 -121 u43.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-275 -150 -144 -160 -160 -142 N/A -148 -170  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+220 +125 +118 +135 +135 +120 N/A +114 +140  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-7 -110 N/A N/A N/A -1.5 -110 N/A +0.5 -210 N/A -3.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+7 -110 N/A N/A N/A +1.5 -110 N/A -0.5 +155 N/A +3.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
o47.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A o20.5 -120 N/A o20.5 -115 N/A o43.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
u47.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A u20.5 even N/A u20.5 -115 N/A u43.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-275 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -170  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+220 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +140  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-7 -110 -0.5 even -1.5 +126 -0.5 even -0.5 -115 -0.5 even -0.5 +110 -1.5 +123 -3.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+7 -110 +0.5 -130 +1.5 -158 +0.5 -130 +0.5 -105 +0.5 -120 +0.5 -140 +1.5 -182 +3.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
o47.5 -110 o9.5 -115 o8.5 -114 N/A o10 -105 o7.5 -105 o7.5 -105 o9.5 -124 o43.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
u47.5 -110 u9.5 -115 u8.5 -110 N/A u10 -115 u7.5 -115 u7.5 -125 u9.5 -112 u43.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-275 -155 -146 -160 -160 -155 N/A -157 -170  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+220 +125 +114 +125 +135 +130 N/A +118 +140  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-7 -110 N/A -1.5 +102 N/A N/A +0.5 -220 -0.5 +105 N/A -3.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+7 -110 N/A +1.5 -128 N/A N/A -0.5 +170 +0.5 -135 N/A +3.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
o47.5 -110 N/A o20.5 -144 N/A N/A o17.5 +135 o10.5 -110 N/A o43.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
u47.5 -110 N/A u20.5 +110 N/A N/A u17.5 -175 u10.5 -120 N/A u43.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-275 N/A -146 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -170  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+220 N/A +114 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +140  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-7 -110 N/A -1.5 +120 N/A N/A N/A -0.5 +120 N/A -3.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+7 -110 N/A +1.5 -150 N/A N/A N/A +0.5 -150 N/A +3.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
o47.5 -110 N/A o10.5 -102 N/A N/A N/A o9.5 -110 N/A o43.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
u47.5 -110 N/A u10.5 -128 N/A N/A N/A u9.5 -115 N/A u43.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-275 N/A -140 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -170  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+220 N/A +110 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +140  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-7 -110 N/A -1.5 +114 N/A N/A N/A -0.5 +120 N/A -3.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+7 -110 N/A +1.5 -142 N/A N/A N/A +0.5 -155 N/A +3.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
o47.5 -110 N/A o10.5 +106 N/A N/A N/A o13.5 -105 N/A o43.5 -110  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
u47.5 -110 N/A u10.5 -132 N/A N/A N/A u13.5 -120 N/A u43.5 -110  
Final
Clemson Tigers 257 Clemson
-275 N/A -146 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -170  
Kentucky Wildcats 258 Kentucky
+220 N/A +112 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +140  
  • Opening point spread: Clemson -7.5
  • Opening moneyline: Clemson -335/Kentucky +260
  • Opening total: Over/Under 48.5 points scored
  • Time: Noon ET Friday, Dec. 29 (ESPN)

UPDATE 11:15 A.M. ET FRIDAY, DEC. 29: Forty-five minutes before kickoff, Clemson is laying 3.5 in BetMGM's college football bowl odds market. And like many other bowls, the Gator Bowl has its share of transfer-portal/opt-out impacts.

The Tigers opened -7 back on Dec. 3, dropped to -5.5 Dec. 11, then toggled between -4.5/-5 over the past few days. This morning brought another downward move to -3.5.

It's two-way spread play, with 57% of tickets on Clemson/56% of money on Kentucky. Moneyline bettors are leaning toward the underdog Wildcats, at 63% of tickets/59% of money.

BetMGM opened the total at 47.5 and initially ticked up a point to 48.5 on Dec. 4. But the number quickly returned to 47.5, then went to 46.5 Dec. 5. The total fell to 46 Tuesday, 45/44.5 Wednesday and 43.5 this morning.

However, 76% of tickets and 78% of money is on the Over.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET FRIDAY, DEC. 8: Clemson was a staple of the College Football Playoff during the first few years of the format. But for the third straight season, the Tigers (8-4 SU/6-6 ATS) are in a second-tier postseason game, this time the Gator Bowl.

Dabo Swinney's troops actually finished the regular season strong, winning and cashing in their last four games. In Week 13 at South Carolina, Clemson won 16-17 giving 7.5 points.

Kentucky (7-5 SU/6-6 SU) got out of the gate 5-0 SU/4-1 ATS, but rapidly declined from there. The Wildcats rebounded with a nice Week 13 win, beating Louisville 38-31 as 7.5-point home underdogs.

On Dec. 4, Clemson-Kentucky opened Tigers -7.5 in Caesars' college football bowl odds market. Clemson slipped to -7 literally within 30 seconds, then on Dec. 7 dipped to -6.5. The total fell from 48.5 to 47 within a few hours of opening.

Click here for Vegas Insider senior reporter Patrick Everson's full College Football Bowl Odds: Spreads, Lines, Trends for Every Bowl Game.

Gator Bowl Pick, Prediction

Action Network college football betting expert Collin Wilson offers this prediction:

Despite declaring for the NFL Draft, running back Ray Davis will play for Kentucky in the Gator Bowl. The explosive back led Kentucky to several wins in SEC play and now faces a Clemson defense loaded with opt-outs and transfers.

Safety Andrew Mukuba has already bolted from Clemson for Texas, making life easier for Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary.

Even with full personnel, Clemson struggled to keep opponents out of the end zone, allowing an average of 3.8 points on 45 opportunities.

On the other side of the ball, quarterback Cade Klubnik put together one of the more disappointing seasons in all of college football, logging just 11 big-time throws to 17 turnover-worthy plays.

Look for this defensive grudge match to go in favor of the team with the better chance of creating explosives and converting red-zone opportunities into points.

Pick: Kentucky +5.5

For more college football picks, check out Action Network's College Football Bowl Confidence Pool Rankings: Collin Wilson’s Picks for All 2023 Bowl Games.

Gator Bowl Betting Resources

  • Date: Friday, December 30, 2023
  • TV-Time: ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Venue: TIAA Bank Field
  • Location: Jacksonville, Florida

Gator Bowl History

The Gator TaxSlayer Bowl debuted in 1946 and the matchup currently features schools from the Southerastern Conference (SEC) and the Big Ten Conference. The game takes place at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida as the previous venue for this contest was the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville from 1946-1993.

This game was named the Mazda Gator Bowl, Outback Gator Bowl, Toyota Gator Bowl, Konica Minolta Gator Bowl, and Progressive Gator Bowl prior to TaxSlayer acquiring sponsorship rights in 2012. 

The SEC has won three straight Gator Bowls and five of the last six, which includes a 23-22 comeback victory by Tennessee over Indiana in the 2019 installment. The 'under' connected in that outcome and the low side is on a 9-2 run in the last 11 Gator Bowls.

Virginia Tech has made the most appearances in this game since 1994 with five visits to Jacksonville.

The 2020 installment was a nip and tuck affair, with Kentucky of the SEC easing by NC State by a 23-21 score, as the Wolfpack grabbed the cover.

In the 2021 version, Wake Forest was expected to face Texas A&M. However, the Aggies were forced to pull out due to COVID issues, so Rutgers of the Big Ten was named as a replacement. It wasn't a very good game, as the ACC runner-up routed the Scarlet Knights 38-10.

The 'under' went on a 6-1 run in this game from 2015-21, but the Gator Bowl has showcased a pair of high-scoring contests the last two years.

Notre Dame held off South Carolina, 45-38 in 2022, followed by Clemson winning a back-and-forth affair with Kentucky in 2023.

Gator Bowl Betting Results

YearMatchupLine, TotalATS Result
2023Clemson 38 Kentucky 35Clemson -3.5, 43.5Underdog, Over
2022Notre Dame 45 South Carolina 38Notre Dame -5.5, 50.5Favorite, Over
2021Wake Forest 38 Rutgers 10Wake Forest -17, 63Favorite, Under
2020Kentucky 23 NC State 21Kentucky -3, 50.5Underdog, Under
2019Tennessee 23 Indiana 22Tennessee -3.5, 55Underdog, Under
2018Texas A&M 52 N.C. State Tech 13Texas A&M -7.5, 58Favorite, Over
2017Mississippi State 31 Louisville 27Louisville -7, 62Underdog, Under
2016Georgia Tech 33 Kentucky 18 Georgia Tech -3, 62Favorite, Under
2015Georgia 24 Penn State 17Georgia -6.5, 44Favorite, Under
2014Tennessee 45 Iowa 28Tennessee -3, 51.5Favorite, Over
2013Nebraska 24 Georgia 19Georgia -8.5, 59.5Underdog, Under
2012Northwestern 34 Mississippi State 20Mississippi State -1, 54.5Underdog, Under
2011Florida 24 Ohio State 17Florida -2.5, 44Favorite, Under
2010Mississippi State 52 Michigan 14Mississippi State -3, 61.5Favorite, Over
2009Florida State 33 West Virginia 21West Virginia -2.5, 56Underdog, Under
2008Nebraska 26 Clemson 21Nebraska -1, 55Favorite, Under
2007Texas Tech 31 Virginia 28Texas Tech -6.5, 59Underdog, Push
2006West Virginia 38 Georgia Tech 35West Virginia -9, 47.5Underdog, Over
2005Virginia Tech 35 Louisville 24Virginia Tech -9.5, 56Favorite, Over
2004Florida State 30 West Virginia 18Florida State -9.5, 45Favorite, Over
2003Maryland 41 West Virginia 7Maryland -4.5, 51.5Favorite, Under
2002N.C. State 28 Notre Dame 6N.C. State -2, 42Favorite, Under
2001Florida State 30 Virginia Tech 17Pick-em, 51Under
2000Virginia Tech 41 Clemson 20Virginia Tech -6.5, 61.5Favorite, Under
1999Miami, Fl. 28 Georgia Tech 13Georgia Tech -4.5, 69Underdog, Under
1998Georgia Tech 35 Notre Dame 28Georgia Tech -2.5, 52.5Favorite, Over
1997North Carolina 42 Virginia Tech 3North Carolina -9, 39.5Favorite, Over
1996North Carolina 20 West Virginia 13North Carolina -6.5, 33.5Favorite, Under
1995Syracuse 41 Clemson 0Clemson -2.5, 43Underdog, Under
1994Tennessee 45 Virginia Tech 23Tennessee -7, 47.5Favorite, Over
1993Alabama 24 North Carolina 10North Carolina -3, 39Underdog, Under
1992Florida 27 N.C. State 10N.C. State -1, 48.5Underdog, Under
1991Oklahoma 48 Virginia 14Virginia -1.5, 42Underdog, Over
1990Michigan 35 Mississippi 3Michigan -11, 45.5Favorite, Under

College Football Bowl Betting Resources

College Football Playoff Odds: Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends for Semifinal Games

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Here’s everything you need to know about College Football Playoff odds for the semis: opening lines, spreads and betting trends for each game, as multiple oddsmakers provide insights on CFP odds and action. Check back regularly for updates and use our new ESPN BET bonus code VIBONUS to get the most out of your action.

College Football Playoff Odds for Semifinals

Kevin Rogers

Kevin Rogers

Kevin has been handicapping professionally since 2007 at VegasInsider before shifting to ScoresAndOdds. He focuses on MLB, NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball, and NHL and mainly uses trends, systems, and situations as his top handicapping angles. More from Kevin Rogers
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