This story has been updated to include new information.
The No. 8 Clemson Tigers are looking for their seventh straight win tonight when they welcome the Louisville Cardinals to Death Valley.
“College GameDay” previewed the game live from State College, Pa., where the ESPN crew is set up for today’s top-five matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions.
Here’s what GameDay analysts Nick Saban, Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit and Pat McAfee had to say about Clemson vs. Louisville.
Nick Saban praises Dabo Swinney
“People kind of wrote them off after the Georgia game, and they’ve won every game since,” Saban said. “They’re averaging 45 points a game. They have a young defense. That young defense has gotten better and better as the season has gone on. I think Dabo has done a fantastic job of helping this team develop into a top team in contention for the ACC title.”
Desmond Howard predicts Clemson win over Louisville
“This is (Louisville’s) seventh game in a row and their third road game in four weeks,” Howard said. “I do think they’re going to be in a shootout with Clemson, just like they were with Miami, but I think it’s just gonna be too much for them late in the game — and Clemson is going to win.”
Pat McAfee sounds off on Clemson
“When you talk about this Clemson team and what they’ve been since that Georgia game, and I know they haven’t played anybody of an elite ranking (since Georgia), but this is what I think a lot of people have expected out of a Dabo Swinney team,” McAfee said.
“Now, their defense isn’t as dominant as it has been in the past but Cade Klubnik is playing his best ball. They’re averaging like 500 yards a game or something like that. (Phil) Mafah goes goes ‘Mafah crazy’ … Everything is still in front of Clemson when we thought it was potentially over and they weren’t as good as they once were. Remember, (Dabo) doesn’t use the transfer portal. He didn’t get rid of everybody. He didn’t just reboot. Nobody knew if Clemson was going to be what they are. They are.”
Kirk Herbstreit outlines potential deciding factor in Clemson vs. Louisville
“The difference, I think, could be three things: Louisville’s struggled against mobile quarterbacks, and Klubnik can move around and make plays with his feet,” Herbstreit said. “And the other thing is the turnover margin has been significant: Clemson +9. Been a disaster for Louisville, they’re -2. I think that’s the difference in the game, especially in Death Valley.”
Clemson and Louisville will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.
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Pick-by-pick College GameDay predictions, analysis for Clemson-Louisville
The panel of Howard, Saban, Corso, McAfee, Herbstreit and celebrity guest picker Keegan Michael-Key all picked Clemson to beat Louisville.
“Clemson coming off a bye. I think shootout, but Clemson will beat Louisville,” Howard said.
“I think Louisville is the best team Clemson’s played since they opened with Georgia, but I think Clemson will take this one in a close one,” Saban added.
“I agree with both of them. Let’s continue to roll with the Clemson Tiger train. This is Dabo Swinney football, baby,” McAfee said.
Herbstreit closed with his prediction.
“I think this has a chance to be a shootout. I think Louisville can score with them. Cade Klubnik’s legs are the difference in this game.”