Prediction
There’s no doubt that the absence of Lawrence for the Tigers defense will complicate things for that unit moving forward. Yes, talent still remains on that side of the ball for Swinney’s team, but they aren’t going to have one of the most dominant weapons in the trenches up front, which will certainly show when the Fighting Irish try to control the clock and run with Dexter Williams.
Having said that, the Tigers still appear to have a distinct advantage in terms of what they’re able to do offensively. Travis Etienne is one of the best running backs in college football that no one seems to talk about and is running behind an offensive line that has performed admirably. What’s more, Trevor Lawrence might be young, but he has shown time and again that he was fully deserving of the starting job and that he’s only going to get better.
The likes of Jerry Tillery and Julian Love on the Notre Dame defense are going to likely force Lawrence into a couple of mistakes throughout this game. Though he’s rarely shown it this season, that’s where his lack of overall experience is going to show at least to a slight degree. With that being said, it won’t be enough with the firepower that the Tigers can bring to the table on both sides of the ball.
While Williams and Ian Book will have some flashes against Swinney’s vaunted defense, it won’t be enough of them to keep up with what the Clemson offense will be able to do. The Tigers won’t cover the large point spread, but they will get the Cotton Bowl victory that will punch the first ticket to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, allowing them to await the winner of Oklahoma vs. Alabama.
Final Score Prediction: Notre Dame – 24, Clemson – 34