Clemson vs. Georgia Tech fearless prediction and game preview.
Broadcast
Date: Thursday, August 29
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
Network: ACC Network
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Clemson (0-0) vs. Georgia Tech (0-0) Game Preview
It’s a fun game for so many reasons beyond simply being the first shot at seeing the defending national champs do their thing on a Thursday night to blast off the ACC Network.
What kind of a team will Georgia Tech be? There are X factors, and there’s this Yellow Jacket team making a huge pivot under new head coach Geoff Collins.
Can Clemson simply pick up where it left off in Santa Clara without any sort of a hiccup? Can the defensive front four start to create its own legacy? Can the Yellow Jackets throw any sort of a curveball at the rebuilding Tiger D?
Georgia Tech has lost four straight in the series going back to 2014 – losing 49-21 early on last season – and has USF to follow. On the plus side, there’s no pressure – the Yellow Jackets can turn it loose and throw everything at the Tigers.
Clemson has to gear up in a big, big hurry. If kicking off the ACC season on an August Thursday wasn’t interesting enough, it has to deal with Texas A&M and a road trip to Syracuse to follow.
Why Georgia Tech Will Win
What is Georgia Tech going to be? It’s obviously going away from the option offense and changing to a more balanced attack, and the defense is going to be more about bringing the pressure in the backfield.
But it’s not like there’s any film from past seasons to go off of, other than what Geoff Collins did at Temple.
There’s decent size on the defensive line, the running backs and ground game should be in place early on, and the secondary will quietly be a major positive as the season goes on.
Again, the pressure and expectations are all on the other side of the field. Collins and company can take a whole lot of chances, and if his Owl defenses are any indication, get ready for a whole lot of selling out to get to the quarterback.
Why Clemson Will Win
This is a true rebuild at Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets will turn out to be okay, and the coaching is top-notch, but Clemson really, really isn’t what you want to deal with when you’re trying to figure it all out.
Yeah, the Tigers have to replace an all-timer of a defensive front four – motivation won’t be an issue for another ultra-talented group.
Yeah, overconfidence might be a wee bit of an issue considering everyone is expecting a five-touchdown win.
Yeah, the linebacking corps might need just a little while to lather up and be amazing around Isaiah Simmons, but …
This is obviously another incredible Tiger team. Georgia Tech isn’t going to be all that bad and it has ACC athletes and talent, but there’s no stopping this Clemson offense as long as Trevor Lawrence gets a little time to work.
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What’s Going To Happen
Georgia Tech will throw a few haymakers in the first ten minutes to make things a little bit interesting – it’ll get an early field goal – and then it’ll all kick in as the Tiger offense explodes on a big scoring run to put it away before halftime.
The Tiger defense will make the biggest impact, looking the part against a Yellow Jacket offense that won’t have any answers in the second half.
Fearless Prediction & Line
Clemson 41, Georgia Tech 10
Line: Clemson -35, o/u: 59
ATS Confidence out of 5:
Must See Rating: 3
5: Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
1: Christina on the Coast
NEXT: Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
2019 Clemson Football Schedule
2019 Preseason Prediction: 11-1
2019 Preseason ACC Prediction: 8-0
2018 Record: 15-0
– 2019 Clemson Preview
Aug. 29 Georgia Tech W
Sept. 7 Texas A&M L
Sept. 14 at Syracuse W
Sept. 21 Charlotte W
Sept. 28 at North Carolina W
Oct. 5 OPEN DATE
Oct. 12 Florida State W
Oct. 19 at Louisville W
Oct. 26 Boston College W
Nov. 2 Wofford W
Nov. 9 at NC State W
Nov. 16 Wake Forest W
Nov. 23 OPEN DATE
Nov. 30 at South Carolina W
2019 Georgia Tech Football Schedule
2019 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2019 Preseason ACC Prediction: 3-5
2018 Record: 7-6
– 2019 Georgia Tech Preview
Aug. 29 at Clemson L
Sept. 7 USF W
Sept. 14 Citadel W
Sept. 21 OPEN DATE
Sept. 28 at Temple W
Oct. 5 North Carolina W
Oct. 12 at Duke L
Oct. 19 at Miami L
Oct. 26 OPEN DATE
Nov. 2 Pitt W
Nov. 9 at Virginia L
Nov. 16 Virginia Tech L
Nov. 21 NC State W
Nov. 30 Georgia L
