Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Clemson Tigers Betting Preview
Georgia Tech would like to forget the matchup between these two teams a season ago. Clemson, led by Trevor Lawrence, came to Atlanta and beat the Yellow Jackets handily 73-7, the most points Georgia Tech has allowed in this matchup since 1903.
Lawrence, the face of College Football, is gone, and the Tigers have already lost more regular-season games than during his career, but Dabo’s Tigers will be looking to claw their way back into playoff contention, which does not bode well for Georgia Tech.
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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Team Preview
Geoff Collins and his squad opened the year at home against Northern Illinois as a 19-point favorite and lost to the Huskies by a point. A disappointing result for a program that is trying to find their way back into contention in the ACC after a tough transition from former coach Paul Johnson’s triple-option system.
The Jackets played Kennesaw State in Week 2 and won by four touchdowns as a 20-point betting favorite. Backup quarterback Jordan Yates threw for four touchdowns in the win after replacing injured starter Jeff Sims, who suffered an arm injury in Week 1. Running back, Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the top runners in the ACC and is averaging over five yards per carry to start the year.
Clemson Tigers Team Preview
Clemson opened the year with their worst offensive performance in years against the Georgia Bulldogs. Most of those struggles can be attributed to the elite defense the Dawgs put on the field, but quarterback DJ Uiagalelei showed that there’s plenty of room for improvement. The Tigers’ young offensive line was exposed early and often in that game but will have the benefit of not facing a similar front again this season until a possible College Football Playoff matchup.
Dabo Swinney and company played South Carolina State in Week 2, giving the Tigers a chance to regroup and gain confidence following the opening loss. Uiagalelei scored twice on the ground, as did freshman running back Will Shipley, but added another interception to his tally. If Clemson hopes to gain traction in the national conversation, the team will need to do a better job taking care of the ball.
Defensively the Tigers have yet to allow a touchdown, as Georgia’s one score came on an interception returned for a touchdown. Brent Venabales defense continues to be a problem for opposing offenses and should give the Tigers an edge in every remaining game on their schedule.
Betting Preview
Looking at the betting odds, BetOnline, BetUS, and Bovada all have the Tigers as a favorite by slightly more than four touchdowns at -28.5. The oddsmakers think the Clemson defense will continue its dominance, having set the over/under betting line at 52 total points on all three of those sportsbooks.
The Clemson offense will likely use their remaining schedule to continue to work on their efficiency to get back to the level needed to compete for a national championship. DJ Uiagalelei has yet to live up to the second-year hype that the former five-star was strapped with as Trevor Lawrence’s replacement. Unfortunately for Georgia Tech, that means there won’t be much reprieve from Clemson’s A-game.
On the other side of the ball, it’s still up in the air whether or not the Jackets’ starter, Jeff Sims, will play in the game. If he’s unavailable again and back up Jordan Yates takes over in his first true road start against this defense; it could be a long day.
The Clemson defense presents enough problems for veteran quarterbacks, so this matchup favors the Tigers in a big way. Expect few points on the side of Georgia Tech and lean towards Clemson covering and the under-hitting.
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