It’s time for the Clemson Tigers to rally. Clemson is still ranked in the top ten and shouldn’t have a problem making the College Football Playoff as long as it wins out. The Tigers did it last year after losing to Pittsburgh near the tail end of the season and ended up winning the national championship. However, their next three games will test their resolve. They will face three totally different teams starting with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and their option attack.
This matchup in Week 9 of the regular season will take place on Saturday, October 28, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET at Clemson Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. This game will be broadcast on ABC.
Odds Analysis
Georgia Tech is one of the few teams left that has covered every game it has played so far. The Yellow Jackets are just 4-2 SU, but lost one-point games to both Tennessee and Miami to cover the number. All four wins came by double digits, so that meant easy covers against the number too. Four of their last five games have gone under this year.
The Tigers started the season looking sharp against the number. Clemson won and covered against three straight opponents, including as a short favorite over both Auburn and Louisville in consecutive weeks. However, the offense has had some hiccups recently and that has led to the Tigers only covering once in their last four games. All four of those games did go under the total though thanks to some great defense.
Key Injury
There is currently no line for this game because there has been no update on the status of Kelly Bryant. Bryant was hurt at the end of the first half against Syracuse trying to make a play on third down and was not seen for the rest of the night. It was clear that he had suffered a concussion and the Clemson staff confirmed as much after the game.
Without Bryant, the offense really struggled to move the football. Clemson only managed 10 points in the second half and backup Zerrick Cooper was only able to throw for 88 yards. Bryant’s value to this team is immense. He spent two years learning under Deshaun Watson and knows the offense well. The two quarterbacks behind him, Cooper and Hunter Johnson, are both freshman and don’t know the offense as well as Bryant.
As of Monday, we don’t know whether or not Bryant will be able to go and he is currently considered questionable.
Last Meeting
These teams met last year in Atlanta and Clemson absolutely dominated Georgia Tech all night long. The Tigers only won 26-7, but it could have been much worse if not for a few costly mistakes.
Clemson outgained Georgia Tech by over 300 yards and its defense totally snuffed out what the Yellow Jackets wanted to do with the option. The Georgia Tech ground game totaled just 95 yards on 38 carries and Clemson was just content to sit on the ball in the second half after racing out to a 23-0 halftime lead.
The defensive line was the difference for Clemson last year and will be the key once again. To beat the option you need talented linemen who play disciplined football and the Tigers have just that. Coming off of a bye, they will have had extra time to prepare for Georgia Tech’s attack.
Free ATS Pick
With or without Bryant, this game should be low scoring. The Yellow Jackets will be hard pressed to move the football against such a talented defense, while the Tigers will be content with just a win considering Bryant’s status. The extra week to prepare will be huge for Dabo Swinney and help Clemson get a double-digit victory.
College Football Odds: Clemson 24, Georgia Tech 13
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