Clemson Tigers vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Point Spread Picks

Things have not gone well for Clemson to start the season. They opened with a 17-10 loss to LSU as a 5-point favorite, and the offense really struggled. It didn't get much better vs. Troy in their second game. They trailed for much of the game before rallying late for an unimpressive 11-point win. Once again, the offense struggled, and against two below-average offenses, they produced just 37 total points, averaging fewer than 300 yards per game. Georgia Tech won its opener at Colorado and blew out Gardner-Webb 59-12. Suddenly, they are only a 3.5-point dog against Clemson at home. Clemson has not lived up to its preseason forecast, while Georgia Tech has looked sharp offensively, notably winning the line of scrimmage. I like Georgia Tech. 

Dabo Swinney had his Clemson team at the top of the NCAAF world. He led his team to 12 straight seasons with 10 or more wins. The question is where is this program heading? Clemson has lacked the dominating teams we saw just four years ago, and the program is very strong, but have dropped a level from where they were. They are 5-4 and will not win 10 games this season. Clemson is off a huge win at home vs. Notre Dame, and I would tend to believe this team is not going to play at that same level after a huge emotional, and physical win, especially vs. a Georgia Tech team that will not be very motivating. Tech has the same record as Clemson at 5-4, and have big wins vs. Miami, Fla., and North Carolina, and lost to Louisville by just five after blowing a fourth quarter lead. This is too many points, and I will go with Georgia Tech.

No. 1 Clemson has NFL talent across the board, is well-coached, and can attack opponents in so multiple ways. They come off a 42-17 rout of a Miami squad that was ranked in the Top 10. Clemson is on a 19-8 ATS run as chalk, plus 18-7-1 ATS in ACC tilts. They are eighth in the nation in scoring (42 ppg), #10 in total yards (495.5 pg), ninth defensively allowing 13.3 ppg, #11 in total yards surrendered. The Tigers are on an 11-3 ATS run on the road, including 10-2 ATS as a road favorite. Georgia Tech has split its first two games, getting crushed in its only step-up game, losing 49-21 to No. 14 ranked Central Florida. The Georgia Tech run defense has allowed an average of 189.3 yards per game, including over 240 rushing yards in two of the last three games with seven scores. Clemson is on a 4-0-1 ATS run against G-Tech and won last year's meeting 52-14 with 632 yards - 411 of which were rushing. Play Clemson.