Game 4 #3 Clemson VS Georgia Tech Preview & Prediction:
NO. 3 CLEMSON (3-0, 0-0 ACC) at GEORGIA TECH (1-2, 0-1 ACC)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 22 • 3:30 P.M. ET • BOBBY DODD STADIUM (55,000) • ATLANTA, GA
TELEVISION: ABC (Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Molly McGrath)
RADIO: Clemson Tigers Network (Don Munson, Rodney Williams, Reggie Merriweather)**Sirius 94, XM 193, Internet 955**
RADIO: ESPN Radio (Marc Kestecher, Barrett Jones)
CLEMSON/GEORGIA TECH SERIES HISTORY:
– OVERALL: Clemson trails series, 30-51-2 – HOME: Clemson leads series, 15-6– ROAD: Clemson trails series, 13-44-2– NEUTRAL: Clemson leads, 2-1
– LAST MEETING: Oct. 28, 2017 (24-10, W) – STREAK: Clemson, Won 3
Atlanta, GA
Clemson makes the short trip down I-85 south to Atlanta and renews its annual rivalry with the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech on Saturday. Clemson 3-0, ranked 3rd in the AP Poll comes into this game a favorite, looking to pick up its first win in conference play in 2018, this being the opener in 2018 ACC competition for the Tigers. Clemson will be going after its 4th win in a row versus Georgia Tech. A feat that has not been accomplished by the Tigers since 1993-1996.
Clemson comes into the game with a couple notable injuries, quarterback Kelly Bryant was injured during last weeks contest with Georgia Southern and is expected to play. Breaking late news out of Clemson on Friday finds middle linebacker Kendall Joseph scratched from the starting line up tomorrow. Forcing longtime veteran reserve JD Davis into a starting role and moving up Shaq Smith in the two-deep as his backup for the contest verse the Jackets.
Georgia Tech is also nursing some injuries with no less than 2 starting offensive linemen injured last week versus Pittsburgh and quarterback TaQuon Marshall nursing a “toe” injury through last weeks game. Word out of Atlanta is he is still being bothered by the toe this week, if that is the case and it starts too hinder his performance look for back up Tobias Oliver to come in. . . Oliver, runs the option well but has yet to attempt a pass in a college football game. So stay tuned to all these story lines as the game approaches kickoff at 3:30PM in the “Flats” of Georgia Tech and Bobby Dodd Stadium
Booby Dodd is also a place that Clemson teams of the past have struggled to sustain success in with the last back to back victories in Atlanta coming all the way back in 2001 & 2003.
When Clemson has the Ball:
Look for the Tigers to feed the ball to running back Travis Etienne, should the Sophomore from Louisiana exceeds 15 touches on the day . . . if that does come to fruition, its a sign of the Tigers accomplishing their game plan of controlling the ball and setting tone. Which will then allow the Tigers quick pass game to flourish as the Georgia Tech defense tries to maneuver and line up to stop the run. If Tech does manage to bottle up the Clemson run game, look for the Tigers to go over the top and try and loosen up the backend (Linebackers & Safeties) aa to create more space to get the run game moving. Throw in the quick screens to the boundary, Tech will have its hands full all day trying to pick its “poison” as the Tigers will be able to move the ball all day on this version of the Jackets defense. Look for a productive and balanced attack for the Tigers as they over match the Jackets at almost every position group and that talent gap will show itself in a big way during this contest.
When Georgia Tech has the Ball:
Georgia Tech will do their usual and try to establish a run with their triple option attack being the spearhead to their offensive game plan. Clemson will use its defensive line to impose its will here and take up all the gaps in the line and leave space for the Tigers linebacker corps to step in and take up the space left and force the Jackets to the boundary and out of their comfort zone. First thing the Tigers Defense will do is stop the dive play and fill the A gaps and eliminate that first “option” in their game, forcing the Jackets to the wide side and into the teeth of the Clemson defense .
The Tech Passing game rarely used is still lethal as they usually only hit on Big Plays downfield lulling defenses to sleep with force feeding of option runs, and then when you least expect it Play action off the option for huge gain as they Wide receiver will be all alone after getting lost in the defenses attempt to defend the option . It will happen, just how much is the question. The Tigers have to limit these and not let them turn into points. If the Safeties can stay home and play smart this can be done.
This Jacket team is averaging over 300 yards a game rushing the ball, status quo for Paul Johnson coached teams in the past, expect nothing different from the Tech coach and his game plan. If the game plays out like we think. Look to last years game as a harbinger of things to come on Saturday. Tech will hit a big run and a pass or two. But over all the Clemson defense stifles the option set again as is Brent Venables history since coming to Clemson.
Players to Watch for Georgia Tech:
QB TaQuon Marshall, RB Qua Searcy, and LB Brant Mitchell
How we see it:
Look back to last years 24-10 Clemson victory as a road map to how we see this game playing out. The Clemson defense from the outset stifled and stymied the Jackets option attack in a rain storm and saw the Tigers as they “Swag Surfed” their way to victory. We see the Tigers this time in better conditions able to use every facet of their offense versus this Tech defense. Defensively, the Clemson defensive line will do as It has the past 3 seasons and will set the tone and force the Jackets out of their comfort zone and make Coach Paul Johnson pull out his bag of tricks to try and infuse some offense this day . It won’t be pretty but the Tigers win in Atlanta and start conference play in the right direction.
Clemson 31 Georgia Tech 13
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