By; Neil Burnett
The ACC didn’t exactly surprise anyone with it’s game results over the weekend. Some had hoped for better results, others are simply saying “same ole ACC”. The facts are the ACC is top heavy with Clemson, Miami and Pittsburgh. NCState has a ways to go and their experience will kick in in the coming weeks. Other than those four schools, the rest of the conference is in shambles.
Clemson travels to Mercedes-Benz Stadium Monday night to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. There is a lot of chatter about upsets and questions on offense, and more yakkity yak about how GT is going to surprise the world. Clemson fans are used to this. It’s all fairies and unicorns until someone gets popped in the mouth. In this case, it’s not going to take long for that proverbial “pop in the mouth.”
Georgia popped Oregon in the mouth early this weekend and it was on like donkey kong. They heard all the chatter about losing 15 starters to the NFL, losing their running backs, Dan Lanning this and Dan Lanning that. That pop in the mouth happened early and often. This game was played in a “neutral site” in Atlanta, and Clemson will follow suit.
Clemson has heard all the chatter. Dabo has been thrown all the questions about the offense. OC Brandon Streeter has had to answer question after question on DJ Uiagalelei and Cade Klubnik. What’s going to happen Monday night, sometime shortly after 8pm? Someone is going to get popped in the mouth. More than likely, it’s going to be GT QB Jeff Sims.
Sims is a decent dual threat quarterback that lost his job last season in the middle of a season ending six game losing streak. His last action saw him throwing for almost 200 yards against Miami, while getting sacked three times. At 6-4 219, he has wheels and could cause problems for the Tiger defense, but not enough to make GT much of a threat.
Georgia Tech brought in 17+ transfers this year as Coach Geoff Collins is doing his best to bring in much needed talent to a depleted unit. The Yellow Jackets return 4 starters on each side of the ball, and the offensive line is completely rebuilt with little or no depth. Combined with arguably the best defensive line in college football staring them in the eye, it’s a recipe for disaster.
The last two games GT saw the field, they faced Notre Dame and Georgia, and came out on the wrong end of the score to the tune of 100-0. Will it get that ugly for the Yellow Jackets Monday night?
It could very well get to that. Dabo and Streeter have sang the praises of DJ and the work he has put in to improve over last year. Everyone knows it wasn’t just DJ who struggled last year. Go right down the line and tick off the boxes. The offensive line didn’t really jell until the last six games of the year, mostly due to injuries. The wide receiver room lost the top six receivers to injury, and DJ was injured with the knee and the forefinger on his throwing hand. Thank goodness for the running game, huh? The play calling had to change due to all these obstacles and the offense didn’t pick up till game eight of the season.
The offensive line is healthy. The WR room is healthy. DJ is healthy. There is a new mindset with regards to play calling, which includes a new attitude on the passing game. Georgia Tech just happens to be in the line of fire. RB’s Will Shipley, Kobe Pace and Phil Mafah will be the recipient of a strong offensive line and should reel off chunks of yardage all night.
Last year, Georgia Tech came into Death Valley facing a Clemson team that was struggling on offense, but they simply could NOT generate any offense against this vaunted Clemson defense. Suffice it to say, Wes Goodwin is ready to take the helm and this front sevCleen is ready to “Cry havoc!!!! And let slip the dogs of war!!!!” (Mark Anthony’s speech). This group, along with the speedy, talented linebacker corp is going to be flying round making plays all night.
The Tigers should walk out of Mercedes-Benz easily beating the spread. Last year, it was DJ with two walk-ons waiting in the wings. This year, it’s a different story with two former 5-stars itching to get into the fray. The trenches are where the Tigers have an advantage and GT will be worn down on both sides of the ball by the 3rd quarter. The Tigers have got to make a statement to the rest of college football and Monday night, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will get the brunt of it.
Clemson puts the rest of college football on notice. They are back. 41-7.
CSN’s Grayson Mann: Clemson 34 Georgia Tech 10 – Clemson gives fans the best of both worlds, dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. DJ starts to find a groove within the offense as the defense creates chaos for Simms.
CSN’s Gary McDaniel: Clemson spends the 1st half acclimating to the venue and surroundings and scores 17-24 points allowing sporadic interchanging of multiple players looking for experience and snaps. GT is just overmatched on both sides of the ball. Tigers spend second half experimenting with lineups and getting underclassmen in and out of the lineup. Look for Cade Klubnik to get a series early in the game. And to return in second half and run with the 2’s and 3’s. Tigers look to keep everyone healthy and will substitute all game long allowing the Jackets to keep the score closer than it should be. Tigers win Big but pull the dogs off late. Tigers 38- Tech 10.
CSN’s Jay Jacobs: Prediction Tigers 45- Jaackets 3 Geoff Collins is a coach on the Hotseat and has the task of not only playing with the whole CFB world watching, but facing a #1 defense and a offense with allot to prove. Will get ugly quick at Mercedes Benz.
CSN’s Clifton Canady:
Last year, our offense struggled at times, but this year DJ Uiagalelei has another year of experience under his belt and our offensive line has improved. All of our receivers are healthy and ready to make big plays. On defense, we have the best DL in the nation and our DBs & LBs are more experienced. Our coaching staff is much better than Georgia Tech and I have full confidence that Clemson will beat Georgia Tech on September 5th, 2022.
Score – Clem 42 – GT 10
