Game: Clemson Tigers at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Date: September 13th at 12:00 PM ET

Where to Watch: ESPN

With the expansion of the College Football Playoff, many wondered how it would impact the importance of early season games. This Saturday, we get an ACC matchup between Clemson and Georgia Tech in a game that feels vital for the trajectory of both programs this season. The season is still young, but neither team has looked particularly sharp so far. The Tigers opened with a tough loss to LSU, then stumbled out of the gate against Troy before eventually finding their rhythm. Georgia Tech, on the other hand, sits at 2-0, though they started slow in their opener against Colorado before taking care of business versus Gardner-Webb. Heading into this game, the biggest concern for the Yellow Jackets is the health of quarterback Haynes King. Reports indicate he should be ready for Saturday, but it remains something to monitor as the week progresses.

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Weather

Atlanta is shaping up for a pleasant Saturday for this game, though conditions will still be on the warmer side with temperatures in the mid-80s. Chances of precipitation are very low, and wind should not play much of a factor, averaging around 4 mph with gusts up to 13 mph.

Betting Overview

In the last five matchups (2019–2023), Clemson has won each time and covered in four of those games. The over has hit in three of the five. Confidence in preseason projections is starting to waver for Clemson, much like the spread in this road matchup. When the line first opened, Clemson was a 7.5-point favorite, but they are now favored by only 3.5. The moneyline has shifted from -310 for Clemson to between -162 and -180, and for Georgia Tech from +250 to between +135 and +145. The over/under has also dropped from 58.5 to a range of 53.5–54.5.

Power Ratings

Power ratings certainly aren’t the end-all, be-all, but they usually provide a clearer gauge of where teams stand after a few games of data. With the spread still favoring Clemson on the road, you might expect all of the power ratings to have them ahead of Georgia Tech, but that isn’t necessarily the case. ESPN’s FPI currently ranks Georgia Tech (31) one spot ahead of Clemson (32), while other systems like SP+ and Sagarin have Clemson on top. Sagarin remains particularly high on Clemson at 13, while also rating Tech respectably at 26.

Betting Trends from Last Season

Clemson wasn’t strong ATS last season, but as an away favorite they finished an even 2-2. The under also showed up often in those spots, cashing in 3 of 4. The Yellow Jackets were more reliable ATS last year, particularly at home where they went 3-1-1, including 1-0 as a home underdog. The under hit in 3 of those 5 games, including their lone contest as a home dog.

Final Thoughts

This meeting between ACC foes is certainly intriguing and feels like a crossroads for the rest of the season. The big storyline heading in will be the quarterback position on both sides—Clemson with Cade Klubnik’s slow start, and Georgia Tech with Haynes King’s lingering lower-body injury. This game may come down to which team starts faster, because if Clemson opens the way they have in their first two games, they won’t stand much of a chance.