Game: Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Date: January 24th at 12:00 PM ET

Where to Watch: ACC Network

After suffering their first blemish in ACC play, Clemson heads back on the road, this time traveling to Atlanta to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. That loss came last time out in a hard-fought overtime battle against NC State, a game in which Clemson was unable to sustain the momentum it built in the second half. Despite the setback, the Tigers still sit at 16-4 on the season with a strong 6-1 record in conference play.

Clemson now draws a Georgia Tech team that sits 146th in the NET rankings, making this road contest a Quad 3 matchup for the Tigers. Clemson has handled business in this category so far, going 3-0 against Quad 3 opponents. On the season, the Tigers are averaging 77.1 points per game (137th in Division I) while allowing just 65.3 points per game, which ranks 14th nationally and continues to be the backbone of this team.

Georgia Tech has struggled to find consistency this season, entering this matchup at 11-8 overall and 2-4 in ACC play. That said, the Yellow Jackets are coming off an impressive win last week against the same NC State team that just handed Clemson its first conference loss. With Clemson ranked 32nd in the NET and this game being played in Atlanta, this represents a Quad 2 opportunity for Georgia Tech — their first such matchup of the season. Offensively, the Yellow Jackets have been fairly average, scoring 75.6 points per game (158th in Division I), while allowing 73.1 points per game (130th in Division I).

This sets up as a strong bounce-back opportunity for Clemson, as they look to regroup defensively and add another road victory in conference play.

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Betting Overview

Clemson opened as an 8.5-point favorite, with some sportsbooks holding that number while others have dipped as low as 7.5. On the moneyline, the best value for Clemson is currently -310 at Bet365, while Georgia Tech can be found at +315 at FanDuel. The total has seen a slight drop, moving from the opening number of 144.5 down to a range of 142.5–143.5 depending on the book.

KenPom Ratings

The gap between these teams is also evident in the KenPom ratings. Clemson checks in at 29th overall with a +20.86 net rating, while Georgia Tech sits 126th with a +3.53 net rating. The Tigers own an adjusted offensive efficiency of 118.1 (68th nationally) to go along with a stout adjusted defensive efficiency of 97.2, ranking 15th in the country. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, posts an adjusted offensive efficiency of 109.3 (180th nationally) and an adjusted defensive efficiency of 105.8 (92nd nationally). 

Betting Trends

Over the last 10 meetings between these programs, Clemson has held the edge straight up, winning six times. However, Georgia Tech has been competitive against the number, covering in six of those matchups. Totals have been evenly split, with the over and under each hitting five times.

Clemson is 11-7-1 ATS on the season, highlighted by a perfect 4-0 record on the road, including 3-0 as an away favorite. With 2–3 days of rest, the Tigers are 5-5-1 ATS, and they’ve been strong in conference play at 5-1-1 ATS. Overall totals have leaned toward the under in Clemson games, cashing in 11 of 19 contests. That said, road games have trended slightly toward the over, hitting in three of four, including two of three as a road favorite. With 2–3 days off, the under has hit in six of 11 games, and in four of seven ACC matchups.

Georgia Tech is 9-10 ATS on the year, with struggles at home where they are just 5-8 ATS and 0-3 ATS as a home underdog. With 4+ days of rest, the Yellow Jackets are 2-3 ATS, though they’ve been solid within the ACC at 4-2 ATS. Totals have favored the over in Georgia Tech games, hitting in 12 of 19 overall. At home, the over has cashed in eight of 13 games and in all three games where Tech has been a home underdog. With extended rest, the over has hit in three of five games, as well as four of six ACC contests.

Final Thoughts

The grind of ACC play continues in Atlanta, with Clemson and Georgia Tech meeting at very different points in their seasons. Clemson’s first conference loss may prove to be a refocusing moment, and I expect a strong response on the road. For that reason, I’m backing the Tigers to cover the number. As for the total, the matchup and Clemson’s defensive profile point me toward the under.