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Clemson vs Georgia Preview | 8-31-24 | By ASA

College Football Preview Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs – By ASA

On Saturday, August 31st, at 12 PM ET, Clemson will face off against Georgia in a highly anticipated matchup. The Bulldogs are favored by 13.5 points, with the over/under set at 48.5.

Clemson, coming off a 9-4 season (6-7 ATS), remains under the steady leadership of head coach Dabo Swinney, who chose to stay loyal to his recruits by avoiding the transfer portal this offseason. The Tigers return 9 starters on offense, including quarterback Cade Klubnik, who threw for 2,844 yards with 19 touchdowns and 9 interceptions last season. Running back Phil Mafah, who rushed for 965 yards with an impressive 5.4 yards per carry, also returns. Additionally, Clemson’s top two receivers from last season, both of whom had over 500 receiving yards, are back. The Tigers are solid in the trenches, boasting the 12th-rated offensive line in the nation.

Although the defense returns only 5 starters, Clemson will rely on several underclassmen from last season’s roster to step up. Last year, Clemson dominated time of possession, ranking 8th, while running the 3rd most plays per game at 78.2. Defensively, Clemson allowed just 305.8 yards per game, the 11th fewest in 2023, and led the nation by forcing 2.3 turnovers per game.

Georgia, coming off a stellar 13-1 record in 2023 (5-8-1 ATS), enters the season as the betting favorite to win the National Championship under head coach Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs return 7 starters on offense, including quarterback Carson Beck, who nearly reached 4,000 passing yards last season with 24 touchdowns. Georgia boasts the top-rated offensive line in the country, with 4 returning starters, having allowed the fewest sacks last season while supporting a rushing attack that averaged 5.3 yards per carry.

Defensively, Georgia also returns 7 starters from a unit that allowed just 16.6 points per game. The Bulldogs have ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense for three consecutive seasons and are once again stacked on that side of the ball. Last season, Georgia was 4th in yards per play at 7.1 and led the nation in 3rd down conversions at 55.6%. Defensively, they ranked 3rd in 3rd down conversions allowed at 26.7% and allowed the 9th fewest yards per point at 17.9.

Both teams underperformed last season compared to their high standards, so it will be interesting to see if they rebound and play with a chip on their shoulders in 2024.

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