The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets hope to show they are up to the task on Monday night when they take on the fourth-seeded Clemson Tigers in the 2022 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets nearly pulled off an upset in their third game last season, when they battled to the bitter end at Clemson before losing 14-8. That was their seventh straight loss to their ACC cross-division rivals, and they finished the season 3-9. The Tigers finished 10-3, but it was a very disappointing season as they missed the college football playoff for the first time in seven years. They won two national titles and were national runners-up twice in that span. Clemson’s defense should remain among the best in the nation, and coach Dabo Swinney hopes new coordinator Brandon Streeter can get much more out of an offense that was second-worst in the ACC.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8 pm ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Tigers are 24-point favorites in the latest Clemson vs. Georgia Tech from Caesars Sportsbook, and the over/under total points scored is 51. Before making Georgia Tech vs. Clemson or college football Week 1, you need to see what SportsLine’s Josh Nagel has to say.
Nagel is a Nevada tipster with over 20 years of experience in the sports betting industry. As of the start of the 2018 college football season, he is 207-175-6 on all college football picks, earning $1,397. Plus, he has a particularly keen eye for the Tigers, going 6-0 on his picks involving Clemson, returning $400 to $100 to bettors. Anyone who has followed his advice is way up there.
Now, Nagel has set his sights on Clemson vs. Georgia Tech and simply pinned their CFB picks and predictions. You can head over to SportsLine now to see Nagel’s picks. Here are various college football odds and betting lines for Georgia Tech vs. Clemson:
- Clemson vs. Georgia Tech spread: Tigers -24
- Clemson vs. Georgia Tech over/under: 51 points
- Clemson vs. Money Line Georgia Tech: Tigers -3500, Yellow Jackets +1350
- CLEM: Clemson is 28-16-1 ATS in conference play since 2017
- GT: Georgia Tech is 19-21-1 ATS in their ACC matchups since 2017
- Clemson vs. Picks Georgia Tech: Check out the picks on SportsLine
featured game | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Clemson Tigers
Why Clemson can cover
The favorite is 5-1-1 against the difference in the last seven meetings between the teams, and last season’s result could have been an aberration. The Tigers had won the previous six meetings during the winning streak by at least 14 points, including a 73-7 demolition in 2020. Clemson is 19-9 ATS in neutral-site games since Dabo Swinney took over as coach. during the 2008 season. A defense that was one of the best in the nation last season should be just as strong this time. He allowed 14.9 points per game, second-best in the nation, and 313 yards per game (seventh).
That defense allowed only one field goal to Georgia in the opener of 2021. The only TD in the Bulldogs’ 10-3 victory came on an interception return in the second quarter. Ends Myles Murphy (seven sacks) and Xavier Thomas (3.5) and tackles Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis make up a formidable front. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who had a relatively disappointing season after earning Heisman publicity, should improve, and running backs Will Shipley and Kobe Pace combined for 1,380 rushing yards and 17 TDs. The Tigers are 5-1 ATS in their last six, and Tech is 1-7 in their last eight.
Why Georgia Tech can cover
Georgia Tech has a standout quarterback in sophomore Jeff Sims, and he’s a double threat who could pose some problems for Clemson if he gets protection. He has 4,213 total yards and 35 TDs in just 17 games (247.8 ypg). Tech went 2-4 and averaged 29 points when he started and was 1-5 and scored just 17 when he didn’t. He didn’t start in last year’s meeting, when Tech had three field goals and a safety, but limited Clemson to two touchdowns. They held Clemson to 126 passing yards and should trust him in a tough environment on the road.
Georgia Tech is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven at a neutral site, and should run the ball this season if a more experienced line plays well. Running backs Hassan Hall and Dylan McDuffie came on transfers, and McDuffie rushed for 1,049 yards and 11 TDs for Buffalo in 2021. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry, while Hall averaged 4.8 in four seasons at Louisville. Linebackers Ayinde Eley (88 tackles) and Charlie Thomas (70 tackles, three sacks) should have the defense on fire, and the young players around them should benefit from another offseason.
How to make selections between Georgia Tech and Clemson
Nagel analyzed this matchup and while we can tell it’s leaning under the point total, he discovered a critical X-factor that makes it jump from one side of the spread to the other. He’s just sharing what he is, and which side backwards, on SportsLine.
Who wins Clemson against Georgia Tech? And what critical X factor makes one side of the spread mandatory? Visit SportsLine now to watch the Georgia Tech vs. Clemson, all about the expert who’s taking college football by storm, and find out.
