Georgia Tech vs Clemson: Official Matchup Breakdown and Prediction

Can Georgia Tech beat Clemson for the first time since 2014?

Game time is closing in for Georgia Tech vs Clemson. 

The Yellow Jackets have a lot on the line in this game. They can clinch bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018, get their first win over Clemson since 2014, and get their first win in Death Valley since 2008. Georgia Tech has also not had a three-game winning streak since 2018. 

Clemson is not the dominant team they have been in the last 7-8 years under Dabo Swinney, but this win would mean a lot to Brent Key and Georgia Tech. 

"You want me to say the politically correct thing? It would be great for 24 hours, we would enjoy it and then onto the next game. We play one season, each week is a season, there is no tomorrow after Saturday as far as we are concerned. There is nothing... we are going to lay it all on the line. We are going to take the punches, throw the punches and when I say take the punches, I mean take our punches, in football you are always going to take a few punches. If anyone had seen our team last week, the excitement, how excited they were, it is another team that we have the opportunity to play football against.

Now what would it mean to beat them? They are the standard of the conference. What they have done the last 12 years, what Dabo has been able to accomplish there, it is a truly remarkable job and it is one of the only teams in the last 12 years to do what they have been able to do. So, would it be big? Yeah, it would be big, dadgum right it would be big but we are not going to make it more than it is because that is when the anxiety and the emotional starts to kick in.

When the game is over, I will let these guys, like we have every week, choose how to let their emotions go."

So can Georgia Tech win this game? It's time to break down the game and give a prediction.

Georgia Tech's offense vs Clemson's defense

Haynes King will play a big role in Georgia Tech's upset chances against Clemson / Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

This is going to be strength on strength. 

Georgia Tech has one of the ACC's best offenses and they are playing lights out right now. They have scored 40+ points in back-to-back games and have totaled over 300 yards rushing in both games. The Yellow Jackets are 2nd in the ACC in yards per game (465.3), 4th in the ACC in passing yards per game (261.2), 2nd in the ACC in rushing yards per game (204.1), and 3rd in the ACC in points per game (33.2). They have a good set of explosive playmakers at the running back position and at wide receiver, but what should give Georgia Tech fans belief in this game is the play of their offensive line this season.

Georgia Tech has gone from having one of the worst offensive lines in the ACC to one of the best and against Clemson, that is a huge plus. The Tigers still have one of the best defenses in the country and plenty of NFL talent. The Yellow Jackets are 6th in the nation in sacks given up and the Tigers are 60th in the nation in sacks. During this losing streak to Clemson, the lines of scrimmage have been a huge advantage in favor of Clemson. At least on the offensive line, Georgia Tech is not at a big disadvantage. 

Clemson comes into the game ranked 1st in the ACC in yards allowed per game, 2nd in passing yards allowed per game, and 3rd in rushing yards allowed per game. They don't give up much and Georgia Tech is going to have to earn every yard in this game. 

The running game is what has been clicking for Georgia Tech in the past two games. Jamal Haynes, Dontae Smith, and Haynes King are all big running threats, and if they can have success on the ground, that can open up the passing game. Eric Singleton Jr, Malik Rutherford, Christian Leary, and Dominick Blaylock can get open downfield and create explosive plays. 

The only explosive offense that Clemson has played this year has been Florida State and the Tigers did a good job of limiting them on the ground and FSU quarterback Jordan Travis and his elite receivers had to win the game. If Clemson shuts down Georgia Tech's ground game, can Haynes King and this group of receivers win the game? I think they can, but it will be a challenge. 

One thing that I do worry about in this game is this: the only defense that Georgia Tech has faced this season that has been as talented or as good as Clemson's is Miami's. Until the final drive, Georgia Tech could not move the ball well against the Hurricanes defense at all and it was arguably the worst performance of the year for Georgia Tech on that side of the ball. Have they improved enough since then? We will see. 

GEORGIA TECH @ CLEMSON pic.twitter.com/2nFyXGGVfQ

— parker fleming (@statsowar) November 7, 2023

Georgia Tech's defense vs Clemson's offense

This is a matchup of the weaker units in the game and it could come down to which unit gets more wins. Georgia Tech has not been good at much on defense this season, but they do create turnovers and Clemson can be generous in giving the ball away. In every loss this season, Clemson has had issues with turnovers and that has led to the Tigers being 107th in turnovers lost this season. 

Clemson is 7th in the ACC in yards per game, 6th in the ACC in passing yards, and 8th in the ACC in rushing. The Tigers are going to be getting back Will Shipley for tomorrow's game, but he might not be the best runner in the Clemson backfield. Phil Mafah is one of the toughest runners around and Georgia Tech's defense can't let him break big runs like he did against Notre Dame. 

The Yellow Jackets had their most consistent defensive performance against Virginia last week, but the numbers are still not pretty. 

Georgia Tech's defense is last in the ACC in yards allowed per game, 11th in passing defense, and last in rushing defense. They are however 32nd in the country in turnover margin this season and 21st in interceptions. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik can turn the ball over and Georgia Tech will have to create those opportunities to have a chance in this game. 

I don't think Clemson has elite playmakers at wide receiver and their offensive line is average. The Tigers are 53rd in the nation in sacks allowed, but Georgia Tech has struggled to get pressure on the quarterback this season. 

The biggest thing on this side of the ball for me is the turnover battle. Can the Yellow Jackets force turnovers and give their offense favorable field position or even score? They will probably need to. 

X-Factors

I think that winning the turnover battle and creating explosive plays are the keys to winning this game. Georgia Tech is good at both of them and Clemson is susceptible to giving the ball away. Another key will be limiting Clemson's effectiveness on the ground. Notre Dame was unable to do it last week and they have a much better defense than Georgia Tech. 

Create turnovers, hit home run plays in either the passing game or running game, and don't let Clemson control the game on the ground.

Prediction

This game just feels different than it has in some time. 

On one hand, I can't ignore the talent advantage that Clemson does have. Despite their 5-4 record, Dabo Swinney still has arguably the most talented roster in the ACC. They have future NFL players at every level of the defense and they can limit what Georgia Tech can do on offense in this game. I look back to the Miami game to see a similar defense and remember Georgia Tech had a hard time moving the ball consistently in that game. Something similar could unfold on Saturday in Death Valley. 

But as I said, this just feels different. 

I know Clemson beat Notre Dame last week, but Georgia Tech is a more explosive team in the passing game and can challenge them in ways that the Fighting Irish could not. Clemson also needed turnovers and special teams' plays to win. They did not thoroughly outplay Notre Dame last week. 

I think the losing streak to the Tigers comes to an end tomorrow. Georgia Tech has the quarterback and playmakers around him to challenge this Clemson defense and while this might not be a great defense, the Yellow Jackets force turnovers and Clemson gives the ball away plenty. Brent Key breaks the Yellow Jackets losing streak to the Tigers and Georgia Tech clinches a spot in a bowl game. 

Final Score: Georgia Tech 31, Clemson 27

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