Georgia vs Clemson Prediction, Pick, Spread, Odds for the Football Game, Where to Watch, TV Channel, Live Stream

No. 1 Georgia and No. 14 Clemson are two of the winningest teams in the College Football Playoff era, but one of them is on an upward trajectory while the other has failed to make the CFP in the last four years. The two meet Saturday at the Aflac Kickoff Classic in Atlanta in a key game that could determine whether Clemson is a playoff-quality team.

This game is a rematch of the 2021 season opener, when the two programs tied at the top of the sport. Clemson lost 10-3 due to a lack of explosive plays on offense and inconsistent quarterback performances – issues that have plagued the program ever since. Georgia won the first of its back-to-back national titles.

Clemson is an underdog in its season opener for the first time since 2014, a streak that included Week 1 games against Georgia in 2021 and at Auburn in 2016. The Tigers lost to Georgia as underdogs in Week 1 in 2014. Only once has Dabo Swinney been a bigger underdog (+14.5 at Florida State in 2012), and the longtime Clemson coach has a 12-1 record against the spread as an underdog of five or more points. A Clemson win would be the program’s biggest upset since 2004 at Miami (+16.5).

Georgia vs. Clemson: What you need to know

What does Georgia do without Brock Bowers? Carson Beck emerged as one of the best quarterbacks in the country during the second half of his first season as a starter in 2023. He leaned heavily on tight end Brock Bowers, who led Georgia in pass receptions three years in a row. Ladd McConkey filled in for the injured Bowers last season and was equally productive, but he, too, is gone. It’s up to the receivers and Oscar Delp, the No. 1 tight end in the 2022 class, to step in and keep Beck on track as a Heisman Trophy contender. Dominic Lovett finished second on the team last season with 54 catches for 613 yards and four touchdowns and should be the first choice. Beck led the SEC in passing (3,941 yards) and broke the school record in accuracy by completing 72% of his throws. But will those numbers add up without a safety valve?

Clemson’s offense needs to become more explosive: Both programs rank in the top five nationally in the 247Sports Team Talent Composite, although Clemson is continually criticized for its lack of utilization of the transfer portal. Quarterback Cade Klubnik returns to lead an offense that has struggled to move the ball forward and ranked 129th nationally in explosive passing last season. Could new receivers Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore help stretch the field? Swinney is confident Wesco, a former five-star prospect, will make an impact in his debut. The offensive line returns four starters, but the best news here is the hiring of veteran position coach Matt Luke, who needs a new center to replicate the performance of a retired All-ACC player.

Clemson’s defense gears up: Clemson is replacing four players from the All-ACC team, but the safeties should be a strength. The Tigers have long had top-notch defensive lines, but three starters from last year moved on to the NFL. Defensive ends TJ Parker and Peter Woods are the new pillars on offense. Parker started three games last season and was a freshman All-American while leading the team with 5.5 sacks. Woods moved from tackle to end in the spring.

Trevor Etienne’s status is questionable: Questions remain about Georgia running back Trevor Etienne’s availability for the opening game and whether he will be suspended because of a drunken driving arrest in March. The Florida transfer was expected to fill the workhorse role after the departures of Dijon Edwards and Kendall Milton, who combined for nearly 4,000 rushing yards in their careers. Roderick Robinson II, the team’s returning leader in rushing yards (196 yards and two touchdowns), is expected to miss the opening game after undergoing toe surgery. If Etienne sits out for a while, expect sophomore Branson Robinson to start. He ran for 330 yards as a freshman in 2022 but missed all of last year because of a torn patellar tendon

How to watch Georgia vs Clemson live

Date: Saturday, August 31st | Time: 12pm ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta
TV: ABCs | Live stream: fubo (try for free)

Georgia vs. Clemson Prediction, Tips

Clemson needs to find a way to stretch the field and become more explosive than it has been in recent years. Quarterback Cade Klubnik will have to do that — and limit turnovers — but the other problem is the red zone, where the Tigers ranked 118th in inversions last season. Georgia has more firepower offensively and defensively, but with uncertainty at Georgia’s running back position, this is an opportunity for Clemson’s new-look defensive line to put pressure on Carson Beck and slow down the Bulldogs’ running attack. Selection: Clemson +13.5

What college football picks can you confidently make in Week 1? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all based on a proven computer model that has returned well over $2,000 in profit since its inception — and find out.