Week 1 College football offers up five games matching ranked teams for our viewing and betting pleasure this week, including this Southern-fried inter-conference bout between Clemson and Georgia Saturday night on neutral turf in Charlotte. The Tigers begin what they hope is a seventh straight trip to the College Football Playoff, but they’ve got some big holes to fill after losing some great talent. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, think they’ve got a shot at their second CFP berth.
Clemson’s favored by a field goal for this one; who do we like here for our free Week 1 pick?
The Betting
The college football betting lines opened Clemson as a three-point favorite over Georgia, with an over/under of right around 52. Early betting action held that spread steady and dipped that total to 50.5 at some sports betting sites.
Georgia-Clemson College Football Betting Preview
The Bulldogs return 13 starters this season from a team that played 8-2 last year and won a bowl. Georgia opened 3-0 last season, with wins over Auburn and what was a ranked Tennessee team, then led Alabama 24-20 late into the third quarter before fading to a 41-24 defeat. The ‘Dawgs then beat Kentucky but lost the Cocktail Party game to Florida, which ultimately cost them a spot in the SEC championship game. Georgia then finished with three straight conference wins, then came from behind to beat a pretty good Cincinnati team in the Peach Bowl.
But of course, anything less than a berth in the SEC title tilt is a disappointment for this program, after three straight appearances.
Heading into this season, the Bulldogs are lined as -350 favorites to win the SEC East.
This year, eight starters are back for UGA on offense, including quarterback JT Daniels (16 career starts), last year’s top rusher and top three receivers, and three along the offensive line. And while only five starters are back on defense, they include three of last year’s top four tacklers.
The Bulldogs averaged 424 yards per game on offense last year, but that figure jumps to 486 in the four games Daniels started at QB. Meanwhile, the defense limited foes to 321 YPG, so that unit’s five-year average is now 307 YPG.
Clemson, meanwhile, returns 14 starters this year from a team that played 10-2 last year, won the ACC again but lost to Ohio State in CFP national semifinal. The Tigers started 7-0 last year, disposing of most foes by three touchdowns and more, then played without starting QB Trevor Lawrence (and others) and lost at Notre Dame in double-overtime. Clemson then finished with easy wins over Pitt and Virginia Tech, then blasted the Irish in a rematch in the ACC championship game. But the Tigers then came up empty against the Buckeyes in the Sugar Bowl, losing 49-28.
Only five starters are back on offense for Clemson, following the loss of Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, and last year’s top two receivers. But new quarterback DJ Uiagalelei nearly led the Tigers to victory at Notre Dame last year. And nine starters are back on defense, including the entire front four.
Clemson averaged 502 YPG on offense last year while holding foes to 327 YPG. The Tigers might not match that offensive figure this season, but they’ll almost certainly improve upon that defensive figure.
Heading into this season, Clemson is a -750 (!) favorite to win the ACC again.
Georgia-Clemson Recent History
These two Southern powers, separated by only 70 miles, met regularly from the 1960s into the 1990s but not so much anymore. Most recently, back in 2014, Georgia beat Clemson in Athens 45-24, covering as a 10-point favorite.
- Get more details: Georgia vs. Clemson 9/4/21 Match-up Stats
College Football Betting Trends
- Georgia is 4-1 both SU and ATS in its last five games against the ACC (most of that against Georgia Tech).
- Clemson is 5-2 SU, 2-5 ATS its last seven games against the SEC.
- Georgia is 6-4 ATS in its last ten games as an underdog.
- Clemson is 3-2 ATS in its last five games favored by less than a touchdown.
- Georgia is 9-5 SU, 10-4 ATS its last 14 games on neutral fields.
- Clemson is 8-3 SU, 7-4 ATS its last 11 games on neutral fields.
Totals Report
Overs played 6-4 in Georgia games last season, which averaged 52 total points.
Overs played 7-5 in Clemson games last season, which averaged 64 points.
