It’s here, folks. The Clemson Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs renew their long-standing rivalry on opening weekend of the college football season. Last year’s encounter was an entertaining, back-and-forth match in front of a sold out crowd. Expect no less this season.
Get set for the entire college football schedule with our list of the top five games to watch in Week 1 and our compilation of experts’ picks for the 2014-2015 season. of the NCAAF. Meanwhile, stick around for a complete analysis and preview as Clemson visits Georgia to kick start their 2014 campaigns.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Sanford Stadium, Athens
When: Saturday, August 30, 5:30 PM ET
Line: Clemson Tigers (+7.5) at Georgia Bulldogs (-7.5); total 58.0 – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers will have to undergo a season of transition this year with some new faces in their offensive unit. For one, they will have a new starting quarterback in Cole Stoudt. The senior played as a backup QB last season and finished with a 79.7 percent completion for 415 yards with five TDs. He’ll have big shoes to fill after Tajh Boyd (second in the ACC with 3,851 passing yards behind only Jameis Winston) graduated and was drafted by the New York Jets.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]With a new group of wide receivers to go along with their newly-starting QB, Clemson planned to take the pressure off Stoudt with more emphasis on the run in this match against Georgia. However, Clemson’s top rusher from last year, running back Zack Brooks, is out for the season due to a foot injury. They are left with C.J. Davidson as the likely No. 1 RB this season.
Davidson suffered a knee injury that hindered his production last season (34 carries for 155 yards and four touchdowns), but is still the most explosive of Clemson’s veteran runners. Redshirted freshman Wayne Gallman will provide another option at RB after he impressed coaches and teammates in the offseason. Gallman will be an exciting prospect to watch out for from Clemson.
Hindering a solid running game is a questionable offensive line after offensive tackle Shaq Anthony’s decision to transfer to a different program. Clemson are now left with the promising but inexperienced Joe Gore. Gore has only played 124 snaps in the past two seasons but has impressed his coaches during the offseason.
Clemson starts the season slow as road underdogs against the Bulldogs. The total went over in three of Clemson’s four games as underdogs last season. Moreover, the Tigers are 1-3 SU in four games played against Georgia since 1995.
Betting on the Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia will have a new starting QB of their own in Hutson Mason, who’s coming off a breakout year last year as he filled in for the injured Aaron Murry. Mason completed 60.9% of his passes last season and threw for 968 yards with five TDs.
Mason will have some decent targets to throw to this year, as WR Malcolm Mitchell, who missed the entire 2013 season due to a torn ACL, will team up with returning receivers Chris Conley (651 yards) and Michael Bennett (538 yards).
But Mason’s duty for his first few starts will be to hand off to possibly the best RB in the nation, Todd Gurley. The RB had an excellent freshman season in 2012 with 1,385 yards and 17 TDs, but he was significantly hampered by an ankle injury last season. Gurley still finished with 989 yards while adding 10 TDs, and now that he’s back to full health, he is on the verge of a career-defining season.
Defensively, the Bulldogs weren’t too shabby against the run last year (sixth in the SEC) allowing just about 148 yards per game. They will likely put their focus on defending against Clemson’s running attack. Georgia won’t encounter too much trouble against the passing offense of the Clemson Tigers, who are now without the duo of Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins.
Georgia’s defense will show much improvement especially with new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt taking over the reins. A national championship-winning defensive coordinator during his time at Florida State, Pruitt will be working with 10 returning starters to solidify the Bulldogs’ defensive unit.
Georgia is 6-1 SU in games played at home last season.
Writer’s Prediction
Todd Gurley will be close to unstoppable as he runs through Clemson’s defense. Georgia (-7.5) takes an early lead and stays ahead to take the victory.
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