The Clemson Tigers are in desperate need of a statement performance.
Clemson can certainly be forgiven for losing to LSU by one score in Week 1, but it’s a lot harder to look past their haphazard win against Troy the following Saturday.
The Tigers trailed the Trojans, 16-3, at halftime, but were rescued by a 17-point outburst in the third quarter.
A win’s a win, but the entire college football universe seems eager to abandon the Clemson bandwagon after spending all summer filling it up.
A win against surging Georgia Tech would go a long way in quieting the skeptics, but that’s not an easy proposition these days.
The Tigers are just a 3.5-point favorite on the road against the Yellow Jackets in one of Saturday’s most important games.
Clemson vs. Georgia Tech odds, prediction
Coming into the season, it seemed like Clemson only needed to answer one question: Can the defense pull its weight?
So far, the answer to that question has been a resounding “Yes,” but the problem is that the offense, led by preseason Heisman favorite Cade Klubnik, has not held up its end of the bargain.
It’s only been two games, but Clemson’s malaise has caused the market to shift quite a bit.
The Tigers are now essentially a co-favorite to win the ACC with Miami, and they’re 18/1 to win the national championship, which is a few ticks down from where they started.
Bill Connelly’s SP+ power ratings have the Tigers as the 31st-best team in the country, 23 spots back of where they were ahead of Week 0.
Georgia Tech, meanwhile, has looked terrific in the early going.
Betting on College Football?
The Ramblin’ Wreck defeated Colorado on the road, 27-20, in Week 1, and then scored an unfussy victory against Gardner-Webb a week later.
Quarterback Haynes King, who was terrific in the season-opener, missed the Gardner-Webb game with an injury and remains questionable.
His status is obviously paramount to Georgia Tech’s chances in this game, but it does seem like he’s on track to play.
With King under center the Yellow Jackets are a dangerous side, and they’ve specialized in pulling upsets under Brent Key, but I can’t help to think this is a strong opportunity to buy low on the Tigers.
Clemson’s defense should keep the Yellow Jackets in check, especially if King is out, and there’s no reason to believe that the offense has just completely fallen off the boil.
Klubnik is surrounded by experienced playmakers, so I’ll believe in the Tigers figuring things out before it gets too late.
The Play: Clemson -3.5 (+102, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
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