The popular thought leading into this game is to pick the underdog against the spread. As @Cris_Ard has pointed out, the underdog is now 20-6 ATS in the last 26 meetings. That seems self explanatory on the surface, however I think we need to look into this in more detail.
It's true that GT has given us fits. However, that has mostly been in Atlanta or at a neutral site. We have beaten them by 14, 16, and 24 in their last 3 trips to DV, respectively. Also, if you look at GT vs. Clemson since we've had Brent Venables, that trend has not held true.
Case in point: in 2012, Clemson was a 10 pt. favorite over GT. We beat them 47-31. In 2013 Clemson was a 10.5 pt. favorite, and we beat them 55-31.
In 2014 Clemson was a 3 pt. favorite in Atlanta, a but lost 28-6. But honestly, if DeShaun Watson doesn't get hurt in that game, Clemson covers that spread easily. I think most on this Board would agree with that. My opinion is that we were headed for a 38-14 type game before DW4 went down.
With all that being said, I think Clemson is the smart pick to cover the spread this weekend against GT. I really don't care what happened in this series 15 years ago. We don't have Reggie Herring or Kevin Steele coaching this defense. Brent Venables has given us no indication at all that his defense is susceptible to any sort of letdown that would be required for GT to make this a one score game. The only way this is a one score game is if we repeat 2011 and turn it over 4-5 times and let them hold the ball for 40 minutes. That's not gonna happen because our ability to run the ball with the QB and RB are both much stronger than in 2011 (remember Andre Ellington missed that game and we had to play DJ Howard and Mike Bellamy, who both fumbled).
Look for the Tigers to roll this weekend.
It's true that GT has given us fits. However, that has mostly been in Atlanta or at a neutral site. We have beaten them by 14, 16, and 24 in their last 3 trips to DV, respectively. Also, if you look at GT vs. Clemson since we've had Brent Venables, that trend has not held true.
Case in point: in 2012, Clemson was a 10 pt. favorite over GT. We beat them 47-31. In 2013 Clemson was a 10.5 pt. favorite, and we beat them 55-31.
In 2014 Clemson was a 3 pt. favorite in Atlanta, a but lost 28-6. But honestly, if DeShaun Watson doesn't get hurt in that game, Clemson covers that spread easily. I think most on this Board would agree with that. My opinion is that we were headed for a 38-14 type game before DW4 went down.
With all that being said, I think Clemson is the smart pick to cover the spread this weekend against GT. I really don't care what happened in this series 15 years ago. We don't have Reggie Herring or Kevin Steele coaching this defense. Brent Venables has given us no indication at all that his defense is susceptible to any sort of letdown that would be required for GT to make this a one score game. The only way this is a one score game is if we repeat 2011 and turn it over 4-5 times and let them hold the ball for 40 minutes. That's not gonna happen because our ability to run the ball with the QB and RB are both much stronger than in 2011 (remember Andre Ellington missed that game and we had to play DJ Howard and Mike Bellamy, who both fumbled).
Look for the Tigers to roll this weekend.
