Clemson's Offense vs Georgia's Defense
The glaring question for Clemson will be how Cole Stoudt perform in a big game. Yes, he's done well in spot duty and proven in the spring he can do it. But theirs it's different in an away game at Athens, Georgia. He is a senior that should be poised and can pick apart an inexperienced Georgia secondary.
The Oline will have a big task. Defensive end Ray Drew is back after a solid season last year. He will give the Clemson tackles fits. Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera are one of the best linebacker tandem in the country. Slowing them down will be key.
The 4 man rotation at RB could be key for Clemson. DJ Howard and crew will need to be solid to give Stoudt the balance he needs to be successful. The receivers are talented but the backups are very young. Look for them to limit their mistakes.
Georgia's Offense vs Clemson's Defense
Georgia's offensive attack will feature a heavy dose of Todd Gurley running the ball. He was dominate against the Tigers last year before being slowed by injury. Keith Marshall and Nick Chubb are talented backs too. Grady Jarrett will be called upon to slow the UGA run as will Stephone Anthony.
Hutson Mason, like Stoudt, is a first year starter at QB. The only question is can he be poised in a big game environment. He has the receiver talent around him to be successful. Pressure from the Tiger defensive line would be instrumental in stopping the Dawgs. Vic Beasley will make plays in the backfield but can he be a menace to UGA the whole game. Also, look for defensive coordinator, Brent Venables, to try and confuse him with different looks.
Special Teams
If there is a place where one of these teams has a clear advantage it is on special teams. Georgia has the advantage. They return experienced kicker Marshal Morgan. He’s one of the best kickers in the country. If it’s a close game he could make the difference in winning and losing. Clemson on the other has Ammon Lakip. He’s accurate but no meaningful game experience.
In the return game both teams have play-makers. Reggie Davis and Isaiah McKenzie are super-fast. Clemson has play-makers too. Punters Collin Barber and Bradley Pinioin can each help their teams with field position. Look for each to kick the ball away from returners.
X-Factors
There will be 2 big factors in determining the outcome of this game. Quarterback play and who does best up front. Both Stoudt and Mason are unproven quarterbacks. Both have should precision and promise in limited opportunities. Have good receiving corps around them will help. Up front the offensive lines have huge challenges. The front 7 for each team are talented. Being able to keep the offense on the field will be critical.
Prediction
This game should come down to the wire. It may not be as high scoring as last year’s battle but could get close. Clemson likely will be better passing the ball and Georgia will be better running the ball. Both offenses are pretty equal but the Tigers’s defense may be just a little better than the Dawgs. Vic Beasley will be a factor and Cole Stoudt will be confident enough to secure the win. Clemson wins 34-31.
Season Prediction: This season is kind of a changing of the guard for the Tigers. The defense will be relied upon the carry the team like the offense has the past 3 years. I think Stoudt will do great as a starting quarterback and be an upgrade to Tajh Boyd. The receiving corp will be just fine. Defensively, Clemson is back to looking like what they were in the Danny Ford years: great defensive front 7. They are poised to be physical. This year will be a great opportunity to end the streak to the Gamecocks as well. 10-2 is what this team looks like but they can’t afford to have any slip-ups.
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