The biggest game on the college football schedule in Week 1 might also be the biggest game of the year when No. 2 Clemson faces off against No. 5 Georgia.
It is a year of change at Clemson as the Tigers say goodbye to the likes of Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne, while Georgia is wondering if this is finally the year the Bulldogs capture that elusive national title. Clemson is a 3-point favorite for this matchup but who has the betting edge?
Find out with our free college football betting picks and predictions for Clemson vs. Georgia on Saturday, September 4.
Georgia vs Clemson game info
• Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
• Date: Saturday, September 4, 2021
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
Georgia vs Clemson odds
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Georgia vs Clemson betting preview
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NCAA football weather info.
Key injuries
Georgia: No key injuries to report.
Clemson: Justyn Ross WR (Probable), Joseph Ngata WR (Questionable).
Find our latest NCAA football injury reports.
Betting trend to know
Georgia is 7-0 in its last seven season openers, going 5-2 ATS in the process. Find more NCAA betting trends for Georgia vs. Clemson.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
Georgia has been on the doorstep of a national championship since Kirby Smart arrived and the Bulldogs hope the stars will align for them in 2021.
You can say Clemson and Alabama are in transition years, as each is dealing with a ton of talent turnover, while Georgia is stacked and has about as easy a schedule as an SEC contender could have.
The defense returns just five starters this season, but this should be another elite Georgia unit that is full of NFL talent led by D-lineman Jordan Davis and linebacker Adam Anderson. The Bulldogs held opponents to just 2.4 yards per rush last fall and generated 32 sacks in 10 contests.
But a big reason for the optimism at Georgia is because of quarterback JT Daniels. The Bulldogs offense took off when Daniels took over last season. He threw for 1,231 yards while completing 67.2 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. Complemented with one of the most talented backfields in the country, this offense should pick up where it left off last season.
Meanwhile, there are some big changes at Clemson this season. Trevor Lawrence is gone. Travis Etienne is gone. And the defense struggled in the CFP last season. But don’t expect any sort of lull from the Tigers.
QB D.J. Uiagalelei appears ready to take over for Lawrence. The sophomore looked outstanding when he had to step in for Lawrence last season, throwing for 914 yards with a 66.7 completion rate with five TDs and no picks. Uiagalelei also gets back a great target in Justyn Ross.
While the defense had its issues against elite teams, overall, it was still a fantastic unit. Now, that defense returns nine starters. A D-line that was ferocious a season ago, racking up 46 sacks, and was stout against the run should be even better this year. And the secondary could be the best in the nation.
This is the type of game college football fans live for. In a game that feels close to a coin flip, we’re riding with the underdog in this one.
PREDICTION: Georgia +3 (-110)
Over/Under pick
While the quarterbacks in this matchup will get most of the headlines, it would be a bit of a surprise if this game turned into a shootout. This is simply because both of these defenses should be excellent and could be putting Uiagalelei and Daniels under pressure for much of the night.
It could also be tough sledding for the respective run games. Clemson is a little thin at running back after the departure of Etienne, and if there is one weakness for Georgia this season, there is some inexperience on the offensive line.
This game has all the makings of a hard-hitting, high-intensity, grind-it-out kind of matchup where one team makes a big play late to seal the victory. We’re betting the Under comes through here.
PREDICTION: Under 51 (-110)
Georgia vs Clemson betting card
- Georgia +3 (-110)
- Under 51 (-110)
Picks made on 9/3/2021 at 11:55 p.m. ET
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