Georgia Tech @ Clemson preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 29, 2011 ) Clemson 17, Georgia Tech 31

Georgia Tech takes a two-game losing streak into Death Valley on Saturday to meet No. 15 Clemson. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a stunning 49-28 home loss to Middle Tennessee State, their first to a non-BCS school since 1996. Georgia Tech has allowed 91 points in its last two games. The Tigers, bouncing back from a second-half collapse against Florida State, pulled away from Boston College for a 45-31 win last week. All-American receiver Sammy Watkins, who missed the game with an abdominal virus, is expected to return.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Clemson -10

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (2-3, 1-2 ACC): There are bad losses. And then there's what happened to the Yellow Jackets last week when they were run out of their own stadium by a Sun Belt Conference team. Georgia Tech allowed 510 yards of total offense, including 217 yards rushing by Benny Cunningham, who ran for five touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets were outscored 28-7 in the second half to offset a big day by quarterback Tevin Washington, who tied a school record with four rushing touchdowns.

ABOUT CLEMSON (4-1, 1-1 ACC): Watkins has already missed three games this season. He didn't play in the first two after being suspended for an offseason drug arrest. The Tigers didn't need him last week, thanks mostly to quarterback Tajh Boyd, who ran for one touchdown and threw for three more. DeAndre Hopkins stepped in for Watkins and caught 11 passes for a school-record 197 yards. Clemson is averaging 40.2 points, which isn't good news for Georgia Tech's porous defense.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Georgia Tech has won four of the last five against Clemson, including last season when the Tigers started the season with eight straight wins.

2. The Yellow Jackets have allowed 1,119 yards the last two games. Georgia Tech gave up 609 yards against Miami two weeks ago.

3. Clemson running back Andre Ellington had a career-high 264 all-purpose yards against Boston College. The senior recorded 132 rushing yards and had 129 yards in kickoff returns.

PREDICTION: Clemson 38, Georgia Tech 20