<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Week 3 Predictions: UGA vs Tennessee | Texas A&M vs Notre Dame | Florida vs LSU | New JP Poll" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/45D7X0sAofw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Atlanta should be rocking on Saturday afternoon. Georgia Tech is set to host Clemson for an incredible ACC opener for both programs. Setting the pace in conference play is as important as ever in the College Football Playoff era. Earning a win means one step closer to possibly earning an automatic bid.



So when looking at this matchup, Josh Pate sees the ACC picture being set. And not because Clemson establishes itself in a conference they have dominated under <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/dabo-swinney-131248/">Dabo Swinney</a>. Instead, Pate is picking Georgia Tech to win and pull off an upset.



“Georgia Tech is going to win this game outright,” Pate said via <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45D7X0sAofw">Josh Pate’s College Football Show</a>. “And then it really paints an interesting picture in the ACC. Frankly, it already is. Even if Clemson wins this game, Georgia Tech is not out of anything… I’ve felt that upset for a while. So, I’m going Georgia Tech to win outright.”



Pate used one word to explain why — identity. He knows what Georgia Tech head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/brent-key-134469/">Brent Key</a> wants to bring to the table. This year’s Clemson team? Not so much, mainly on the offensive side of the ball. Clemson has yet to really get the run game going and after a ton of preseason hype surrounding <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/cade-klubnik-16612/">Cade Klubnik</a>‘s wide receiver, injuries and poor performance stand out through two games.



The feeling for Pate goes back to well before getting any data points on the two teams, though. He circled this one on the calendar and is finally putting his stamp on Georgia Tech.



“Whose identity do you trust more?” Pate asked. “Whose identity? Whose more in touch with their identity? Because I think the answer is Georgia Tech, I think the answer is the underdog. I kind of banked on them being in this game because of that hunch, even in the preseason. That was before I even knew what Clemson was going to look like. For all I knew, they were going to beat <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/lsu-tigers/">LSU</a>. But I’ve had this one circled and have for a while… I know Georgia Tech won’t flinch here.”



Recent results heavily favor Clemson, going back nine years. Georgia Tech’s last win in the series came in 2014 when former head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/paul-johnson-132133/">Paul Johnson</a> went up against Swinney. Key is looking to be the latest team to take down Clemson, getting a program-defining win to kick off the Week 3 slate.

Georgia Tech football coach Brent Key at practice.

Kelly Quinlan/JOL

Key, Brent focused

On3 Football

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech prediction: Yellow Jackets identity helps pull off upset win

team image

The Main Board

Football

Basketball

Women's Basketball

Softball

Baseball

Teams

Fan Sites

Forums

Shows

team-link

College Football News

College Football Player Rankings

College Football Rankings

College Football Playoff

College Basketball News

Women's Sports

College

NIL News

NIL Valuation

NIL Deals

NIL Deal Tracker

Sports Business

Transfer Portal News

NCAA Transfer Portal News

NCAA Transfer Portal

Transfer Portal Rankings

Transfer Portal Team Rankings

Transfer Portal

NCAA Transfer Portal Home

Football Recruiting

Basketball Recruiting

Database

Team Rankings

Player Rankings

Industry Comparison

Commitments

Recruiting Prediction Machine

Recruiting

High School News

Schools

High School Search

Rankings

High School Rankings

Scores

High School Scores

High School

NFL Draft

NFL Draft News

Draft By Stars

College Draft History

College Draft Totals

NBA Draft

NBA Draft News

Draft

NASCAR

Culture

Sports Betting

About

On3 App

Advertise

Press

Contact

Alabama

Arizona State

Arizona

Arkansas

Auburn

Baylor

Boston College

California

Removed

Clemson

Colorado

Duke

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kentucky

Lettermen Row

Lettermen Lounge

Louisville

Maryland

Miami

Michigan State

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi State

Missouri

NC State

Nebraska

North Carolina

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rutgers

South Carolina

Stanford

Syracuse

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Texas

Texas Tech

UCLA

Utah

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

BamaOnLine

BOL Round Table

Inside Texas

IT Members Only

DawgsHQ

Dawg Walk

Scoop Duck

Recruiting & Sports

AuburnSports

The Corner

WeAreSC

GarryP's Trojan Huddle

The Wolverine

The Fort

The Lions Den

The Wolfpacker

The Wolves’ Den

GatorsOnline

Swamp Talk

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Albany

Alcorn State

Abilene Christian

Appalachian State

Akron

Army

Austin Peay

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Little Rock

Arkansas State

Air Force

Ball State

American

Wofford

Winthrop

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wichita State

Western Carolina

Volleyball

Gymnastics

Men's Lacrosse

Women's Lacrosse

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Women's Track

Men's Golf

Women's Golf

Men's Hockey

Women's Hockey

Men's Swimming

Women's Swimming

Wrestling

Men's Tennis

Women's Tennis

Annual $1

Annual Premium

Annual $1 

Monthly

Annual

Unlimited Access to This and All Articles.

Article (On3 Plus Rivals)

Forum (On3 Plus Rivals)

Intro

Join

College scoop, experts, and community - all in one.

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech prediction: Yellow Jackets identity helps pull off upset win

Charles Bediako case

Player Buyouts

B1G-SEC

Alex Golesh

Jay Bilas