Tigers Today: Clemson begins College Football Playoff quest with primetime Georgia showdown

On3 imageby:Pete Nakos•09/04/21•

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Clemson begins College Football Playoff quest with primetime Georgia showdown

Clemson and Georgia are set to meet for the first time since 2014. The Bulldogs have won six of the past seven contests and are 42-18-4 in the series all-time.

Both teams enter the season with College Football Playoff aspirations. Although a loss here doesn’t necessarily knock them out of that conversation, a victory would go a long way toward building a resume.

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021
  • Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Weather: 80 degrees, mostly clear
  • TV Channel: ABC
  • The line: Clemson is a 3-point favorite, per VegasInsider.
  • Over/under: 51 points
  • The total has gone over in six of Clemson’s last eight games.
  • The Tigers are 13-4 against the spread in neutral-site games under Dabo Swinney since the CFP era began in 2014, and that includes a 13-4 S/U record.
  • Georgia is 6-4 against the spread as an underdog since Kirby Smart took over in 2016, but the Bulldogs are 3-7 S/U in those games. 
  • Georgia is 2-5 against the spread in its last 7 games

Kirk Herbstreit on what will be the difference in Clemson-Georgia

ESPN personality Kirk Herbstreit believes Saturday’s matchup between Clemson and Georgia will be decided in the final quarter. Herbstreit said during the College GameDay press conference in Charlotte he thinks one team will make a costly mistake. 

“I think it’s low 30s, high 20s kind of game,” he said. “I think it’s a four-quarter game. I think it’s not so much the dynamic playmaker, it’s gonna be a disastrous play that’s gonna cost somebody this game. It’s gonna be a quarterback throws a pick-six. It’s gonna be a sack and a fumble. Somebody scoops it up and seals the victory. I just don’t see either team blowing the other one out.”

Recruits share predictions for Clemson-Georgia

Clemson-UGA will feature plenty of recruits in the stands, with some noteworthy Clemson targets expected to be in attendance. The 7:30 p.m. EST kickoff time will also allow recruits who are not visiting, or going elsewhere, to tune in for this matchup.

Clemson Sports reached out to several top Tiger targets to get their thoughts on who they believe will win on Saturday. Check out their predictions below, along with a quick summary of each prospect.

READ MORE: Recruits share predictions for Clemson-Georgia

WATCH: Clemson releases hype video ahead opener vs. Georgia

It’s officially college football season as the Clemson Tigers released their hype video ahead of a matchup with No. 5 Georgia on Saturday. If this doesn’t get you ready for Saturday, nothing will. 

To watch the video, click here.

Justyn Ross being back completely changes Tigers offense

Game week has finally arrived. Clemson kicks off the season Saturday night in Charlotte against Georgia.

ClemsonSports.com senior writer Matt Connolly is helping you get ready for the upcoming season by counting down the most important 25 players for Clemson in 2021. Up Friday was No. 2: Justyn Ross.

Click here to read why Justyn Ross ranks as one of the top 25 most important players on Clemson’s roster.

Counting down

  • Clemson vs. Georgia (season opener): Game Day
  • Clemson at South Carolina: 85 days

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