No. 7 Clemson vs Georgia Tech: Our Take

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Each week we give you our three keys to the game and our staff predictions. Here is a look at tonight's opponent Georgia Tech.

The Match Up:

#7 Clemson (6-1, 4-1) vs Georgia Tech (4-2, 3-1)

2016 Game Highlights:

2015 Game Highlights:

All-Time Series:

Georgia Tech leads 52-29-2
at Clemson: Clemson leads 13-6
at Tech: Georgia Tech leads 44-14-2
at Neutral: Clemson leads 2-1
Last Meeting: Clemson 26-7 at Tech, 2016
Last Tech Win: 28-6 in Atlanta, 2014
Last Tech win at Clemson: 21-17 in 2008
Last 10 Meetings: Tied 5-5
Streak: Clemson won 2 in row, 4 of 5
Clemson won 4 in a row at Clemson
Since Tech Joined ACC: Clemson leads 18-17

Key 1: Kelly Bryant's Ankle

At his first press conference since returning from injury quarterback Kelly Bryant joked, ”Y’all miss me?” 

The media certainly weren't the only ones who missed him. Clemson lost their first game of the season two weeks ago when Bryant was concussed late in the first half against Syracuse. Bryant, who was already suffering from an ankle injury showed signs of limited mobility but wasn't pulled from the game. 

Ultimately that decision, not the ankle injury is what cost Clemson at Syracuse.

Dabo Swinney contends that Bryant is expected to play saying, ”Kelly looks good and hopefully he won’t have any setbacks and play a great game on Saturday.”

As Tommy Bowden mentioned on the show this week, Clemson's training staff will put Bryant through the paces before the game, but I would not play around with this injury a second time.

Swinney is a national championship winning head coach and has a chance to get back to the College Football Playoff for a third consecutive time, but the pregame and in-game evaluations of Bryant's ankle could make or break the Tigers chances in 2017.

Key 2: Stay on your feet

There is no doubt about the talent gap between these two programs. Thanks in part to Paul Johnson's scheme, finding top-shelf players who want to play in that style of offense is difficult. However, part of the beauty of the triple-option is how it can equalize talent differentials. 

If Clemson's five-star stud defensive lineman are on the ground, they can't make plays. It will be paramount that the Tigers can stay in an athletic posture. 

The Yellow Jackets have led the ACC and finished in the top 10 nationally in rushing yardage all nine season's Johnson has been in Atlanta, and they are currently second in the country. Slow that portion of their game, and you can give yourself a great chance to win.

Key 3: Don't try to do too much

Brent Venables has been kryptonite for Paul Johnson's vaunted rushing attack the past two seasons, and it starts with discipline. What Clemson has done against Tech incredible given their track record of success with the triple-option. The Tigers allowed just 71 yards on 42 rushes by the Yellow Jackets in 2015. Last year, Georgia Tech gained 95 yards on 38 attempts. Mind-blowing numbers to say the least, but it is all predicated on doing your job, not someone else's.

Prediction:

The weather is expected to be bad and most of the time that would favor a team that likes to rush the ball like Georgia Tech, but putting a wet ball in peril leads to turnovers. Clemson's defense is as fast and athletic as any time in the country, and that will cause problems for the Jackets. This defense should be hungry to make up for their missteps two weeks ago as well.

I tend to think that Clemson's offense will be fine in the conditions because Clemson has now established that it too has a running game. Whether Bryant plays some, or not at all, no matter who is at quarterback the Tigers offensive staff still has to be willing to rush the football more often than not. The Tigers have more than enough talent in the backfield to give the Yellow Jackets a dose of the Tigers run game.

In the end, I think Kelly Bryant plays through pain, and that keeps this game close for a while. Clemson's the more talented team, and they have to play like a desperate team if they want to have a chance to earn the right to go to Charlotte for the ACC Championship. 

If Clemson loses this game, they will need help to defend their ACC crown. That's not an ideal position given NC State's remaining conference schedule. 

Clemson racks up tackles for loss in the rain, which will force Georgia Tech to play behind the sticks all night. That's not where the Jackets typically find success. Clemson's offense will hit on some big plays, and ultimately the talent gap will show up, and Clemson pulls away late.

Clemson Sports Talk

Clemson vs Georgia Tech - 8:00 PM - ABC or ESPN2

Final Score Predictions:

Best Prediction = 3 Points        Correct Prediction = 1 Point