In the second of a two-game series between the Clemson Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs, things look much different than they did back in 2021 when the latter went into Death Valley and beat the former in a brutal 10-3 game. That game saw D.J. Uiagalalei versus J.T. Daniels and a lot has changed with these two programs.

The Bulldogs have had multiple National Championships since then while Clemson has failed to even make the College Football Playoff.

2024 record: 1-0 (100%)
Career record: 164-154-5 (51.5%)

All odds from DraftKings Sportsbook unless otherwise noted

Clemson +13.5 (-110) vs. Georgia -13.5 (-110)

This is arguably the marquee matchup on the first Saturday of the college football season. The Tigers are coming off a very disappointing 9-4 season that saw them come from behind and beat Kentucky 38-35 in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

It's been an interesting ride for the Tigers over the last few seasons and it started with NIL. Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney has been very hesitant to utilize the transfer portal but that hasn't stopped his players from entering it and finding greener pastures elsewhere. That process hasn't changed year over year which is a major factor in turning Clemson from a top National Championship contender to a fringe playoff team. 

They are led by a talented quarterback in Cade Klubnik who has all the ability but hasn't quite put it all together. Will another season with Garrett Riley make the difference for him?

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For Georgia, it's all about taking the next step to return to the National Championship Game. Their loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game still stings but they return a wealth of talent in 16 starters on both sides of the ball that is led by quarterback Carson Beck.

He leads a team that is ready to take control, especially on offense. Beck led a very efficient offensive attack in 2023 that could be even more explosive in 2024 led by Florida running back transfer Trevor Etienne and Stanford tight end transfer Benjamin Yurosek. They also have returning wide receivers Dominic Lovett and Arian Smith ready to make an impact in the play-action game.

The key here is going to be the defense of Georgia. They have two of the best defenders in the nation in junior defensive end Mykel Williams and junior safety Malaki Starks who both project to be potential top-10 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. 

The key here is going to be in the trenches where the Bulldogs are simply more talented. They should be able to dominate the Tigers and wear them down with the running game. Once they establish the run, Beck can take advantage of the Tigers over the top with the play-action passing game. This won't be the easiest win the Bulldogs will have all season, but covering 13.5 points should be, especially in Athens.

Bet: Georgia -13.5 (-110)