Clemson vs Georgia Prediction & NCAAF Odds for Week 1
Hello and welcome to our Clemson vs Georgia prediction. We’re kicking things off with the basic info:
- Welcome to our Tigers vs Bulldogs prediction
- Georgia will pull off the upset
- Points will be hard to come by as the game will come in under the posted total
This is by far the most compelling game on the opening weekend college football card. A neutral site location featuring the No. 3 ranked team in the country against No. 5 according to the preseason rankings.
The ABC/ESPN networks agree as they had their choice between this game and the Alabama/Miami showdown from Atlanta. Slotting Clemson and Georgia into the primetime spot would indicate the belief that the Crimson Tide will dominate the Hurricanes while the Tigers and Bulldogs will produce a much more competitive contest.
Betting Odds & Lines for This Game
- Spread: Clemson -3 (-110) vs Georgia +3 (-110)
- MoneyLine: Clemson -160 vs Georgia +135
- Total: Over 51 (-115) vs Under 51 (-105)
All odds listed are courtesy of PointsBet.
Clemson vs Georgia Prediction: Spread
Clemson opens their 2021 season as 3-point favorites against the Bulldogs out of the SEC. This is their most difficult season-opener since 2016 when Deshaun Watson led the Tigers to a six-point win over Auburn en route to a 14-1 season that ended with a win over Alabama in the National Championship.
Clemson lost Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne to the Jacksonville Jaguars, with Dabo Swinney replacing them with D.J. Uiagalelei and an RB group led by Lyn-J Dixon. Uiagalelei gained experience last year in two games against Boston College and Notre Dame, but faced nothing like the defense he’ll see on September 4.
- Free Prediction: Georgia +3
Clemson vs Georgia Prediction: MoneyLine
Uiagalelei may be a preseason Heisman candidate with another loaded supporting cast around him, but the spotlight has never been brighter. Ultimately he fell against the Fighting Irish last year but fortunately for the orange and white, it didn’t cost them a spot in the College Football Playoff.
On the other side, JT Daniels is fully recovered from an ACL injury and the Bulldog offense was drastically better with the former USC recruit under center a year ago. They’ll be without George Pickens for this one but the Georgia offense still may be the best it’s ever been under Kirby Smart.
- Free Prediction: Georgia (+135)
Clemson vs Georgia Prediction: Total
The SEC and Big Ten will feature weekly defensive battles worth tuning into but it’s not often you get a high-profile cross-conference matchup with this much talent on the defensive side of the ball. Especially in the season-opener.
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) August 31, 2021
You will see both of these programs ranked near the top of most defensive categories at the end of the season, but they’ll be on full display in front of a national audience right from the get-go. This will be a case, not of who can make the most stops, but which offense can overcome a suffocating pass rush and run defense.
- Free Prediction: Under 51
Prop Predictions
As much as we’ve touted the defenses in this top-5 matchup, we’re still advising to take the over. Stay with me. DraftKings is running their “Hammer the Over” prop where every 1,000 bets placed will lower the total a half a point. There is an excellent chance the number will go all the way down to zero so it’s basically free money.
