Clemson vs. Georgia Week 1 Preview and Prediction
Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday, August 31, 2024 at noon ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Georgia's Pass Defense
Last year, the Bulldogs owned a highly ranked pass defense despite their lack of sack production.
They were able to rely on their secondary.
This year, however, their secondary will regress.
Their top cornerback, Kamari Lassiter, now plays for the Houston Texans.
Moreover, they lost multiple starting-caliber cornerbacks to the transfer portal.
Daylen Everette is their top returning cornerback.
Everette was somebody whom opposing pass attacks consistently targeted.
He did not make the leap that was expected of him. In fact, Julian Humphrey might have surpassed him if he had not suffered an injury that impeded his ability to progress.
Now, from a long-term point of view, Georgia's cornerback room deserves hype. While its acquired youth is very talented, we can't expect that youth to make an immediate impact, especially going up against a Clemson wide receiver unit that is also very talented and, as a consequence of possessing much more experience, is significantly more developed.
The upshot is that in Georgia we'll see a pass rush that wouldn't take advantage of Clemson's offensive line even if it reproduced the 2023 version of itself, while, as I will describe, Clemson's wide receivers will take advantage of a regressed Georgia secondary.
Cade Klubnik
Before getting into Clemson's talented wide receiver group, we need to clear the air about the guy throwing the ball to them.
He definitely has the physical talent. After all, he was a highly-ranked recruit for a good reason.
Last year, we saw the physical talent. He has a strong arm. He is capable of making sharp throws.
What we also saw, though, was a quarterback who held onto the ball too long. A guy who made a lot of bad decisions. Mentally, he struggled.
The mental stuff is just what is very improvable, though. We don't need him to morph into a physically different quarterback.
Klubnik spent time in the offseason developing the mental side of his game, which is critically important.
He met with the likes of the Manning brothers, Pete Carroll, and others. Perhaps most importantly, he gets to be in the same offensive scheme led by the same offensive coordinator for a second consecutive year.
This will lead to him making better judgments and to doing a better job of delivering the football where it needs to go.
A strong mental performance, complementing his physical skill set, will produce a strong year from Klubnik.
And we'll see signs of this strong year in the season opener against Georgia's vulnerable pass defense.
Clemson's Wide Receivers
The chemistry in Clemson's pass attack was undermined by unfortunate injuries to different Tigers wide receivers.
The talent is certainly there, and there is so much basis for thinking that this will be a great group – a group that has shown a lot and that, together, forms a deep unit in contrast to the young and emaciated Georgia cornerback group.
There is Tyler Brown, who was a freshman All-American last year.
Antonio Williams was a freshman All-American in 2022 but missed most of last season due to injury.
Adam Randall was a highly-ranked recruit. He is well-sized and, with his sub-11 100-meter speed, is a certified track star.
There is more to this group, but we already see how overwhelming the talent here is.
Takeaway About The Offense
Clemson's offensive line has experience together, so the chemistry is there, and the group's ability will be maximized by a remarkably proven offensive line coach.
Phil Mafah averaged 5.4 YPC at running back last year, amassing close to 1,000 yards and eviscerating the likes of Notre Dame, while Georgia's run defense regressed last year and is not as good as it used to be.
Klubnik with his wide receiver group will take a leap forward, especially against Georgia's unusually vulnerable secondary and unintimidating pass rush.
Clemson's Secondary
But Clemson's defense is also going to have significant problems, starting with its secondary.
We saw, in the Tigers' bowl game, what life without top cornerback Nate Wiggins looks like. Devin Leary threw for over 300 yards, helping his Kentucky Wildcats score 35 points.
Clemson lost three starting defensive backs and will have to rely extensively on youth.
The run defense also has major concerns, starting with the departure of irreplaceable star Jeremiah Trotter Jr. He was, as PFF's grades suggest, arguably the nation's top run-stopper.
Clemson's run defense has lost more than just this one star, although this one absence suffices to make a big difference.
Georgia's Offense
The key to Georgia's offense will be its offensive line.
This unit will arguably be the nation's best: four All-SEC studs grace the Bulldogs' offensive line.
Star running back Trevor Etienne, who is averaging 5.9 YPC in his career, will have a big year.
Carson Beck, at quarterback, is projected as a first-round draft pick.
Beck is your prototypical pocket-passer: he is poised, possesses great pocket presence, has wonderful mechanics, and delivers a great ball. His stats show his high efficiency and his ability to avoid mistakes.
He'll also have a loaded wide receiver group that is led by two All-SEC players in Dominic Lovett and Dillon Bell.
Depth will be great with guys like Colbie Young adding physical prowess as a vertical threat.
Takeaway About Georgia
Georgia averaged nearly 40 points per game last year and has the talent on offense to do so again.
Last year, Clemson could give up scoring outputs in the low 20s and didn't face an offense as good as Georgia's and will regress on defense this year.
Asking Georgia to reach 30 on Saturday seems quite reasonable to me.
Final Takeaway
Both teams are loaded on offense and face declining defenses.
The total shows way too much respect to those defenses, which feature insufficient pass rushing and declines in run defense overall and in the secondary.
Clemson's pass attack will take a leap forward, complementing its running game and supported by a better-coached o-line, while Georgia's offense will likewise be balanced with some of the best groups in the nation and will be supported by elite run- and pass-blocking.
Best Bet: Over 49 at -115 with BetOnline
Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday, August 31, 2024 at noon ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Georgia's Pass Defense
Last year, the Bulldogs owned a highly ranked pass defense despite their lack of sack production.
They were able to rely on their secondary.
This year, however, their secondary will regress.
Their top cornerback, Kamari Lassiter, now plays for the Houston Texans.
Moreover, they lost multiple starting-caliber cornerbacks to the transfer portal.
Daylen Everette is their top returning cornerback.
Everette was somebody whom opposing pass attacks consistently targeted.
He did not make the leap that was expected of him. In fact, Julian Humphrey might have surpassed him if he had not suffered an injury that impeded his ability to progress.
Now, from a long-term point of view, Georgia's cornerback room deserves hype. While its acquired youth is very talented, we can't expect that youth to make an immediate impact, especially going up against a Clemson wide receiver unit that is also very talented and, as a consequence of possessing much more experience, is significantly more developed.
The upshot is that in Georgia we'll see a pass rush that wouldn't take advantage of Clemson's offensive line even if it reproduced the 2023 version of itself, while, as I will describe, Clemson's wide receivers will take advantage of a regressed Georgia secondary.
Cade Klubnik
Before getting into Clemson's talented wide receiver group, we need to clear the air about the guy throwing the ball to them.
He definitely has the physical talent. After all, he was a highly-ranked recruit for a good reason.
Last year, we saw the physical talent. He has a strong arm. He is capable of making sharp throws.
What we also saw, though, was a quarterback who held onto the ball too long. A guy who made a lot of bad decisions. Mentally, he struggled.
The mental stuff is just what is very improvable, though. We don't need him to morph into a physically different quarterback.
Klubnik spent time in the offseason developing the mental side of his game, which is critically important.
He met with the likes of the Manning brothers, Pete Carroll, and others. Perhaps most importantly, he gets to be in the same offensive scheme led by the same offensive coordinator for a second consecutive year.
This will lead to him making better judgments and to doing a better job of delivering the football where it needs to go.
A strong mental performance, complementing his physical skill set, will produce a strong year from Klubnik.
And we'll see signs of this strong year in the season opener against Georgia's vulnerable pass defense.
Clemson's Wide Receivers
The chemistry in Clemson's pass attack was undermined by unfortunate injuries to different Tigers wide receivers.
The talent is certainly there, and there is so much basis for thinking that this will be a great group – a group that has shown a lot and that, together, forms a deep unit in contrast to the young and emaciated Georgia cornerback group.
There is Tyler Brown, who was a freshman All-American last year.
Antonio Williams was a freshman All-American in 2022 but missed most of last season due to injury.
Adam Randall was a highly-ranked recruit. He is well-sized and, with his sub-11 100-meter speed, is a certified track star.
There is more to this group, but we already see how overwhelming the talent here is.
Takeaway About The Offense
Clemson's offensive line has experience together, so the chemistry is there, and the group's ability will be maximized by a remarkably proven offensive line coach.
Phil Mafah averaged 5.4 YPC at running back last year, amassing close to 1,000 yards and eviscerating the likes of Notre Dame, while Georgia's run defense regressed last year and is not as good as it used to be.
Klubnik with his wide receiver group will take a leap forward, especially against Georgia's unusually vulnerable secondary and unintimidating pass rush.
Clemson's Secondary
But Clemson's defense is also going to have significant problems, starting with its secondary.
We saw, in the Tigers' bowl game, what life without top cornerback Nate Wiggins looks like. Devin Leary threw for over 300 yards, helping his Kentucky Wildcats score 35 points.
Clemson lost three starting defensive backs and will have to rely extensively on youth.
The run defense also has major concerns, starting with the departure of irreplaceable star Jeremiah Trotter Jr. He was, as PFF's grades suggest, arguably the nation's top run-stopper.
Clemson's run defense has lost more than just this one star, although this one absence suffices to make a big difference.
Georgia's Offense
The key to Georgia's offense will be its offensive line.
This unit will arguably be the nation's best: four All-SEC studs grace the Bulldogs' offensive line.
Star running back Trevor Etienne, who is averaging 5.9 YPC in his career, will have a big year.
Carson Beck, at quarterback, is projected as a first-round draft pick.
Beck is your prototypical pocket-passer: he is poised, possesses great pocket presence, has wonderful mechanics, and delivers a great ball. His stats show his high efficiency and his ability to avoid mistakes.
He'll also have a loaded wide receiver group that is led by two All-SEC players in Dominic Lovett and Dillon Bell.
Depth will be great with guys like Colbie Young adding physical prowess as a vertical threat.
Takeaway About Georgia
Georgia averaged nearly 40 points per game last year and has the talent on offense to do so again.
Last year, Clemson could give up scoring outputs in the low 20s and didn't face an offense as good as Georgia's and will regress on defense this year.
Asking Georgia to reach 30 on Saturday seems quite reasonable to me.
Final Takeaway
Both teams are loaded on offense and face declining defenses.
The total shows way too much respect to those defenses, which feature insufficient pass rushing and declines in run defense overall and in the secondary.
Clemson's pass attack will take a leap forward, complementing its running game and supported by a better-coached o-line, while Georgia's offense will likewise be balanced with some of the best groups in the nation and will be supported by elite run- and pass-blocking.
Best Bet: Over 49 at -115 with BetOnline
