2013 College Football Picks: Georgia @ Clemson Odds and Predictions – Saturday Night Free NCAAF Picks

2013 College Football Picks: Georgia @ Clemson Odds and Predictions – Saturday Night Free NCAAF Picks: A pair of national title hopefuls will square off Saturday night in the biggest matchup of college football’s opening weekend. The fifth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs will go on the road to face the eighth-ranked Clemson Tigers. The marquee matchup right out of the gate is a double-edged sword for the two teams, and while the winner will open the year with an excellent resume builder, there is a real chance that the loser will have already lost their chance at playing for the national title. The game could also jumpstart Heisman campaigns for multiple players on both sides. It might be the season opener, but there is plenty at stake for both teams. Heading into the matchup, the Bulldogs are 1 ½-point favorites.

It’s easy to understand why the Bulldogs open the year ranked in the top five nationally. After all, almost the entire offense returns intact for a team that came with five yards of winning the SEC title game and playing for the national title last year. Quarterback Aaron Murray leads the attack, and his 95 touchdowns are the most of any current QB. Meanwhile, running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall are back after combining for 25 scores and more than 2,000 yards as freshmen last year. All five starting offensive linemen are also back. Granted, Georgia did lose some playmakers on defense, especially linebackers Alec Ogletree and Jarvis Jones, but the offensive unit is as good as it gets.

For Clemson, the recent success of the program can be heavily tied to the emergence of quarterback Tajh Boyd. He is one of the top dual-threat QBs in the country, and he has only gotten better every year. With receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Andre Ellington gone, his main target this season will be Sammy Watkins, and while the receiver had a down year in 2012, he was an All-American as a freshman the year before. While Boyd and the passing attack have been stellar, Clemson defense has had its issues at times, especially when it comes to preventing big plays. Don’t forget, the Tigers did allow 70 points to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl two years ago.

The Bulldogs Win If:

On paper, Georgia has one of the most balanced offenses in the country, and the Bulldogs need to take advantage of their passing and ground attack when attacking a suspect Clemson defense. Yes, Murray should be able to have his way with the Tigers’ secondary, but an aerial shootout between Murray and Boyd that causes both defenses to end up tired gives Clemson its best chance to win. Georgia also needs to establish its stout running with Gurley and Marshall to both wear down the Tigers’ defense and slow the pace to give its own defense a breather when need be. If Murray and the Bulldogs maintain a balanced attack on offense and beat up Clemson’s defense with their physically run game, they should pull away for the big win.

The Tigers Win If:

If Clemson is going to knock off Georgia, they need to turn the game into an up-tempo shootout as early as possible. The Tigers may not have a dominant defense or power running game, but they do have explosive playmakers in Boyd and Watkins and an offensive system that encourages big plays. On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers have to slow down the Georgia ground attack to prevent the Bulldogs from controlling the clock and wearing down Clemson’s defense will allowing their own to rest. If Clemson can turn the game into a battle of big plays on offense, the Tigers have the firepower to win a shootout.

Bottom Line:

At the end of the day, the balance Georgia has on the offensive side of the ball should rule the day. Clemson’s defense has had trouble with opponents with far less firepower than what the Bulldogs bring to the table, and more importantly, Georgia has a dominant ground game that should allow it to control the pace of the game. Both teams are going to score their share of points, but in the end, Murray simply has more weapons at his disposal than Boyd. Meanwhile, the Tigers just don’t have enough playmakers on defense to keep pace.

Prediction: Georgia Bulldogs (-1 ½) Cover the Spread 

Georgia @ Clemson
Time: 8PM EST
Line: Georgia -2.5
Total: Over/Under 70

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