We all quickly pronounced the Clemson Tigers’ ACC dynasty dead a year ago, and then they went and won their eighth conference title in the last 10 years.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are not the clear contender for the crown, but they may be the exact offensive matchup that the Tigers should dread.
My Clemson vs. Georgia Tech predictions and college football picks expect the Yellow Jackets to be who they always have been under Brent Key, a physical nightmare during this noon ET kickoff on Saturday, September 13.
Clemson vs Georgia Tech prediction
Clemson vs Georgia Tech best bet: Haynes King Over 48.5 rushing yards (-114)
No matter how the stats may look from last week’s 27-16 win against Troy, the Clemson Tigers have struggled against the run thus far this season.
Sure, Troy and LSU have combined to run for just 219 yards on 58 carries, a 3.78 yards per attempt average, but the majority of the ACC has fared better against the rush in terms of expected points added (EPA) per rush attempt against. EPA factors in time, score, down, distance, and field position to best assess what a rushing attempt should aim to accomplish.
Against one of the most physical run games in the country, that should be a problem for the Tigers. Let’s not focus on one game of success too much — the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets took 46 rushes for 322 yards against Colorado in Week 1, succeeding on 61% of those attempts with seven qualifying as explosive — and instead think about the entire Brent Key Era.
The Yellow Jackets ranked just short of the Top 25% of the country last year in rush rate over expected, quantifying how often a team runs the ball in a given game state. Running 7.9% more often than the average team is how Key prefers to live.
Quarterback Haynes King led the way in Week 1 against Colorado - 19 carries, 156 yards, and three TDs - before sitting out against Gardner-Webb, a choice that more reflected load management than any specific injury.
King may not enjoy a 19 yards per rush average again, but given Clemson’s weakness and Key’s preference, expect King to have at least a dozen carries. That should be enough to easily clear this prop.
Clemson vs Georgia Tech same-game parlay
Clemson's rush defense has left much to be desired, and now faces a Georgia Tech team always intent on running the ball. The Yellow Jackets’ emphasis should lead to a bulk of stats for their backfield while shortening the game overall.
Clemson vs Georgia Tech SGP
- Haynes King Over 48.5 rushing yards
- Jamal Haynes Over 60.5 rushing yards
- Under 51.5
Our deep-ball SGP: What a rush!
If Georgia Tech can dictate the terms of this matchup with its ground game, then it should enjoy the perks of homefield advantage late in a close game. And, frankly, King and Jamal Haynes on the ground may be more reliable than any piece of Clemson's offense.
Clemson vs Georgia Tech SGP
- Haynes King Over 48.5 rushing yards
- Jamal Haynes Over 60.5 rushing yards
- Under 51.5
- Georgia Tech moneyline
Clemson vs Georgia Tech odds
- Spread: Clemson -3.5 | Georgia Tech +3.5
- Moneyline: Clemson -154 | Georgia Tech +128
- Over/Under: Over 51.5 | Under 51.5
Clemson vs Georgia Tech trend to know
Clemson’s demise as an ACC contender may have been greatly exaggerated a year ago, but the Tigers have long been dead as a reliable team against the spread. Clemson is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine games against FBS opponents. Find more college football betting trends for Clemson vs Georgia Tech.
How to watch Clemson vs Georgia Tech
| Location | Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA |
| Date | Saturday, September 13, 2025 |
| Kickoff | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
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