The Clemson football team will open up the 2019 season Thursday evening against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the friendly confines of Death Valley.
The offseason for Clemson football is officially over.
It’s been nearly eight months since we’ve seen the Tigers in action, but that all ends tonight. Kicking off at 8 p.m., Clemson will host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets live on the newly-launched ACC Network. For those watching on television, the game will be called by Dave O’Brien (play-by-play), Tim Hasselbeck (color), Katie Georgia (sideline) and Maria Taylor (sideline).
As we prepare for the season-opening game tonight, here’s a look at the Rubbing the Rock staff predictions for the ACC match up.
Shawn Spencer
Prediction: Clemson 52, Georgia Tech 10
Reason: The Tigers take control of this one by the second quarter and then we see some depth building as we get into the later part of the first half and into the second half. Georgia Tech just can’t match the talent and depth that Dabo Swinney’s program has coming into this one.
Tyreese Ingram
Prediction: Clemson 55, Georgia Tech 21
Reason: Clemson’s offense will be too much for the young Jackets to handle. Trevor Lawrence will have time to survey the field and find open receivers until he takes an early seat on the sideline. Travis Etienne will also get off to a good start and be mentioned early for the Heisman.
Nick Young
Prediction: Clemson 35, Georgia Tech 10
Reason: Due to Georgia Tech being in a complete roster rebuild after hiring a new coach, there is no reason to suggest that Georgia Tech will usurp the reigning national champions. Also, the Tiger offense will still have Lawrence, Etienne and Higgins and there aren’t any pressing issues on either side of the ball.
Barry Shuck
Prediction: Clemson 42, Georgia Tech 17
Reason: Tigers’ offensive line is just too much for the smallish defensive front of the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech cannot stop Clemson’s run game nor find a way to stop Etienne.
Cole Little
Prediction: Clemson 52, Georgia Tech 17
Reason: Kicking off their journey to repeating as national champions, the Tigers should dominate the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the season opener at Memorial Stadium. Expect Trevor Lawrence and Clemson’s wideouts to have a field day on Thursday night, thus making for a rough start to the Geoff Collins era at Georgia Tech.
Each of our Rubbing the Rock analysts on the panel have the Tigers winning the game. No analyst has Georgia Tech scoring more than 21 points and each has the Tigers scoring at least 35. The predicted margin of victory from our staff comes out to an average of 32.2 points in favor of Clemson, which would be just four points shy of the Vegas line.
Overall, this is expected to be a comfortable win for Dabo Swinney and his team as they enter the 2019 season.
What do you think, Tiger fans? Comment below with your scoring prediction for the game, as well as your thoughts for the coming season.