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Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Point Spread - Pick

Clemson Tigers (3-0 SU, 1-2 ATS) vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-0 SU, 1-0-1 ATS)
College Football Week 4
Date/Time: Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 7:30PM EST
Where: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: ESPN

By Loot, NCAA Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com

Betting Odds: CLEM -9/GT +9
Over/Under Total: Off

The Clemson Tigers come to Bobby Dodd Stadium to face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Thursday, as both teams open up their ACC conference schedule. Each team enters this game at 3-0. The Yellow Jackets opened the season with wins over Boston College and Mercer, adding a dominant 38-7 win over Vanderbilt last week. We should get a better idea of how much they've improved against last season's championship runner-up the Clemson Tigers. After a week one win over Auburn and a week two win over Troy, they wiped out South Carolina State, 59-0 in week three.

Clemson reached amazing heights last season and looks to do the same in 2016. Things have gotten off to a bit of a slow start this season. There wasn't much to take from last week's win over FCS foe South Carolina State. Starters were pulled at the half when it was 45-0. Both coaches agreed to shorten the game by 6 minutes and Clemson earned its first cover of the season. Their first two games were too-close-for-comfort wins over Auburn and Troy—games the Tigers won by only six points each.

Georgia Tech has already equaled their win total from all of last season. They're looking more like the way they looked in 2014 when they won 11 games. Things got really bad for them last season with a lot of key players struggling, injuries, and substandard play. While Clemson has faced Ga Tech before as fellow ACC members, the Yellow Jackets are still X-factors with their approach, featuring the triple-option offense. They can give unsuspecting teams a lot of trouble. Last season, Clemson beat Georgia Tech, 43-24. The previous season, however, Clemson was battered by the Yellow Jackets, 28-6. What will we see in this season's installment of this matchup?

The Yellow Jackets have a real weapon behind center in QB Justin Thomas. They run the heck out of the ball and are usually near the top of the rushing standings. But they've developed enough of a passing-game to at least keep opponents honest. On Saturday, even Matthew Jordan came in briefly and connected on a 77-yard connection with Clinton Lynch, With Justin Thomas connecting on an 81-yard passing score with Marcus Marshall, we're seeing the Yellow Jackets getting the ball downfield much more than normal. Still, it's the run-game that gets the job done for this offense more often than not. With Thomas being a superior running threat, he attracts a lot of attention from defenders, pitching it off to one of his uncovered backs. Rinse and repeat. Among the guys carrying the load are Marshall, Jordan, Qua Searcy, Dedrick Mills, and a lot of other guys who come and chime in with production on the ground. It's a team-effort with this triple-option.

On defense, the Yellow Jackets are pretty resilient and have a lot of energy. Last season, the defense held up pretty well, despite the offense taking a step back. They were fairly respectable and robust without being a difference-making group. They're hoping to get more turnovers as a group and after having three in week one, they've gotten just one in the last two games. And their zone-defense can be exploited by sharp game-planning and a good quarterback—something they will be facing on Thursday at home against Clemson. But they've been getting after the passer and playing with an edge on this side of the ball through three games, so we'll see. Clemson, however, is a different proposition altogether than their first three opponents.

Again, Clemson hasn't set the world on fire. Their first two games saw them beating Auburn and Troy by 6 points each. Granted, those teams added late touchdowns that made the games seem closer than they really were. Still, they haven't been doing great and even the blowout over South Carolina State did little to prove anything. This game should shed more light on where the 2106 Clemson Tigers really stand. Their starters had an easy game on Saturday, all playing about two quarters.

Deshaun Watson looks to start rounding into the form that made him a Heisman frontrunner at the beginning of the season. He was 12-for-15 with three touchdowns on Saturday. Wayne Gallman is still the top rusher of the team and a violent and effective force coming out of the backfield. Mike Williams is back from injury, giving Watson another great aerial target along with Deon Cain, Artavis Scott, and a slew of speedy youngsters trying to get noticed. Even though it came against an FCS opponent, putting up a bunch of points after two lukewarm performances can maybe help this side of the ball get more into gear.

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The last game was also key in getting the Clemson "D" back in the mode of holding opponents to very little. In weeks one and two, they were okay. But this is a defense that is known to make big plays. They get turnovers and tackles for losses at an alarming clip. So far this season, they've gotten eight turnovers, but still without really showing the same flair they have before. One shouldn't worry so much. Clemson has looked lukewarm in their first three games at times. We see some other teams flying out of the gates to start the season and Clemson is just strolling out of the gates. Don't let that fool you. They didn't need to be at their best for these first several weeks. Maybe Swinney is holding them back, like how a jockey does a horse. As conference play now begins, don't rule out the chance that we could start to see the old Clemson this week.

This is a spotlight Thursday game with all eyes in college football on Georgia Tech. It's been a long time since the Yellow Jackets have done something this momentous. With a good feeling on the sideline and a 3-0 record, this game is coming at a good time for GA Tech. Justin Thomas has beaten this team before and they look better than last season when they lost by 19 points. I look for Georgia Tech to give it a good go and cover the spread.

Loot's Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I'm betting on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets plus 9 points. Tired of your credit card not working for sportsbook deposit? End that problem today by signing up and betting the Tigers vs. Yellow Jackets game at Bovada Sportsbook where your credit card WILL work and where you'll receive a generous 100% sign-up bonus!

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