Not very often has Clemson found itself as a double-digit underdog in the Dabo Swinney era. Yet that is exactly the position the 14th ranked Tigers find themselves in this weekend as they open the season in Atlanta against No. 1 Georgia.
In fact, this is only the third time a Swinney coached team has been a double digit underdog and the first time since 2014. While they did ultimately lose both of those games, the Tigers did cover the number. Can they do it again this weekend, or maybe even win outright?
This poses as a big game for both Swinney and his program. Not that it will have much of an impact on Clemson’s bid to return to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020, but the result will help feed into national perceptions of where this program is at when it comes to national relevance. Get blown out, and the national media will pile on. Play the Dawgs tough, or even pull the upset, and the narrative changes quickly.
Make no mistake, this Georgia team is as talented as any team in the country. There is a reason why they are one of the favorites to win another national title in 2024. They’ve not lost a regular season game since November of 2020.
At the same time, Kirby Smart is having to replace a lot of production from a season ago, and on both sides of the ball.
Playmaking pass-catchers Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey are both gone, and those were two of quarterback Carson Beck’s favorite targets last year. Georgia also has questions at running back. There is uncertainty surrounding whether transfer Trevor Etienne will even play and backup Roderick is Robinson out with an injury.
On the defensive side, there are question marks with the Dawgs secondary, and that defensive front, while still extremely good, isn’t what it was when they won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. Lineman Warren Brinson has been banged up in camp and might not be back to 100-percent just yet.
However, Clemson faces its own questions heading into the highly anticipated matchup. Will the offense be what was expected when Garrett Riley was hired ahead of the 2023 season or will the passing game continue to sputter?
All indications coming out of fall camp are that this passing attack is much improved. Bolstered by a fully healthy group of receivers, Cade Klubnik appears to be primed to take that next step. Now he just has to go out and do it under the bright lights of Mercedes-Benz Stadium and against what will likely be the best defense he sees in the regular season.
With Matt Luke now coaching the offensive line, and a wealth of experience returning up front, expect the pass protection to be improved as well. The Tigers do have a new center in Ryan Linthicum, but have starters returning at the other four spots.
That Clemson defense is expected to once again be stout. The front seven should be as good as advertised. However, there are some injury concerns at corner, with Shelton Lewis and Jeadyn Lukus both question marks for this one. Freshman Ashton Hampton, who has received high praise since fall camp began, could see plenty of action in this one.
The Tigers also once again have some questions surrounding its placekicker. Highly-touted freshman Nolan Hauser beat out Robert Gunn, but until he goes out and puts one through the uprights on the big stage, you just don’t know.
The last time these two teams played, points were at a premium, as Georgia won 10-3. The only touchdown was courtesy of a pick six. With this being a season-opener for both teams, another low scoring affair could be in order, as both teams will likely start the game in a “feeling out” phase.
While some might envision a blowout, this writer has a hard time seeing this game playing out that way. Only once since the Tigers made their first playoff run in 2015 has a Swinney coached team gotten punched in the mouth and not responded. That was up in South Bend in 2022, when Notre Dame thumped Clemson 35-14.
There is a quiet confidence surrounding these Tigers coming out of fall camp, and it starts with Swinney himself. I’m not sure they pull off the upset, but I do think they go out and prove they are plenty good enough to compete on the biggest stage. However, the Dawgs prevail, but once again Swinney’s Tigers cover as a double-digit dog.
Georgia 23 Clemson 17
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