The Clemson Tigers haven’t defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in football in over a decade. To break that streak, the Tigers will need to deliver one of their best performances of the season.
The two teams will clash on Saturday at noon in Atlanta. The Tigers, currently ranked No. 14, last beat the No. 1 ranked Bulldogs in 2013, under the leadership of head coach Dabo Swinney. At that time, Georgia’s coach Kirby Smart was still serving as Nick Saban’s defensive coordinator at Alabama.
Their most recent matchup, three years ago in Charlotte, was a low-scoring game. Clemson had just come off a College Football Playoff appearance, but Georgia won the game and went on to secure back-to-back national championships.
With an expanded playoff this year and both teams having missed out on the College Football Playoff last season, this game is viewed as a crucial step for both programs.
No Turnovers
This matchup features two teams capable of breaking the game wide open with a single play, and the last thing the Tigers want to do is give the Bulldogs any help.
Georgia forced 17 turnovers last season, with most of that defensive unit returning. While they didn’t excel at forcing and recovering fumbles, 14 of their 17 turnovers were interceptions. This places significant pressure on Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and his receivers to protect the football and avoid giving Georgia extra opportunities.
In their last meeting, Georgia won 10-3, and a single turnover could be the deciding factor in this game.
Get Mafah on the Run
Heading into this game, the Tigers’ top offensive weapon will be running back Phil Mafah. Establishing the run will be crucial for Clemson, as it will relieve some pressure on the passing game and help control the clock against Georgia’s explosive offense.
Last season, Mafah rushed for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he’s poised to surpass 1,000 yards this season, which would certainly boost his draft prospects.
However, on Saturday, the Tigers need Mafah to shoulder the workload, force the Bulldogs’ defense to commit to stopping the run, and give quarterback Cade Klubnik opportunities to find his spots in the passing game.
Fly to the Quarterback
Clemson had a Top 10 defensive unit a year ago and finished with 32 sacks with a 2.46 per game average. That was good for No. 36 in FBS.
With Carson Beck at quarterback for Georgia, putting pressure on him early and often is crucial for Clemson’s chances of winning this game. It’s not just about getting sacks, but about applying consistent pressure, and that’s where Barrett Carter needs to step up. As a linebacker, Carter can be the anchor for a defense that is looking to maximize the potential of edge rushers like T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, who were two of the top freshmen in the country last year.
If Carter, Parker, Woods, and the rest of the front seven can consistently get to Beck, the Tigers can effectively disrupt Georgia’s offensive game plan.
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