The #1 team in the country, Georgia, takes on ACC-favorites Clemson in one of the most exciting matchups of Week 1 in college football. Here is how to bet the game on DraftKings Sportsbook.
UPDATE 8/31 at 10:13 AM: Georgia RB Trevor Etienne has officially been suspended for this game.
Georgia (-13.5) vs. Clemson o/u 48.5
This is an incredible game to start the first college football Saturday. It will be played in Atlanta on a neutral field between the top-ranked Dawgs and ACC favorites Clemson.
Georgia Team Breakdown
Georgia, as usual, lost a lot of talent to the NFL this offseason. However, as usual, they completely reloaded with the talent they have on this roster. The key piece of continuity for Georgia is the return of QB Carson Beck. Beck had a really good first season as Georgia’s starting quarterback, and I think he is actually underrated coming into this season.
Beck has the second-best odds to win the Heisman, but because of how good his team is, he can be overlooked as a talent. Beck is a smart football player who can make every throw on the field. However, he did lose two of his top targets to the NFL this offseason, Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers.
Oscar Delp will be Georgia’s new starting tight end. Delp has a lot of experience and is arguably a better blocker than Bowers, although not as good of a pass catcher or runner. At wide receiver, Dominic Lovett returns after a great 2023 season, along with Arian Smith and Dillon Bell, who were backups last season. Georgia also brought in a transfer WR from Miami, Colbie Young, who is expected to make a big impact.
Georgia also had to reload on the offensive line, but Kirby Smart is confident that the players will fill those voids. The big question for Georgia in this game is at running back. They brought in Trevor Etienne from Florida, but speculation is that he could be suspended for this game due to an offseason arrest. Backup RB Roderick Robinson is expected to miss this game with an injury, so they could go deep into their bench at running back if Etienne is suspended.
Georgia had to replace some NFL guys defensively, but they are loaded with talent on that side of the ball. They are a bit thin on the defensive line, which could be a problem throughout the season, but with a healthy unit in Week 1, they should be just fine.
Clemson Team Breakdown
Clemson is in an odd position. Just a few years ago, they were the second-best program in college football, behind Alabama, but they have fallen behind the pack the last several years. Dabo Swinney has refused to use the transfer portal, and that has held them back to a degree.
Defensively, Clemson has still been among the top in almost every metric. They finished 11th in the country in total defense last season and brought back many pieces from that defense. Unfortunately, they have some secondary injuries that could hamper them in this game. Dabo Swinney is keeping it under wraps whether these players will be fit to play or not, but it is certainly a concern against Carson Beck.
Offensively, Clemson has many question marks. QB Cade Klubnik has yet to prove he can be that guy for Clemson. Offensive Coordinator Garrett Riley was brought in last season to help revive Clemson’s offense with Klubnik at the helm. Their first season together didn’t go very well, and this is a huge test to start their second year together.
Clemson has struggled to find an elite wide receiver over the last couple of seasons, so that will be another thing to keep an eye on. Antonio Williams, who suffered an injury last season, will hope to be that guy for Clemson. The Tigers also brought in two highly recruited freshmen at WR, Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore.
At running back, Will Shipley and Phil Mafah were a two-headed monster last year. Shipley left for the NFL, but Mafah returns as the bellcow running back for the Tigers. Mafah should have no problem carrying that load, as he was the back I preferred between the two last season.
Clemson vs. Georgia Pick and Prediction
Between the potential Etienne suspension, some injury issues, and the fact that many new players are starting, there are some question marks around Georgia. However, I am fully confident in Carson Beck as a quarterback. Clemson is potentially really banged up in the secondary, and Georgia will exploit that through the air.
I am not sold on Cade Klubnik, but the receiving corps should be improved from last season, and the running game led by Phil Mafah should be strong. It is always a tough test against Georgia, but Clemson should have some success moving the ball.
For these reasons, I am going to be betting the over in this game. Georgia should take a pass-heavy approach out of the gate, and I expect TE Oscar Delp to play a key role in this game. Clemson should also be really aggressive offensively in this game, as they largely have nothing to lose in this underdog role.
Georgia should still win this game with the talent they have across the board and the coaching advantage with Kirby Smart. However, I think it will be right around that number where the spread currently rests. Georgia could have a one-touchdown lead late in the game and have the chance to score to cover the number or just run the clock out.
I don’t want to mess with that scenario and am much more confident in scoring points on both sides. This game is also being played in a dome on a really fast track. The last time Georgia played in this building, 51 points were scored by Alabama and them in the SEC Championship Game last season. I expect scoring on that level, if not more, in this matchup.
Best Bet: Georgia/Clemson o48.5
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