The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets host the No. 18-ranked Clemson Tigers on Saturday in an ACC college basketball matchup. The game tips off at 12 p.m. ET in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Tigers are listed as 8.5-point road favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at O/U 144.5 points. Let’s dive into my preview, prediction, and pick for this ACC college basketball matchup.
Clemson vs. Georgia Tech prediction, preview
Clemson is off to a strong start in conference play. While the Tigers are coming off an overtime loss to NC State, they’d previously won nine-straight games — including a 6-0 start to ACC play. Clemson has not lost a game in regulation since its two-game skid against BYU and Alabama in non-conference play. The Tigers are an experienced group, led by senior forward RJ Godfrey, senior guard Jestin Porter, and junior forward Carter Welling, all double-digit scorers. Clemson is by no means the most athletic team, and they don’t have a single superstar on the offensive end. Instead, they rely on their experience, solid coaching, and strong defensive discipline to win games.
Georgia Tech has had a full week off ahead of this game against Clemson. In their most recent game, the Yellow Jackets picked up a valuable win over NC State. That was a much-needed win for Georgia Tech, as it had previously dropped three straight. The Yellow Jackets still hold a 2-4 record in conference and need to keep the momentum going. This will be a tough matchup against Clemson, but Georgia Tech has a frontcourt that can present problems. Senior forward Kowacie Reeves Jr. is averaging 16.1 points per game, and junior forward Baye Ndongo is the team’s second leading scorer and an elite rebounder.
Clemson vs. Georgia Tech pick
My best bet for this game is for Clemson and Georgia Tech to fall below the total of 144.5 points. Clemson has stifled its opponents in conference play so far. Before its loss to NC State, Clemson was giving up just 61.5 points per game to ACC opponents. Clemson is also one of the slowest teams in the nation, ranking 318th in the nation in adjusted tempo. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech ranks 181st in the nation in offensive rating. This Clemson team is elite on the defensive end and should hold them to a low number. Georgia Tech’s only chance in this game is if it turns into a track meet. Clemson should emphasize slowing the game down and keeping the pace slow. That should lead to the game staying under the total.
