Saturday Spotlight
(5) Georgia Bulldogs at (3) Clemson Tigers
Georgia: 2020 was a different year for them. From 2017 to 2019, they won the SEC East and it wasn’t close. They also played in three straight SEC conference title games winning one of them. Last season. they couldn’t find their rhythm it appeared. The biggest question mark they had throughout the year was at quarterback. Stetson Bennett wasn’t the answer for them. However, a new year means new hope. Whenever I think of Georgia Bulldogs football, a few things come to mind. The first is their offensive line. They usually have one of the best groups not just in the SEC, but in the country. The second is the running game. They’ve had some big names throughout the years. By all means, they will run the football and get their yards. With J.T. Daniels penciled in as the starting quarterback and Todd Monken as the offensive coordinator, this Bulldogs offense should be a much more improved unit compared to last year. Since Kirby Smart was hired, he’s had the defense as one of the best in college football. I’m expecting that once again this season. To kick off their season, they will face one of the more dominant teams in the nation in the last five or six seasons or so.
Clemson: They’re at the point where you can predict for them to win their division, play in the ACC Championship game and make the playoffs. Just how it is with Alabama and Ohio State, the Clemson Tigers are in that same conversation. It also helped when you had two of the best players in college football on your team. Now, Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne are both teammates in Jacksonville. Now, it’s D.J. Uiagalelei’s turn to run the Tigers offense. I was impressed with him last year when he filled in for Trevor in their game against Notre Dame last November. While the roster might look different in 2021, I’m expecting Clemson to be the team to beat once again in the ACC. The only team I see potentially giving them a challenge is the North Carolina Tar Heels. There’s one main reason why I still think Clemson will be one of the best teams in the country. Dabo Swinney. He’s one of the three best coaches in this game and he will have his young men ready to play. That is something you can bank on. Tonight, they return to the place where they clinched their last conference title. Charlotte, North Carolina for a top five showdown in week one.
Georgia X-Factor: Derion Kendrick– Last season, he was a Clemson Tiger. This year, he’s a Georgia Bulldog. You can’t sit here and tell me that he won’t be motivated for this one. The defensive back transferred to Athens and will look to be an impact player right off the jump. Derion is a number one corner that prides himself on shutting down your top option and creating the turnover. He makes his reads first, then attacks. He will do all he can to get his new defense ready for this one.
Clemson X-Factor: James Skalski– Clemson returns all but one starter on defense. James Skalski is one of those guys returning. For this Clemson defense to be great, he must be great! James is the quarterback of this defense. The leadership goes without saying. Whenever I see him, I say to myself, he was meant to be a linebacker. He’s excellent in run coverage, tackles well in the open field and he can appear to blitz, then he drops back, reads the quarterback and attacks the football.
Final Thoughts: This is such an intriguing game. Two top five ranked teams to square off in week one. After tonight, we can erase the “Clemson doesn’t play anyone to open up the year” talk anymore. They are facing a top five team from one of the best conferences in the country in the SEC. Two of the best coaches in the nation are also featured in this one in Dabo Swinney and Kirby Smart. If I’m Georgia early on, I’m coming out to attack the Clemson secondary. Maybe even try picking on Skalski with your bigger and taller tight ends. Clemson will receive a boost tonight offensively with the return of Justyn Ross who missed last year with a neck and spine injury. This game will come down to the battle of the trenches and potentially a late game turnover. It’s D.J. Uiagalelei’s time to shine as the starting quarterback for Clemson. Football is here ladies and gentlemen!
Prediction: Clemson 30 Georgia 24
