Clemson gets a fast chance to wash away the taste of last week’s trip to LSU, and the setup could hardly be more favorable. Georgia Southern comes to Memorial Stadium on Saturday night for Clemson’s home opener, and the Tigers are trying to put a 51-10 blowout behind them with a much cleaner showing in Week 2.
There’s also a milestone sitting in the background. One more home-opening win would give Clemson 100 all-time at Death Valley, a mark that would mean a lot for Dabo Swinney and the program.
Clemson also did not win last year’s home opener, which just happened to be against LSU. This time, the gap in talent between the Tigers and Georgia Southern is obvious.
The betting market reflects that. FanDuel Sportsbook has Clemson favored by 19.5 points after the line opened at 20.5.
Clemson sits at -1400 on the moneyline, while Georgia Southern is +800. The total is 54.5 points.
Based on the spread, a score in the neighborhood of Clemson 37, Georgia Southern 17.5 fits the number, though Clemson is still expected to win by multiple touchdowns at home.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC.
The game will air on ACC Network, and it can be streamed on fuboTV. Radio coverage is available on 105.5 FM (The Roar) and the Clemson Athletic Network.
For Clemson, the biggest fix starts with the run defense. LSU rolled up well over five yards per carry last week, and that kind of resistance in the middle of the field is exactly what Clemson needs to clean up. Better work against the run would help the Tigers control the clock and create a path to pulling away later in the game.
The quarterback situation is another piece to watch. Christopher Vizzina needs to separate himself from Tait Reynolds, while Reynolds has a chance to seize the job if he plays better than the veteran quarterback.
Still, the defense is the first order of business. If Clemson can’t handle the run, none of the other improvements matter much.
Georgia Southern is expected to make things uncomfortable for a while, but Clemson should eventually take control and finish the job in the fourth quarter.
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The concern is on the other side of the ball, where the defensive tackle group has taken a hit after Markus Strongs season-ending lower-leg injury. Clemson may get some relief soon, though, with suspended defensive tackle Vic Burley anticipated back with the team in the near future, possibly next week, which would at least help replenish a thin spot before the next round of games. [Read more 🡒]