ACC Championship: Georgia Tech @ Clemson

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Pick the Best Bet

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Georgia Tech offense vs. Clemson defense
• Clemson NG Jarvis Jenkins (310 pounds) and DT Brandon Thompson (305) have the size to clog the middle and make it easier for the Tigers' perimeter defenders to carry out their assignments against Georgia Tech's spread-option attack. However, they play too high at times and the Yellow Jackets' undersized offensive line should still be able to create some seams. RBs Jonathan Dwyer and QB Josh Nesbitt are more than capable of taking advantage. Dwyer is a powerful between-the-tackles runner and Nesbitt follows blocks well. If the perimeter defenders then start to collapse inside, it will open up the outside for RBs Anthony Allen and Roddy Jones.

• The Yellow Jackets have to stay out of third-and-long situations and stay committed to the run even if they fall behind for two reasons. First, OTs Brad Sellers and Phil Smith will be overmatched against Clemson DEs Ricky Sapp and Da'Quan Bowers if Georgia Tech doesn't have the threat of the run to keep them honest. Secondly, WR Demaryius Thomas is the only Yellow Jacket with more than six receptions. While Thomas is a matchup nightmare, the Tigers will be able to roll the coverage to his side of the field because CBs Crezdon Butler and Chris Chancellor can hold their own in man coverage against Tech's other wideouts. And if the Yellow Jackets abandon the run, Clemson won't have to commit a safety to the line of scrimmage.

• Georgia Tech scored 14 points on special teams when these teams met earlier in the season, and Clemson must do a better job covering kicks, especially against Tigers PR Jerrard Tarrant. Granted, Tarrant scored an 85-yard touchdown after Tech lined up for a field goal and then pooch-punted instead. But Georgia Tech has done a poor job overall of staying in coverage lanes, and Tarrant has the vision and speed to take advantage of any seams that present themselves.

Key individual matchup

Georgia Tech QB Josh Nesbitt vs.
Clemson SS DeAndre McDaniel

McDaniel is an aggressive run stopper and is vulnerable to play-action against the Georgia Tech option, and Yellow Jackets WR Demaryius Thomas is one of the premier vertical threats in the country and has excellent speed for his size (6-foot-3, 229-pounds). However, McDaniel has the fluid hips and second gear to quickly recover from any false steps. At 6-1, he can track the ball well and compete with Thomas in jump-ball situations. Throw in McDaniels' above-average hands, and accuracy becomes very important for Nesbitt. He must deliver the ball on time and in the right spots when looking downfield, and that's no easy task for a quarterback who has not attempted more than 15 passes in a game this season and is completing less than 50 percent of his throws.

Clemson offense vs. Georgia Tech defense
• Georgia Tech struggled to stop the run last week against Georgia but should have more success controlling the trenches against an inconsistent Clemson offensive line. However, the Yellow Jackets' safeties must take better pursuit angles and wrap up better than they did against the Bulldogs. Tigers RB C.J. Spiller is more than capable of bailing out his offensive linemen by making a defender miss in the backfield and he has the speed to go the distance when he gets a seam. That puts the pressure on the safeties to be a sound last line of defense.

• Redshirt freshman QB Kyle Parker has the tools and weapons to move the ball though the air against Georgia Tech. He has the arm strength to push the ball vertically to speedy WR Jacoby Ford and the touch to hit Spiller in the flat and find TE Michael Palmer underneath. The question is whether he can shake off the inconsistency that has plagued him and avoid locking on to his primary target. If Parker can make it through his progressions he will keep SS Morgan Burnett off-balance and prevent him from making big plays in coverage.

• Clemson turned the ball over three times (two fumbles and an interception) in last week's loss to South Carolina, and ball security will be very important this week. Georgia Tech DE Derrick Morgan is a relentless run defender who does a good job of going after the ball when bringing down ball carriers, and he also has the burst to turn the corner on on Clemson ROT Landon Walker and force Parker to make hurried decisions. That could result in poor throws and interceptions, and Morgan is also adept at attempting to strip the ball when closing on the quarterback.

Scouts' Edge
Inconsistency has plagued Clemson for much of the seaspm. but the Tigers are a dangerous team when playing at their best. Look for a championship effort this week, with the defense slowing down the spread-option attack enough to force Nesbitt to make some plays with his arm, which he won't be able to consistently do against the Clemson pass defense. Spiller will take some pressure off Parker, who will make enough plays with his arm to keep the Tigers in the game, and Clemson return men Spiller and Ford will help the Tigers win the special teams/field position battle this time around.

Prediction: Tigers 30, Yellow Jackets 28