ACC Championship Game – #10 Georgia Tech vs. Clemson
Saturday, December 5: 8:00 p.m.
College Football Betting Odds: Pick ‘Em
Two teams looking for their first ACC Championship game win will do battle Saturday, when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets take on the Clemson Tigers.
Both teams are coming off embarrassing losses to their most hated rivals, and are looking to get to a BCS bowl game. Each team will or lose with the running game, although the approaches are quite different.
CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST NCAA FOOTBALL WEEK 14 GAMBLING PICKS!! —–>
Here are some NCAA football betting trends which may impact this game:
Georgia Tech: 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games
Georgia Tech: 8-1 SU in their last 9 games
Georgia Tech: The total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 6 games
Clemson: 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games against Georgia Tech
Clemson: 1-5 SU in their last 6 games against Georgia Tech
Clemson: The total has gone OVER in their last 5 games overall
For Georgia Tech it is a triple-option attack that has left teams overwhelmed and confused for most of this season. The Jackets are currently first in college football in time of possession, and second overall with 305 rushing yards a game. 
Like any good option attack, it starts with the quarterback, junior Josh Nesbitt, who has rushed for 888 yards, thrown for 1500 more, and reached the end zone 26 times both through the air and on the ground. His fullback in the backfield is Jonathan Dwyer, and All-ACC performer last year, who might receive the same honor in 2009. He has rushed for 1200 yards on the year.
As for Clemson, they’ll attack with a more traditional power running game, highlighted by one of the best backs in the game, C.J. Spiller. On the season, Spiller has morphed into a Heisman candidate, as he has rushed for 912 yards, has an additional 440 receiving, and has thrown, ran and caught touchdowns, as well as being a lethal return man. Spiller is the most dynamic guy in the sport right now.
With both offenses running wild most of the year, now we’ve all got to wonder, whose defense is best at stopping the other? Georgia Tech has the 47th ranked run defense, while Clemson has the 45th, so there might not be an apparent advantage.
To me however, the advantage goes to Clemson, who has seen this quirky offense before, earlier in the year. Regardless of how hard it might to prepare for Georgia Tech, they’re always easier to defend the second time around.
And overall, because of that, I like Clemson. Yes they lost to the Yellow Jackets in September, but anyone who watched that Thursday night knows that Georgia Tech did not score a touchdown after the first quarter. Essentially for the last three quarters of their matchup, the Yellow Jackets could do no right.
Both teams will be hungry after their loss last week, but only one can win this weekend. And I like Clemson. First year coach Dabo Swinney will be bringing Clemson to their first BCS bowl game, after they win their first ACC Championship game Saturday.
OUR Pick: Clemson
