ACC Title Game Preview

CLEMSON VS GEORGIA TECH

SITE: Raymond James Stadium

TIME: Saturday, 8:00 PM ET

WEATHER: 58 degrees, Rain early, clearing by evening

RADIO: Georgia Tech ISP Network (WQXI 790-AM Atlanta, WYAY 106.7-FM Atlanta)

TV: ESPN

RECORDS: No. 10 Georgia Tech 10-2, Clemson 8-4

COACHES: Georgia Tech - Paul Johnson (19-6, second season), Dabo Swinney (12-7, second season)

Georgia Tech Players to watch:

QB Josh Nesbitt (Jr., 6-1, 214), B-Back Jonathan Dwyer (Jr., 6-0, 235), A-Back Anthony Allen (RS Jr., 6-0, 225), WR Demaryius Thomas (RS Jr., 6-3, 229), OG Cord Howard (RS Sr.,6-5, 300), C Sean Bedford (RS Jr., 6-1, 274), DE Derrick Morgan (Jr., 6-4, 270), LB Brad Jefferson (Jr., 6-2, 236), DB Morgan Burnett (Jr., 6-1, 210), PR Jerrard Tarrant (RS So., 6-0, 202)

Clemson Players to watch:

RB CJ Spiller (Sr., 5-11, 195), WR Jacoby Ford (Sr., 5-10, 185), TE Michael Palmer (Sr., 6-5, 260) OT Chris Hairston (RS Jr., 6-7, 325), OG Thomas Austin (Sr., 6-4, 310), DT Jarvis Jenkins (Jr., 6-4, 310), DE Ricky Sapp (Sr., 6-5, 240), LB Brandon Maye (RS So., 6-3, 230) DB DeAndre McDaniel (Jr., 6-1, 210), DB Rashard Hall (RS Fr., 6-2, 195)

Georgia Tech keys to the game

Head Start. Tech sputtered in the first half against Georgia and only managed to put three points on the scoreboard. The Jackets dug themselves a two touchdown hole at halftime and it proved to be too much to overcome. Tech's confidence may be easily shattered if they do not get off to good start against Clemson, especially on Defense.

Limit Big Plays. Georgia Tech is an explosive team, having scored 11 times on plays that went for 56 yards or longer. However, they are also an implosive team, having given up eight touchdowns of 62 yards or more. Last time around, Clemson got Tech twice for big plays in the passing game. Spiller got loose on a wheel route and outran the defense for a 63 yard touchdown reception that swung the momentum in Clemson's favor. Ford would later score on an even longer catch, 77 yards to be exact, that also went for six. In what will likely be another evenly matched game, Tech will need to make the Tigers scratch and claw for every yard.

Defensive Tackle? Georgia Tech received the unfortunate news this week that starter Ben Anderson is out for the game and could also be out for the season. As a matter of fact, they will be missing three starters on defense due to injury compared to the first time that the two teams played. Tech desperately needs somebody to step up after being manhandled by Georgia's mammoth offensive linemen. Things will not get any easier this week as Clemson's interior three linemen average well over 300 pounds. Tech will need to hold their own up front. Against the Bulldogs the Jackets often didn't make first contact on the running back until he was already four or five yards past the line of scrimmage.

Clemson keys to the game

Kyle Parker. Starting at quarterback is never easy as a freshman, but Parker has done an admirable job this season. He started out slow in his first eight games by only completing 52 percent of his passes to go along with 10 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has finished strong, however, by completing 61 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and only two picks over his last four games. In four losses this season he has only thrown four touchdowns versus four interceptions and a 51 percent completion mark. He will need to calm his nerves and played poised in order to guide the Tigers to victory.

Follow the Blueprint. Georgia laid out a great game plan against the Jackets and executed it to perfection. They attacked Tech up the middle on offense and stuffed Dwyer up the middle on defense. By attacking Tech on the ground, they were able to control the clock and keep the ball out of the hands of Tech's unstoppable option attack. Clemson would we wise to follow a similar strategy against the Jackets.

X-Factor. Clemson has one of the most dynamic players in the country with CJ Spiller. He can score in a variety of ways, having already taken it the distance on a kickoff, punt return, pass, run from scrimmage, and a reception. Most of his plays are also home runs that tend to get the crowd into the game and can put the opposition back on their heels in an instant. The number against Tech will be two. He will need to score at least twice against the Jackets for Clemson to win the game.

Nesbitt vs. Spiller

The two opposing players finished first and second in the voting for ACC Player of the Year. Spiller won the award with 29 votes while Nesbitt trailed with eight votes, but both players have catchy resumes. Spiller is fourth in the nation with 184 all purpose yards per game and he has also accounted for 17 touchdowns. Nesbitt on the other hand was equally deserving of the award with 26 total touchdowns, including a near national record 17 rushing as a quarterback. He is also nearing 1,000 yards rushing and 2,000 yards passing, an extremely rare feat in itself. Furthermore, Tech has a better record than Clemson and has already beaten them once this season. Nonetheless, Nesbitt was voted second and he can now use the snub as motivation to prove himself on the field.

The Assassin

Derrick Morgan has been murdering quarterbacks on the field all season long. He has the ability to completely change the outcome of a game from his defensive end spot, which is a difficult task to accomplish as a defensive player. He was rewarded with the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award after leading the league with 12.5 sacks and ranking second with 17 tackles for a loss. He only needs three sacks over the final two games in order to break Pat Swilling's 24 year old Georgia Tech record.

Shoot Out

The game will feature the top two scoring offenses in the ACC. Tech leads the way with 35.0 points per game trailed by Clemson with 31.8 points per game. Georgia Tech placed five players on the First Team All-ACC Offense and could end up as one of the greatest offenses in ACC History. The Jackets currently own the records for total rushing yards and rushing touchdowns and are on pace to break three 38 year old records, including rushing attempts, rushing yards per game, and rushing first downs.

All the way Turnt Up?

Georgia Tech came out all the way turnt down against Georgia. This strategy had worked in the previous six games as they had come back from a deficit to win, but it finally caught up to them against the Bulldogs. They have trailed by more than 10 points in two games this season and they wound up losing both of those games.

Injury Update

Out For Season: DE Robert Hall (knee), LB Kyle Jackson (foot), DB Cooper Taylor

Out: OT Austin Barrick (heel), WR Kevin Cone (ankle), LB Malcolm Munroe (knee)

Doubtful: DT Ben Anderson (knee)

Probable: WR Stephen Hill (hip), OG Omoregie Uzzi (back), A-Back Embry Peeples, DE Jason Peters, QB Josh Nesbitt (ankle)

Prediction

The Yellow Jackets might have gotten a wake up call to the worst possible opponent; however, it might have occurred at just the right time. A scenario where Tech loses to Georgia and wins the ACC Championship is far better for the program than one where Tech beats Georgia and then loses the ACC Championship. There is a lot of money riding on this game because the winner of course also is included automatically in the BCS Bowl pay out. Tech is missing some key ingredients on defense due to injuries, but they should be able to get the job done just enough for Tech to squeak out a win. Winning the ACC Championship was the number one goal for this season and Tech will finish the drill in Tampa. GT 35 - Clemson 31