Vegas SEC Predictions
No. 16 Clemson at No. 12 Georgia
Opening Line: Georgia by 7
South Bound & Down
The Georgia Bulldogs and Mark Richt will be looking to get revenge on a Clemson team that all but ended their national title hopes at the beginning of last year. This time, Georgia has everybody back and is fully healthy after the injury bug bit hard. The post-Aaron Murray era begins, as the Dawgs break in a new senior quarterback in Hutson Mason, and the guy has waited a long time for his chance to shine in his home state. Running back Todd Gurley is back and fully healthy as well after battling injuries all of last year, and the entire Georgia defense returns fully healthy. With the Dawgs ranked No. 12 right now, a win here would launch them on what many fans hope is the year they finally break through under Richt and win the national title.
Rubbing the Rock
Like Georgia, the Clemson Tigers also must replace their quarterback, beginning life without Tajh Boyd. Fortunately, like Georgia, it also has a senior in Cole Stoudt who has waited patiently for his chance to start. A major drop-off is not expected here. But what hurts the Tigers is the loss of receiver Sammy Watkins, who was the heart of the offense last year. Stoudt is luckily experienced to handle the offense, but with Watkins gone and the need to replace the entire running game, he’ll be asked to carry this team, much more than Boyd was ever asked to. Going up against a veteran Georgia defense to start the season could make that very hard.
Prediction
Stoudt and Mason will both be very good quarterbacks this year for their teams, good enough to in fact make their fans forget about the guys they’re replacing. But Mason has a lot more to work with than Stoudt, including a running game and loaded defense to fall back on. With this game in Athens, there is no way the Dawgs lose. In a shootout among quarterbacks, the Dawgs will put on a complete offensive display with 100 yards from Murray and 250 yards from Mason. The combination will set the tone for the year, and Georgia will cover the spread.
Georgia: 34 Clemson: 21