ACC Championship Preview
The fifth installment of the ACC Championship takes place this Saturday night in Tampa, as both Georgia Tech (10-2, 7-1 ACC) and Clemson (8-4, 6-2 ACC) look to claim its first conference title since the league's expansion in 2003. The ACC instituted the championship game in 2005 after Boston College joined the conference, giving the league 12 teams. Interestingly, two of three teams that left the Big East to migrate to the ACC have enjoyed the most success as far as conference title appearances go.
Virginia Tech has claimed two conference championships, while losing to Florida State in the inaugural ACC title game in 2005. Boston College has been on the short end the last two years against Virginia Tech, while Miami does not have an ACC title game appearance on its ledger.
Georgia Tech fell in the 2006 ACC title game to Wake Forest as 2 ?-point favorites in a scintillating 9-6 loss to the Demon Deacons. Clemson will be making its first appearance in the ACC championship, while the Tigers seek their first conference title since 1991, the year before FSU joined the ACC.
The Jackets and Tigers began the ACC schedule on September 10, as Tech beat Clemson, 30-27 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. Tech jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the second quarter thanks to a pair of touchdowns from over 80 yards out, including an 82-yard touchdown scamper from Anthony Allen. Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker rallied the Tigers back with three touchdown tosses, as a 63-yard score by the electric C.J. Spiller began the scoring barrage.
The Tigers eventually took a 27-24 advantage in the final quarter, but the Ramblin' Wreck kicked a pair of field goals to win the game. Georgia Tech ran for 301 yards, despite leading rusher Jonathan Dwyer rushing for just 66 yards in the victory. However, the Tigers cashed tickets as 5 ?-point road underdogs, while easily sailing 'over' the total of 44.
Georgia Tech followed up the Clemson win with a poor showing at Miami the next week, as the Hurricanes drilled the Jackets, 33-17. The 'Canes outgained the Jackets, 454-228, as Georgia Tech was limited to 95 yards on 39 carries. The Wreck bounced back by winning eight straight games, including all six ACC contests. Tech's hot streak was slowed up by intra-state rival Georgia last Saturday, 30-24. Paul Johnson's squad cashed plenty of tickets after the Miami defeat, going 7-2 ATS the last nine games.
Clemson began the season dropping two of its first three ACC contests, including a disappointing loss at underachieving Maryland. The Tigers rebounded by winning each of their last five conference games, scoring at least 34 points in each victory. The most glaring win out of the five was an overtime triumph at Miami, 40-37, as Spiller scored a pair of touchdowns, including a kickoff return for a score prior to the half. The Tigers ended the season with a 34-17 setback at rival South Carolina, snapping a six-game winning streak. Clemson has drilled the 'over' in five straight lined games, while going 'over' the total in two of three games listed at 55 or above.
Handicapper Joe feels the ACC took a hit when Clemson and Georgia Tech each stubbed their toes last week, "With both teams losing last week to SEC teams, this ACC title game has lost some of its national scope in a year where the conference appeared to be making some progress in its national presence."
However, Joe says that the Yellow Jackets' running game will make or break them on Saturday, "Georgia Tech's rushing numbers have been incredibly impressive this season, but quality defenses have been able to slow the Jackets down and having already faced the Tigers this year will be an advantage. Clemson adds the potential for scoring on special teams with the most dangerous return man in the nation with Heisman candidate C.J. Spiller."
Handicapper Brian says that last Saturday's performances by each squad may hurt them this week, "I think bettors have to be concerned about how both of these teams played last week. I don't think you can blame last week's lackluster efforts on the look-ahead spot because both were playing their in-state rivals with bragging rights on the line."
Brian is bullish on the Jackets the second time around after they got by the Tigers earlier this season, "I had Georgia Tech in the first game back in September and lost when Clemson produced the backdoor cover. Nevertheless, I think the Yellow Jackets are the side here because I give them a big advantage in coaching. Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt will make more big plays than Spiller, and Georgia Tech will win the ACC just as I predicted back in August to pay me and others a plus-750 payout."
Joe says that the Tigers benefited from playing on the Atlantic side of the conference, "Clemson has been the vastly superior defensive team on the year, but the schedule has been less difficult and the Tigers have been a poor road team this season with much worse performances. Georgia Tech is a difficult match-up in this situation and the Jackets were more dominant in ACC play and were victorious the first time around."
The Yellow Jackets are currently listed as a one-point favorite at most outfits, with the total set at 55. The game kicks off at 8:00 PM Eastern at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Saturday night.
The fifth installment of the ACC Championship takes place this Saturday night in Tampa, as both Georgia Tech (10-2, 7-1 ACC) and Clemson (8-4, 6-2 ACC) look to claim its first conference title since the league's expansion in 2003. The ACC instituted the championship game in 2005 after Boston College joined the conference, giving the league 12 teams. Interestingly, two of three teams that left the Big East to migrate to the ACC have enjoyed the most success as far as conference title appearances go.
Virginia Tech has claimed two conference championships, while losing to Florida State in the inaugural ACC title game in 2005. Boston College has been on the short end the last two years against Virginia Tech, while Miami does not have an ACC title game appearance on its ledger.
Georgia Tech fell in the 2006 ACC title game to Wake Forest as 2 ?-point favorites in a scintillating 9-6 loss to the Demon Deacons. Clemson will be making its first appearance in the ACC championship, while the Tigers seek their first conference title since 1991, the year before FSU joined the ACC.
The Jackets and Tigers began the ACC schedule on September 10, as Tech beat Clemson, 30-27 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. Tech jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the second quarter thanks to a pair of touchdowns from over 80 yards out, including an 82-yard touchdown scamper from Anthony Allen. Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker rallied the Tigers back with three touchdown tosses, as a 63-yard score by the electric C.J. Spiller began the scoring barrage.
The Tigers eventually took a 27-24 advantage in the final quarter, but the Ramblin' Wreck kicked a pair of field goals to win the game. Georgia Tech ran for 301 yards, despite leading rusher Jonathan Dwyer rushing for just 66 yards in the victory. However, the Tigers cashed tickets as 5 ?-point road underdogs, while easily sailing 'over' the total of 44.
Georgia Tech followed up the Clemson win with a poor showing at Miami the next week, as the Hurricanes drilled the Jackets, 33-17. The 'Canes outgained the Jackets, 454-228, as Georgia Tech was limited to 95 yards on 39 carries. The Wreck bounced back by winning eight straight games, including all six ACC contests. Tech's hot streak was slowed up by intra-state rival Georgia last Saturday, 30-24. Paul Johnson's squad cashed plenty of tickets after the Miami defeat, going 7-2 ATS the last nine games.
Clemson began the season dropping two of its first three ACC contests, including a disappointing loss at underachieving Maryland. The Tigers rebounded by winning each of their last five conference games, scoring at least 34 points in each victory. The most glaring win out of the five was an overtime triumph at Miami, 40-37, as Spiller scored a pair of touchdowns, including a kickoff return for a score prior to the half. The Tigers ended the season with a 34-17 setback at rival South Carolina, snapping a six-game winning streak. Clemson has drilled the 'over' in five straight lined games, while going 'over' the total in two of three games listed at 55 or above.
Handicapper Joe feels the ACC took a hit when Clemson and Georgia Tech each stubbed their toes last week, "With both teams losing last week to SEC teams, this ACC title game has lost some of its national scope in a year where the conference appeared to be making some progress in its national presence."
However, Joe says that the Yellow Jackets' running game will make or break them on Saturday, "Georgia Tech's rushing numbers have been incredibly impressive this season, but quality defenses have been able to slow the Jackets down and having already faced the Tigers this year will be an advantage. Clemson adds the potential for scoring on special teams with the most dangerous return man in the nation with Heisman candidate C.J. Spiller."
Handicapper Brian says that last Saturday's performances by each squad may hurt them this week, "I think bettors have to be concerned about how both of these teams played last week. I don't think you can blame last week's lackluster efforts on the look-ahead spot because both were playing their in-state rivals with bragging rights on the line."
Brian is bullish on the Jackets the second time around after they got by the Tigers earlier this season, "I had Georgia Tech in the first game back in September and lost when Clemson produced the backdoor cover. Nevertheless, I think the Yellow Jackets are the side here because I give them a big advantage in coaching. Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt will make more big plays than Spiller, and Georgia Tech will win the ACC just as I predicted back in August to pay me and others a plus-750 payout."
Joe says that the Tigers benefited from playing on the Atlantic side of the conference, "Clemson has been the vastly superior defensive team on the year, but the schedule has been less difficult and the Tigers have been a poor road team this season with much worse performances. Georgia Tech is a difficult match-up in this situation and the Jackets were more dominant in ACC play and were victorious the first time around."
The Yellow Jackets are currently listed as a one-point favorite at most outfits, with the total set at 55. The game kicks off at 8:00 PM Eastern at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Saturday night.
