Gameplan: Georgia vs Clemson

Photo by rylan8t

 Each week I will offer a pre-game  breakdown on one of the best college football games of the week. This is not so much a prediction of who'll win more than about what type of plays they'll use to get there. Remember, it's about the journey. 


Last year, we were force-fed promos of what was sure to be an "exciting"and "thrilling" opener to the college football season between Michigan and Alabama.

College football's winningest program back on track with fiery Head Coach Brady Hoke and Heisman hopeful Denard "Shoelace" Robinson against the defending National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide.


But if you saw the 13 point spread in Bama's favor entering the game--or any SEC football in the past 5 years-- you might have foreseen the 41-14 drubbing that soon took place. Or even made a hefty wager on it. If you're into that sort of thing.

But fear not, this year's marquee game of college football's opening weekend will be one to be remembered.

Clemson comes into the year after posting an 11 win season a year ago, and also as darkhorse title contender once again. Perennially On The Cusp has replaced Tiger Rag as the fight song during QB Tajh Boyd's tenure as the Tigers signal caller. They also return 4 out of 5 starters on the O-Line, standout WR Sammy Watkins--who was a Heisman contender 2 seasons ago, and 6 of 8 starters from their D-Line and Linebacker groups.

The Bulldogs are coming off their best season since 2008, but the image of coming up 5 yards short of a trip to the National Championship game is burned into the minds of Georgia fans rather than an exciting 12 win season. Georgia returns 9 starters on offense led by QB Aaron Murray and the tag team running back duo of sophomores Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. Lotta new faces on defense though as only 3 starters return from a star-studded group that saw 8 players drafted and 2 signed as free agents immediately following the draft this year.

Coming up tomorrow, we'll start with Clemson's newest variation on one of the hottest offensive packages in all of football.