CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Georgia Tech (5-4, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) at Clemson (5-4, 2-4), Saturday, 12 p.m. (ABC)
Line: Clemson by 14 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Georgia Tech leads 51-35-2
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Winner goes to a bowl game. That would be a great accomplishment for the Yellow Jackets in year two under coach Brent Key. It would be a consolation prize for the Tigers in this unexpected season of struggle. Clemson was picked to win the ACC title during the summer and must win its last two league games to avoid its first losing conference season since 1998.
KEY MATCHUP
Georgia Tech QB Haynes King vs. Clemson defensive front. King, the Texas A&M transfer, is among the biggest surprises in the ACC. He’s third among league passers and has thrown an ACC-best 22 touchdowns. But the Tigers have one of the top lines in the country featuring tackle Tyler Davis and rising freshmen in Peter Woods and T.J. Parker.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Georgia Tech: RB Jamal Haynes has been productive this season, averaging nearly six yards a carry. He’s fifth in the league with 664 yards.
Clemson: LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had a game-best 11 tackles, a couple of those behind the line of scrimmage, and a pick six off Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman a week ago in the Tigers’ 31-23 upset of the Fighting Irish.
FACTS & FIGURES
Coach Dabo Swinney became Clemson’s all-time leader with his 166th victory last week, beating Notre Dame at the school where he began in midseason 2008. … Swinney’s first game? Georgia Tech at home that season. The Yellow Jackets rallied to win 21-17. … The Yellow Jackets have lost eight straight to Clemson, last winning in Atlanta in 2014. Their last win in Clemson was Swinney’s first game 15 years ago. … Phil Mafah ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns in the Notre Dame win as injured starter Will Shipley was in concussion protocol from a hard hit at North Carolina State on Oct. 28. Mafah’s output was the most yards in a game for the Tigers this season. … Georgia Tech, expected to struggle this season, has scored 91 points in back-to-back victories over ranked North Carolina and Virginia the past two weeks.
