Clemson vs. Georgia Tech football preview, prediction

Clemson opens up the 2022 college football schedule with a matchup against ACC rival Georgia Tech in Monday's Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Dabo Swinney breaks in two new coordinators while hoping to repair the ACC's second-worst offense and get a leg-up on the College Football Playoff chase.

DJ Uiagalelei will be Clemson's starting quarterback in 2021. Last season, he threw just 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He didn't get a lot of help from his receivers, but he won 10 games.

Jeff Sims is Georgia Tech's quarterback. He's a plus for the offense when he's on the field, but a minus when not. The offensive line hasn't protected him well at all.

Clemson is expected to be ferocious on the defensive line again. Georgia Tech lost Jahmyr Gibbs to Alabama but gained Hassan Hall. Neither Sims nor Hall have much chance of helping if there are Clemson linemen in the backfield all day.

Clemson has won 10 games in 11 straight seasons. Clemson is 77-6 in regular season games since 2015. Georgia Tech has lost 12 straight to top-10 teams and 11 to the top 5 teams. Tech averaged 29.7 ppg and 431.2 ypg with Jeff Sims at quarterback and just 16. 7 pPG and 302.8 yg without him.

Clemson is one of the favorites in the ACC. Georgia Tech has lost a lot of talent and is not a good team.   GeorgiaTech is a team that has a major talent deficit.