CLEMSON — Nick Eason is very familiar with Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key.

The two played against each other when Eason played on Clemson’s defensive line from 1999-2002, and Key was an offensive lineman at Georgia Tech from 1997-2000. Key got the better of Eason and the Tigers in those days, winning both of their head-to-head matchups by three points each.

In fact, Key never lost to Clemson as a player, as the Yellow Jackets won all four games by exactly three points.

“Up front, they are tough, physical, relentless. You can see they have the mentality of their head coach being a former offensive lineman who actually played at Georgia Tech during the same time I was here at Clemson,” said Eason, who is Clemson’s defensive tackles coach. “They are just tough and physical. They are going to be a huge challenge for us.”

Tech is averaging 271.5 yards per game on the ground and 7.24 yards per carry, which is tops in the ACC.

No. 12 Clemson (1-1, 0-0 ACC) at Georgia Tech (2-0, 0-0 ACC)

• Kickoff: Saturday, Noon
• Location: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta
• TV: ESPN
• Spread: Clemson 3.5 points
• Over/Under: 53.5 points
• Series: Georgia Tech leads the series 51-36-2

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Everything. Clemson opens the ACC slate on the road against a good Georgia Tech team. This is a do or die type game for the Tigers’ playoff chances. With a loss to LSU already on the resume, Clemson can’t afford to lose a conference game, especially to a Georgia Tech team that has a favorable ACC schedule and finding two losses in conference play seems unlikely after Clemson. Swinney said earlier this week that every ACC game is a playoff game because one loss can eliminate a team from the championship race due to all the tiebreaker rules. He mentioned how Clemson almost did not get in the ACC Championship Game last year due to its only loss to Louisville.

KEY MATCHUP

There is no doubt Clemson has to put the clamps on Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King. However, the real key to stopping King, is stopping running back Jamal Haynes first. Haynes is averaging 6.2 yards per carry and already has 157 rushing yards in two games. The Yellow Jackets want to establish Haynes because his success in the run game sets up everything else — the RPOs, QB Power, QB Counter and play action. The Tigers have to be sound and have gap integrity, as overflowing or trying to go over the top could be costly. Clemson also can’t get caught up in all the eye candy the defense is going to see from all the offense sets and motions. Clemson’s run defense has been much improved to this point, as it allows just 93 yards a game on the ground. Opponents are averaging 2.95 yards per carry. However, the Tigers have allowed a couple of big runs to both Troy and LSU that allowed them to extend drives and keep the Clemson offense off the field. They cannot do any of that this week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bryant Wesco had 7 catches for 118 yards and 2 TDs for Clemson in last week’s win over Troy. Though he has not played to his potential to this point, Wesco’s partner at wide receiver, T.J. Moore, can also take the top off a defense. Tech’s secondary is suspect and if the Yellow Jackets attack quarterback Cade Klubnik like Troy and LSU did, then Wesco and Moore will have opportunities to make plays downfield.

Haynes King ran for 156 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries in the Yellow Jackets’ season-opening win over Colorado. But how many carries will he get against Clemson? King did not play last week against Gardner-Webb, as he nursed a lower body injury. How healthy is he and can he take as many hits as he did against Colorado? Two years ago, at Clemson, the Tigers battered King around, shutting him down in the run game. They sacked him four times and held him to minus-3 yards on 11 carries. He did not throw the football any better, as he completed just 13 of 31 passes for 129 yards, 2 TDs and 4 interceptions.

THIS AND THAT

In its last three trips to Bobby Dodd Stadium, Clemson has outscored the Yellow Jackets, 148-35, including a 73-7 win there in 2020. The Tigers have won nine straight games in the series and four straight versus Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Though Clemson has dominated Georgia Tech in recent trips to Atlanta, that likely will not be the case on Saturday. Tech is a much better team under Brent Key’s guidance. One thing is certain, his team will play hard and will play physical. The Tigers have to be ready for both. Clemson will need quarterback Cade Klubnik to come out and play like he did against Texas, South Carolina and Pittsburgh, where he was confident and decisive in his decision making. It’s going to be a tough game, but a Nolan Hauser field goal can be the difference.

Prediction

Clemson 23, Georgia Tech 21