Former Clemson stars Kelly Gramlich and Eric Mac Lain previewed and made predictions for the Clemson vs. Georgia Tech matchup on their Gramlich & Mac Lain podcast.

Kickoff of Saturday’s contest at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium is set for 12:30 p.m. The game will be televised on The CW.

The Tigers (6-3, 4-2 ACC) enter as a 13.5-point favorite over the Yellow Jackets (2-7, 1-5). Both analysts picked Clemson to win the game and cover the spread.

Much has been made of Clemson’s immense red zone struggles, and understandably so. Mac Lain wants to see the Tigers take a step forward in that department and convert their red zone opportunities into touchdowns against the Yellow Jackets.

“You get the ball in the 20-yard line three times, better be three touchdowns at minimum there,” Mac Lain said. “So we’ll see if they can do it, but a big number here. Give me Clemson to cover. Sadly, I think Georgia Tech’s that bad right now.”

Discussing how Georgia Tech recently made major defensive staff changes, Gramlich stressed that Clemson needs to score at least one passing touchdown against the Georgia Tech defense.

The Tigers have thrown four total touchdown passes through nine games this season, tied with Army for the fewest in the country.

“If you can’t score one passing touchdown on this Georgia Tech defense, two — that’s what I want to see,” Gramlich said. “I think Clemson’s going to win the game. I feel like Clemson’s going to be able to run the ball if they commit to it, or at least run the ball with Tait [Reynolds]. Let’s get in the end zone. It comes down to the red zone with this team. Can the red zone execution be improved? I want [Nolan] Hauser to rest. Rest your best player in this game. Hauser, sit down. Kick the extra points. Everything else, you’re going to be sitting. We’re going to give you a break. That’s what I want, Mac.”

“I think Clemson covers. Mac, maybe even, look, I don’t even really need the passing touchdowns to be the wide receivers,” Gramlich added. “Like the tight ends. The tight ends have been great at times, the red zone. … I really want Hauser to have a day off. So that’s what I’m hoping for.”

Mac Lain doesn’t envision Clemson passing for touchdowns against Georgia Tech’s defense, pointing out the Yellow Jackets have a top-five passing defense in the ACC (in terms of passing yards per game allowed at 196.1, fifth best).

Mac Lain wants to see Clemson commit to running the ball against a Georgia Tech defense that ranks dead last in the ACC in rushing yards per game allowed (222.8).

“All right. I have bad news on the first,” Mac Lain said. “What was the first thing you said you wanted? What was the first thing? … Georgia Tech’s a top-five passing defense in the ACC. Those aren’t happening. … It is. In the ACC. Listen, which, you know. But they give up 230 yards on the ground a game.

“So I’m the opposite of you. Run the ball. Run the ball. Just run the ball. That’s all I want to see. We can do jet sweeps if you want to, [run] in between the tackles. But I want touchdowns in the red zone. I’ve got to have touchdowns in the red zone. Georgia Tech is also giving up 32 points per game. Again, they just fired their DC. They just fired everybody. Who knows? Is this the best defense ever that we see [from GT] this weekend? We’ll see. I assume they’re motivated. But you’re right. I mean, Clemson, handle business. Do what you need to do.”

Mac Lain mentioned the “revenge factor” in this game, with Clemson looking to avenge last season’s loss to Georgia Tech.

In September 2025, the Yellow Jackets defeated the Tigers in Atlanta, 24-21, on a dramatic 55-yard walk-off field goal to snap Clemson’s nine-game winning streak in the series.

“It’s so fascinating because you sit here and think, OK, yes, this is the game that you go off. But is it? Like, I don’t know,” Mac Lain said. “Maybe. I hope so. We’ll see. And the revenge factor of it all, these boys embarrassed you last year, kicking that, whatever it was, [55-yard] game-winning field goal that really just spiraled everything. After that game, it was all over. Like, pack it up. These boys wore purple [jerseys]. They were purple on a non-military game. I’m like, we are just, we’re trying to do anything we can to win a game. I knew it was problems when that happened. So we’ll see. We’ll see if they’re able to take advantage of it.

“Tait, again, is showing some good things, but the inconsistencies is frustrating as all get out. What do we see from this defense? I mean, by far and away, the best part of this Clemson team. Also a top-five defense overall in the ACC right now. They’re fifth in points allowed and they are somewhere, they’re sixth in yards allowed, second in sacks. So they’re elite and I expect them to get after it and for Georgia Tech not really to be able to move the ball on them. So we will see. That’s kind of my biggest things. I want to see [Clemson] committed to the run. Don’t just take shots to take shots. You can’t really throw them anyway. So run the football, see some creativity there, and then defense, be who you are, and [offense], score in the red zone for sure.”

Saturday will mark Georgia Tech’s first trip to Clemson since 2023, when four different Clemson freshmen picked off quarterback Haynes King in a 42-21 Clemson win.

Clemson has won each of its last eight home games against the Yellow Jackets, dating to 2010.

Georgia Tech leads the all-time series with Clemson, 51-36-2.