To paraphrase 80s synth-pop sensations Tears for Fears, welcome to your Wednesday. There’s no turning back. But since it puts you one day closer to Georgia Bulldog football, why would you want to turn back the clock anyhow?
Speaking of turning back the clock, this week’s Morning Five will focus on some of the numbers from the long and storied rivalry between the Clemson Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs.
#1…..5. That’s the number of times Georgia has opened the season against the Clemson Tigers since the year 2000, making the Country Gentlemen the most common opening opponent during this century, just ahead of the Georgia Southern Eagles. These two teams actually play pretty frequently, though it seems less frequent to those of us who remember when it was a bitter annual rivalry.
#2…..2. The number of those five games in which the margin of victory has been more than a touchdown. One was the 2003 season opener that featured David Greene faking the entire Clemson defense out of the stadium on a play action touchdown to Fred Gibson, and ended with a 30-0 score. The other was the 2014 game in which Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb (in his Bulldog debut) ran over, around, and through the Tigers on the way to a 45-21 victory that was actually closer until Georgia ran away in the fourth quarter. Point being, more often than not this one is a four quarter fight.
#3…..8. That’s the number of season-opening victories Kirby Smart has in his eight seasons as a head coach. The Top ‘Dawg has never lost an opener, and even against inferior competition the Red and Black have rarely come out of the gates flat.
#4…..5:6 Technically speaking that’s a ratio. More specifically, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik’s touchdown to interception ratio in road/neutral site contests in 2023. Klubnik’s maturation is not only a key to the Tigers’ chances on Saturday, but their chances of making the college football playoff. Conversely, if Georgia can get consistent, varied pressure on Klubnik, keep him in the pocket, and make him pay for it when he runs, the ‘Dawgs should be in great shape.
#5…..1. that’s the number of quarterbacks in college football during the 2023 season who attempted more than 130 passes against ranked opponents and also completed over 70% of those throws. The one: Carson Beck. It might be early to start referring to him as Big Game Beck, but the Bulldogs’ QB1 showed a lot of poise in pressure-packed games in 2023. 2024 will bring even more opportunities to show his metal, starting on Saturday. Until later….
Go ‘Dawgs!!!