Clemson at Georgia Tech 1/20/21 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

The Clemson Tigers will look to bounce back when they travel on the road to the McCamish Pavillion to take on the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets. The last time Clemson was in action they were trounced 85-50 by the Virginia Cavaliers, they had just 3 points in the first thirteen minutes of play and never show much of a pulse. Georgia Tech has won four straight home games but hasn’t played in over two weeks due to covid cancellations. On January 3rd, they beat Wake Forest 70-54 to improve to 6-3 on the year.

Clemson is one of the best defenses in the country, but when their offense struggles they can really get into trouble against anyone. The Tigers come in averaging 66.6 points per game, ranking 286th in the nation, and are shooting just 42.5% from the field. Lacking a true number one scorer, the Tiger's offense needs someone to step up.

Senior forward Aamir Simms made the All-ACC team last year and is leading the team in scoring with 11.6 per game. Simms is the Tigers leading rebounder with 5.7 and is second on the team in assist switch 2.4. Sophomore guard Nick Honor has been the spark off the bench coming in second on the team in scoring with 10.3 and dishing out a team-high 2.5 assist per game. 

Georgia Tech’s uptempo style of play has led to averaging 80.1 points per game ranking 45th in the country in scoring offense. They are 87th in the country in pace and have a ton of guys who share the ball, they’re unselfish and 55th in effective field goal %, per KenPom. 

Two seniors lead the way and point guard Jose Alvarado is the team’s leading scorer with 18.1 points, he also leads the team in assist with 3.8 per game, Alvarado is a solid three-point shooter making 40.9% of his 5 attempts per game. In the paint it’s senior forward Moses Wright, he’s averaging 7.1 boards and adding 17 points per game. 

Georgia Tech has had their struggles defensively allowing 73.3 poitns per game ranking 247th in the country in scoring defense. Opposing teams are shooting 36.4% from the field, the 289th ranked field goal defense; and teh Yellow Jackets are 85th in KenPom adjusted defense. Clemson is one of the best defensive teams in the country and is allowing 60.1 points per game ranking 12th in the country in scoring defense and is 7th in KenPom adjusted defense.