CLEMSON — Clemson football begins its journey to return to the College Football Playoff on Saturday (noon ET, ABC) against No. 1 Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The Tigers look to carry their five-game win streak to conclude last year into this matchup. Coach Dabo Swinney's team returns eight starters on offense and three on defense and has added the nation's 11th-ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Swinney hopes quarterback Cade Klubnik can lift the Tigers' offense in his second year as a full-time starter under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley.

The Bulldogs are a 13.5-point favorite, according to BetMGM. They have posted a 42-2 record over the past three seasons and have won two national championships. Georgia is led by coach Kirby Smart and Heisman candidate quarterback Carson Beck.

If the No. 14-ranked Tigers upset the Bulldogs, it would mark the sixth time in the AP poll's history that a team has defeated the preseason AP No. 1 in the top-ranked team's season opener.

Here are three things to know and a score prediction:

Clemson football's Cade Klubnik looks to show improvement from 2023

Klubnik's 2023 season was a mixed bag. He threw for 2,844 yards with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Still, he threw for the fewest yards per attempt (6.3) in the ACC and made critical mistakes in tight situations.

The junior sought improvement this offseason. He attended the Manning Passing Academy to learn from NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning and an Elite 11 camp, where he picked the brain of Super Bowl champion coach Pete Carroll. He also stepped up as a leader, becoming more vocal with his teammates on and off the field.

Klubnik hopes his growth shows up against the Bulldogs, a team that ranked ninth in total defense last year. In order to upset Georgia, he has to make explosive 20-plus-yard plays to his deep group of skill position players. In both of its losses in the past three seasons, its defense gave up more than eight yards per passing attempt.

Georgia, Kirby Smart haven't lost to a non-SEC school since 2019

The Bulldogs' last non-conference loss was to Texas in the Sugar Bowl. It's a testament to Georgia's culture under Smart, who was hired in 2015.

This year's Bulldogs team is led by Beck and skill position players including tight end Oscar Delp and wide receivers Dominic Lovett and Dillon Bell. Defensively, Georgia lost starters at all three levels but is confident in players like defensive back Malaki Starks and linebackers Mykel Williams and Smael Mondon Jr.

MORE: Why Clemson football, Dabo Swinney can – and cannot – upset Georgia, Kirby Smart

Clemson football dealing with injuries in the secondary

Swinney said cornerbacks Shelton Lewis and Jeadyn Lukus are day to day. Lewis suffered a lower-leg injury during Clemson's first scrimmage on Aug. 10. Lukus, who attended Mauldin High School., was spotted with the green "limited" practice jersey throughout August.

If they are inactive, Swinney will have to rely on redshirt freshman Branden Strozier or freshmen Ashton Hampton, Corian Gipson or Tavoy Feagin to play alongside Avieon Terrell. All are inexperienced and could be thrown into the fire against the No. 1 team in the country in their first meaningful college game.

Clemson football score prediction vs. Georgia

Georgia 30, Clemson 20: With the consistency the Bulldogs have shown over the past three years and the venue giving them an expected home-field advantage, it is difficult to pick against Georgia. The Bulldogs have been the best team in college football since 2021 and will continue their dominance against Clemson in this highly anticipated matchup.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football vs Georgia score prediction, scouting report