Clemson vs. Georgia Tech Score: Upset Loss Would Cripple Tigers' BCS Title Hopes

After a marvelous Cinderella run behind quarterback Tajh Boyd, as of this writing, the No. 5 Clemson Tigers are losing 31-10 late in the third quarter to unranked Georgia Tech; and a loss would all but dash the Tigers' BCS Championship hopes.

The Tigers, who have gone from unranked in the preseason to having a shot at the title, entered Saturday's contest with an 8-0 record with big wins over Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech.

Beyond Boyd, the Tigers are ranked 40th in the nation with 178.9 rushing yards per game, led by junior running back Andre Ellington, who posted 212 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Maryland just two weeks ago. But Ellington was held out of Saturday's game with an ankle injury and through one-half of play, the Tigers were averaging just 3.1 yards per carry against the Yellow Jackets.

Headed into Saturday's game, the Tigers' biggest question mark was their defense, having allowed 25.0 points per game, including 45 points to Maryland and 38 points to North Carolina. They allowed 24 points to the Yellow Jackets in the first half alone.

Lost in the Tigers' momentous comeback victory against Maryland was the fact that they had given up 35 points to the Terrapins two minutes into the third quarter before the comeback. Clemson has had to rack up points to defeat its opponents all season long.

So, as Clemson attempts to make another major comeback against Georgia Tech on Saturday, its defense is once again proving to be the problem. And if its defense doesn't clamp down now, it will most likely be the scapegoat for their first loss of the season.

A loss would cripple this team's chances of going to the title game, given the Tigers were already on the outside looking in.

But that's not all a loss would do—it would also probably drop them out the BCS picture altogether unless they win the ACC.

Once again, Clemson's offense must dig the team out of a hole.