November 11, 2011

History in the making. Clemson vs. Wake Forest game prediction.

After a week off to get their bodies, minds, and spirits rejuvenated, the 2011 senior class and this group of Tigers can do something that no other Clemson football team has ever done.

IMG_1657On Senior Day in which a group of 20 seniors and graduate students will walk through Poe Plaza, step atop of The Hill, Rub the Rock and look across at 80,000 of their biggest orange-clad fans, one last time, the Tigers can make history.

Clemson can clinch the Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division title and a berth in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte and they can finish the season a perfect 7-0 in Death Valley.

All they have to do is win against Jim Grobe’s Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Who clinches the division and who’s going home to scoreboard watch next week? Let’s take a look at the matchups.

WAKE FOREST AT CLEMSON

WAKE FOREST OFFENSE VS CLEMSON DEFENSE

Wake Forest isn’t the same 3-9 team that they were a year ago, and sophomore quarterback Tanner Price is much improved from last year, far surpassing his production. Price is 169-for-273 for 2,154 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. In 2010, he threw seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. The much improved passing game which is ranked 32nd nationally is much more explosive due to the emergence of Price and his favorite receiver Chris Givens. Givens is second in the ACC in reception yards per game and has 58 catches for 985 yards and eight touchdowns. In essence, he is Wake Forest’s version of Sammy Watkins.

IMG_0866
Clemson’s secondary could have some matchup problems with Givens as they have had issues giving up the big play all season. Hopefully, cornerback Xavier Brewer’s move to safety will help solve that problem this weekend.

The Deacons have had difficulties running the ball all season averaging just over 100 yards per game. They are led in the backfield by Josh Harris (61.7 yards per game) and Brandon Pendergrass (46.3 yards per game). I would expect Wake Forest to come out running the ball Saturday since the Tigers have given up over almost 200 yards per game on the ground this season. If the Tigers can stop the running game early and release the monsters on the defensive line in Rennie Moore, Andre Branch, Brandon Thompson, and company, and get pressure on Price early and often, expect it to be a long day for the Deacon offense. ADVANTAGE- SLIGHT TO WAKE FOREST

CLEMSON OFFENSE VS WAKE FOREST DEFENSE
Other than two weeks ago when Georgia Tech limited the Tigers number of offensive possessions, no team has really had any success stopping Chad Morris’ fast-paced offense, and I don’t expect that to happen this week. Running back Andre Ellington is finally healthy again after an ankle injury sidelined him for the game against the Yellow Jackets. The last time the Tigers had a healthy Ellington he amassed over 200 yards in College Park, Maryland. Let’s face it, when Ellington is on the field, the Tigers are a much better team because of his rushing abilities, blocking abilities, and his leadership on the field. Ellington and quarterback Tajh Boyd must run the ball early and often, forcing the Deacon secondary to creep up toward the line of scrimmage in run support. When that happens Clemson’s receivers will be all over the field. ADVANTAGE- CLEMSON

SPECIAL TEAMS

Clemson’s special teams may get a boost this weekend with the possible return of kickoff specialist Spencer Benton. The Tigers have only allowed one kickoff to be returned for a touchdown in head coach Dabo Swinney’s tenure and guess who wasn’t on the field? That’s right, Spencer Benton. Benton can kick the ball deep and if there is a return, he is a tackling machine- recording 19 tackles so far this season.

Punter Dawson Zimmerman and kicker Chandler Catanzaro have been very consistent throughout the entire season and I don’t see that changing this week.

The Demon Deacons don’t have anything really special about their special teams. Kicker Jimmy Newman is 15-for-17 on field goals and punter Alex Wulfeck averages just over 38 yards per punt. ADVANTAGE- CLEMSON

BOTTOM LINE

Emotions will be running high as the Tigers take the field this weekend. This will be the last game at home for the Clemson seniors, an ACC Atlantic division title is on the line and a chance for an undefeated record at home is on the horizon. Jim Grobe is 0-4 in Death Valley and the last time the Tigers lost to Wake Forest was in 2008, Tommy Bowden’s final game. The Deacons won’t roll over and allow the Tigers to march up and down the field on them, but with everything on the line, Clemson won’t let the pesky Deacon’s take away their next goal- winning the division.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON 38, WAKE FOREST 20

Post written by Clemson Girl sports blogger, Nikki Steele.

Share

No comments :

Related Posts with Thumbnails