Game Prediction - Clemson vs. Boston College

All eyes are on Boston College.

Make no mistake, we as fans and media are already counting the game against Boston College as a win for the Tigers, but the Eagles will provide a stern test on Saturday.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has said all week that his team is focused on the Eagles and not looking ahead to the primetime matchup with Florida State next week.

Can the Tigers come out with the same focus that their head coach has preached about all week?

We’ll find out at 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.



WHAT: BOSTON COLLEGE (3-2, 1-1 ACC) AT NO. 3 CLEMSON (5-0, 3-0)
WHEN: 3:30 ON ABC/ESPN2
WHERE MEMORIAL STADIUM, CLEMSON, SC

WHEN CLEMSON HAS THE BALL: The Clemson offense is cruising right along like a well-oiled machine after the last two games, scoring more than 40 points in both contests. However, Boston College’s defense is a veteran group and may be the best defense that the Tigers have faced to date. Linebackers Kevin Pierre-Louis and Steele Divitto are the Eagles’ leading tacklers with 50 and 43, respectively. Defensive end Kasime Edeballi is wreaking havoc in opposing team’s backfield with six tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. The Boston College defense is also creating turnovers – recovering three of five forced fumbles and recording eight interceptions through the first five games. Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd will have to be accurate with his passes, take what the defense gives him and not try to force any throws because a turnover could turn the tide of this game. Expect Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris to try to run the ball first since the Eagles are giving up 4.54 yards per rush and 198 yards per game. The Boston College offense is only giving up 208 yards through the air, but when the Eagles play a team with a talented quarterback – like Florida State – they gave up just over 12 yards per catch. If the offensive line can protect Boyd and give him time to find an open Sammy Watkins, Adam Humphries, Martavis Bryant or Stanton Seckinger, it could be a big offensive day for the Tigers.

WHEN BOSTON COLLEGE HAS THE BALL: It’s no secret that Boston College is bringing in the nation’s top rusher in 6-0, 227-pound senior Andre Williams. Williams is averaging 153.6 yards per game and rushed for a career high 263 yards and five touchdowns last week against Army. Eagles quarterback Chase Rettig is no slouch either and has completed 70-of-109 attempts for 891 yards and nine touchdowns, while only throwing three interceptions. Rettig’s top target is Alex Amidon who has caught 32 passes for 426 yards and two touchdowns. The Clemson defense gave up over 300 yards on the ground a week ago at Syracuse. They will need to correct the alignment issues on the defensive line if they want to keep Williams contained for most of the day. Also, the linebackers and corners will have to watch the underneath routes to Amidon who can easily turn a short a pass into a big gain. If defensive ends Vic Beasley and Shaq Lawson, who lead Clemson in sacks, can pressure Rettig he won’t’ have time to find Amidon on the longer routes.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Usually, it’s a no brainer to give the edge to Clemson on special teams, but the Eagles may be just as good with veterans Nate Freese, Myles Willis and Spiffy Evans. Freese handles punting, kick offs and field goals and is a perfect six-for-six on field goals with a long of 49, and is averaging 42.2 yards per punt. On the return teams, Evans is averaging 16 yards per punt return, while Willis is averaging 31.4 yards per kickoff return. Clemson kickoff specialist Bradley Pinion will need to consistently boot kickoffs through the endzone to keep the Eagles from winning the field position battle. If Adam Humphries can continue his success from a week ago on punt returns, then the edge still goes to the Tigers.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: A lot of Clemson fans are already chalking up this game as a win, but since the Eagles entered the ACC, they have been a thorn in Clemson’s side. The teams have split the series 4-4 since 2005 and the average margin of victory has only been 8.5 points; however the last two games haven’t really been close with Clemson winning 31-14 in 2011 and 45-31 in 2012. Expect the Eagles to make this interesting early on with big runs from Andre Williams on offense and defensive pressure when the Tigers have the ball. But, the Clemson coaching staff will make the necessary adjustments just as they have all season long and by the time the fourth quarter rolls around the score won’t be quite as close.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON 42 – BOSTON COLLEGE 21

Post written by Clemson Girl Sports Bloggess Nikki Steele.

Game Prediction - Clemson vs. Syracuse

Photo Credit: instagram.com/_clemson_tigers_football_

The Clemson Tigers (4-0, 2-0) will be a part of history on Saturday, but whether is good or bad is up to them. The Tigers travel to New York to face off in a Homecoming contest with Syracuse (2-2, 0-0) at the Carrier Dome in the Orange’s first ACC game.

There has been a lot of smack talk from the Syracuse football team – in particular quarterback Terrel Hunt – about the Tigers not surviving the un-air-conditioned Carrier Dome. Syracuse has won its last six home games in the Dome.

Can the Tigers survive their second road game of the season and continue their undefeated streak?

WHAT: No. 3 Clemson at Syracuse
WHEN: 3:30 ABC/ ESPN2
WHERE: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York

WHEN THE TIGERS HAVE THE BALL: The Clemson offense finally started clicking last weekend against Wake Forest, but this weekend the Tigers will have a whole new set of challenges playing in the Carrier Dome in front of what will be a raucous crowd. Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd will need to take what the defense gives him and find his check downs early on until the receivers can get used to finding the ball against the white backdrop. Eventually, the long-ball will open up for the Tigers. Running back Roderick McDowell injured his ankle last weekend, but is expected to play. Will he be at full strength? Who knows, but D.J. Howard and Zac Brooks are ready to step in at a moments notice. The Syracuse defense likes to bring pressure ,so the offensive line and tight ends will have to be on their “A” game to give Boyd time to hit the receivers. Syracuse defensive tackle Jay Bromley leads the team with 14 totals tackles, five tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles, so the center of Clemson’s offensive line will have to get off the ball quickly in order to keep Bromley from getting upfield.

WHEN SYRACUSE HAS THE BALL: Since Hunt took over as the starting quarterback for the Orange, Syracuse has beaten Wagner and Tulane by an average of 35 points, posting back-to-back 50 point games for the first time since 1997. Senior Drew Allen began the season at quarterback, but was inaccurate and inconsistent. Since taking over, Hunt has completed 33-of-43 passes for 468 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions. He has also carried the ball 12 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Hunt is a dual-threat quarterback that if given time can beat you with his arm, but is also a running threat. H-back Ashton Broyld is Syracuse’s leading receiver with 19 receptions. Wide receiver Christopher Clark has 15 receptions for 202 yards and three touchdowns. In the running game, junior Jerome Smith is the Orange’s leading rusher with 51 carries for 217 yards and six touchdowns. The key for Syracuse will be getting into the red zone, where the Orange have scored on 21-of-22 possessions – 17 touchdowns and four field goals. The Tigers will need to limit the big play and not let the Syracuse receivers beat them deep. Clemson defensive ends Shaq Lawson and Vic Beasley will need to play disciplined football and make Hunt uncomfortable in the pocket if the Tigers are going to leave the Carrier Dome victorious.

SPECIAL TEAMS: As I say every week, the Clemson special teams are second to none with Chandler Catanzaro and Bradley Pinion. For Syracuse, Riley Dixon handles the punting duties and has averaged 45.1 yards per punt over the last three games. Place kicker Ryan Norton is handling kicking duties for only his second game, but he has made three-of-four field goals with a long of 34 yards and has connected 14-of-15 extra points. Norton also handles kickoffs, but has zero touchbacks on the season. Could this be the week the Tigers finally break through and have a special teams touchdown?

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Much to the chagrin of Clemson fans, I fully expect this game to look very similar to the N.C. State game two weeks ago. It’s a new environment for Clemson with many external factors that could slow down the Clemson offense. But offensive coordinator Chad Morris will be there to make the necessary adjustments and get the offense on the right track. Don’t expect Syracuse to put up 50 points though…Clemson’s defense is a lot better than Wagner or Tulane. This one will be close at halftime, but the Tigers pull away in the second half.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON 45 – SYRACUSE 17

Post written by Clemson Girl Sports Bloggess Nikki Steele.

Gameday Prediction - Clemson vs. N.C. State

It's a gameday Thursday Clemson Girls!!

Usually on gameday we have a full pregame analysis from our super smart in all things Clemson sports bloggess, Nikki Steele. But unfortunately, Nikki has been sidelined with an injury... she fractured her elbow. Ouch!

So, as you can imagine, she isn't able to type very well right now, and instead of researching tonight's Clemson opponent for her pregrame analysis, she's getting lots of rest -- and we don't blame her one bit. Get well Nikki!

She did send us an article from TigerNet to share that she felt most closely matched her insights on tonight's game:

"Clemson vs. NC State Prediction", written by TigerNet Senior Writer, David Hood
She also didn't want to leave you ladies without her weekly score prediction:
FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON - 37, NC STATE - 17

Here's hoping the Tigers match Nikki's prediction and continue to make us proud with their first game on the road.

Go Tigers!!

Gameday Predition - Clemson vs. S.C. State

The Clemson Tigers have heard from the media about how great they are after beating Georgia 38-35, but if they want to be a contender, they will have to continue their success against teams of lesser quality.

That starts this weekend against FCS and in-state foe South Carolina State.

The goal for Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is for his team to prepare the same way every week, have the same level of passion and intensity, focus on themselves and get better from week-to-week.

Can the Tigers play with the same intensity as they did against Georgia or will there be a hangover effect from the big win a week ago?

We’ll find out soon.

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE at NO. 4 CLEMSON

When South Carolina State has the ball
South Carolina State runs a hurry up, no huddle offense and likes to try to run at a fast tempo. The Bulldogs return seven starters on offense – two of which were selected as players of the week in the MEAC conference after the Bulldogs 27- 20 loss to Coastal Carolina last weekend. Senior wide receiver Tyler McDonald caught four passes for 108 yards and touchdown, including a long of 74 yards. Running back Justin Taylor carried the ball 24 times for 80 yards and a score. The Bulldogs return redshirt senior quarterback Richard Cue, who completed 13-of-23 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. Clemson’s very young secondary has the opportunity to grow up a little bit this weekend and gain some very valuable game experience before an off week and starting conference play in two weeks.

When Clemson has the ball
Offensively, the Tigers played relatively well in their first week of action. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins didn’t disappoint with six receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown. However, the real story for the Clemson offense was senior running back Roderick McDowell who started his first game as a Tiger. McDowell carried the ball 22 times for 132 yards. This week, the Tigers need to find quarter back Tajh Boyd a second and third option at wide receiver. Charone Peake did an admiral job last week with five receptions for 58 yards; however, Martavis Bryant didn’t record a catch in the game. There were six drops by the wide receiver corps a week a go and if the Tigers are going to be successful that number must come down. South Carolina State’s defense should be used to the up-tempo offense since that is the style of offense that the Bulldogs run. Look for junior linebacker Justin Hughes to have a big impact on the running game. Hughes registered 9.5 tackles with a tackle for loss in game one.

Special teams
Sophomore punter Bradley Pinion had a tremendous performance a week ago with seven punts for an average of 41 yards per punt and seven kickoffs, all of which were touchbacks. Last season, Swinney said he was looking for Pinion to consistently kick the ball well. Can Pinion build off of his performance last weekend? Last Saturday, Clemson had a muffed punt and a bad read on a punt that almost lead to a Georgia touchdown. Can Clemson clean up its special teams blunders? South Carolina State also has a weapon at punter in senior Nick Belcher who had five punts with an average of 46 yards per punt. Belcher booted a 61-yard punt and pinned Coastal Carolina inside the 20-yard line three times last Saturday.

What will happen
South Carolina State has some good athletes – some of which were recruited by the Tigers; however, this game shouldn’t ever be in doubt. It will be interesting to see how long Boyd and the starting offense are on the field and if Swinney decides to pull his starter in the second half to give the younger players game experience. The Tigers aren’t going to hold the Bulldogs scoreless, but should be able to hold Cue and the Bulldogs’ offense in check. With an off week looming, the Tigers need to find consistency out of the wide receiver spot and find their best defensive backs before heading to N.C. State for a crucial Thursday night battle. On September 19th.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON 56- S.C. STATE 16

Post written by Clemson Girl Sports Bloggess Nikki Steele.

Game Prediction - Clemson vs. Georgia

In case you haven’t heard football is back in Death Valley, and the August 31st opener may be the biggest game in Clemson, in the last 30 years.

The Tigers will renew an old rivalry against the Georgia Bulldogs in front of a national television audience Saturday evening in a game that could have national championship implications.

The story lines are abundant in this game, with high-powered offenses and the ACC versus the SEC, but which team is ready to take that next step toward being an elite team and making a run toward Pasadena?

No. 5 Georgia at No. 8 Clemson

Why Georgia Might Win
The Georgia Bulldogs may have the best offense in the country with the potent combination of veteran quarterback Aaron Murray and running backs Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley. Murray has had a tendency in the past to start slow or not play to his potential in big games; however, after almost single-handily winning the SEC Championship Game against Alabama, Murray appears to have taken a big step toward being consistent on the big stage. Gurley and Marshall combined for over 2,000 yards in 2012 and will only get better in 2013 behind an experienced offensive line. If Georgia can establish a consistent running game, then Murray can use the play-action pass against Clemson’s young and inexperienced secondary.

Why Clemson Might Win
As loaded as Georgia’s offense is, Clemson doesn’t exactly have a shortage of playmakers on offense either. The Tigers return quarterback Tajh Boyd and wide receiver Sammy Watkins, along with a plethora of other playmakers. The good news is that the Tigers also return four starters on the offensive line. If Clemson is to be successful Saturday night, they are going to have to establish a running game with Roderick McDowell, Zac Brooks and C.J. Davidson in order to keep the defense from keying in on Boyd and the passing game.

Defensively, Clemson brings back an experienced defensive front led by defensive tackles Grady Jarrett and Josh Watson and linebackers Spencer Shuey and Quandon Christian. The Tigers should be able to get pressure on the quarterback more consistently in 2013, and if they can make Murray uncomfortable the Bulldogs may become one-dimensional.

The X-Factors

Chandler Catanzaro: With both teams essentially being even on both offense and defense, the game could come down to special teams. Enter Chandler Catanzaro. Catanzaro missed only one field goal and two extra points in 2012; however, he hit the game- winning field goal in the Chick-fil-A Bowl game against LSU. If the Tigers can stay within striking distance, Catanzaro can be the difference maker late in the game with a big kick.

Vic Beasley: Beasley burst on the scene last season, racking up a team-high eight sacks in just 288 snaps. As a full-time starter in 2013, Beasley is ready to take that number to a whole new level and wreak havoc on opposing teams. The key for the Clemson defense against Georgia will be making Murray uncomfortable and that all starts with Beasley, who can over power an offensive lineman or just run right past them. If Beasley can consistently get past Georgia’s experienced offensive line, then it could be a long night for the Bulldogs.

Clemson Offensive Snap Count: The Clemson Tigers averaged over 80 plays per game in 2012 and ran over 100 plays twice, something the Georgia defense just doesn’t see in the SEC. As fast as the Tigers were a year ago, Morris wants to go even faster this season and push the snap count up to 92-94 plays per game. If the Tigers can run at least 85 plays, they will have an advantage over the Bulldogs on what is sure to be a hot and humid night in Death Valley. Many will make the claim that Georgia’s defense should be well-rested and fresh in the first game of the season, but playing in the heat against an offense that likes to snap the ball with 25 to 30 seconds remaining on the play clock can take a toll on a young defense that has yet to play a game.

What Will Happen
Death Valley will be rocking with what could be the largest crowd since the first Bowden Bowl in 1999, but when the ball is snapped, it all comes down to who can hit the hardest and who can score the most points. Make no mistake about it, both teams are going to score points and both defenses are going to make mistakes. However, with the home crowd behind them, the Clemson defense will make the crucial stops necessary at the end of the game to seal the victory.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON 31 – GEORGIA 27

Post written by Clemson Girl Sports Bloggess Nikki Steele.

Game Prediction - Clemson vs. University of South Carolina

The turkey has been eaten, family has visited, and now it’s time for the state of South Carolina to pit sister against sister and friend against friend as the Tigers face off against the Gamecocks.

If you are a Palmetto State native and you aren’t excited about a top-15 matchup between Clemson and South Carolina under the Death Valley lights, then you might as well go live in a cave.

The rivalry between Clemson fans and South Carolina has grown exponentially over the last year, with quips and rants from each school’s head coach and it all comes down to Saturday night. Which team will back up their coach’s words in the on-going war?

This week we will do our game prediction a little differently... Our house-divided sister site Gamecock Girl's sports bloggess Lauren Hall will be stating her case for South Carolina and our sports bloggess Nikki Steele will be predicting for the Tigers.

NO. 12 SOUTH CAROLINA AT NO. 11 CLEMSON

LAUREN- SOUTH CAROLINA’S DEFENSE IS THE BEST THE TIGERS WILL FACE: Jadeveon Clowney said he would be 100% ready by Saturday's kickoff so the Carolina defense should be at full speed. Unlike the ACC defenses that Clemson has played all year, USC is big and fast on the defensive line. This should force Tajh Boyd to stay in the pocket and make quick decisions, which he has struggled with at times throughout his career. While Clemson does have deep threats, the Gamecocks have done a good job at preventing the deep balls this year. Clemson will score but it won't be nearly as often as they are used to against two of the best defensive ends in the country.

NIKKI- THE CLEMSON OFFENSE IS THE MOST EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE THE GAMECOCKS HAVE SEEN: The Gamecocks play in the mighty SEC ,which without a doubt is the best defensive conference in the land, but after watching a lot of college football, I have to question its offensive power. South Carolina’s defense has faced only two offenses that rank in the top-30 nationally in total offense- Tennessee at No. 23 and Georgia at No. 25. Both of those schools are a far cry from what the Gamecocks will see Saturday night in Clemson’s sixth-ranked offense, a group that has been hitting on all cylinders for the last few weeks. The Tigers are averaging 204 yards on the ground and 244 yards through the air, while putting up over 44 points per game. Quarterback Tajh Boyd accounted for eight touchdowns and over 500 yards of total offense a week ago and even the best defenses have had no luck in slowing him down. In the backfield, Boyd complements running back Andre Ellington who has rushed for 959 yards and eight touchdowns. And let’s face it; at wide receiver and tight end, Boyd has a bunch of Frisbee catching dogs in Nuk Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, Jaron Brown and Brandon Ford. All Boyd has to do is get the ball to his playmakers and they will make the Gamecocks pay. The wide receivers will have some one-on-one coverage down the sideline and if they can get behind the cornerbacks, it will be as simple as throw-and-catch. If Clemson’s offensive line can give Boyd enough time to find his playmakers, it will be a long night in the Valley for the Gamecocks.

NIKKI- THE CLEMSON DEFENSE IS MUCH IMPROVED AGAINST THE RUN: Every Clemson fans’ worst nightmares begin with Connor Shaw running rampant last season in Williams Brice on his way to trouncing the Tigers for a third straight season. But, that was last season and with a new defensive coordinator in Brent Venables, the Tigers seemed to have fixed their problem with running quarterbacks. The Clemson defense started off a little shaky, but has steadily improved from week-to-week and after inserting middle linebacker Spencer Shuey in the lineup have seemingly shut down opponents’ running game, giving up 163 yards rushing per game. If the Tigers can limit the running game, then the defensive backs can focus on limiting the big play, which they have been prone to this season. The secondary is banged up and will need the front seven to get pressure on Shaw in order to give them a chance at slowing down South Carolina’s speedy receivers.


LAUREN- SHAW OR THOMPSON…THAT IS THE QUESTION? After losing Marcus Lattimore to a season-ending injury, the Gamecock offense has been extremely inconsistent. That, coupled with Connor Shaw's continued injured shoulder saga, make this weekends matchup much more difficult. Kenny Miles has done a great job as the new starting tailback in his senior season, backed up by Mike Davis who is proving to be a strong asset to the offense. But the quarterback situation is still a big question. It appears that Shaw may be healthy enough to play, but Dylan Thompson has spent the week taking all the snaps with the first team offense at practice. Again Spurrier has a decision to make, but if Shaw does start I believe he will be on a very short leash due to his turnover struggles of late. Hopefully, whoever is playing quarterback can find a way to get the ball to Justice Cunningham and Ace Sanders. These two have the ability to extend drives and make the big plays, which is what USC needs.

NIKKI- CATMAN…ENOUGH SAID: Clemson has one weapon that South Carolina doesn’t, and that’s Chandler Catanzaro, who has hit 15-of-16 field goals this season and is ready at a moments notice to hit the game-winning field goal. Against N.C. State a week ago, the Tigers gave up big plays in the return game. After doing the same against Florida State earlier in the season, the Tigers special teams fixed the problems only allowing less than 19 yards per return until the Wolfpack came to Death Valley. The players and coaches will have the issues fixed. And let’s not forget that if Ace Sander thinks he’s going to get free, he better watch out for kickoff specialist Spencer Benton who will be looking to make a big hit on senior night.

LAUREN- SPECIAL TEAMS MUST BE SPECIAL: This year's special teams have been a source of extreme highs and lows. There have been sparks of brilliance and many moments that we would all rather forget. The key to special teams is not turning over the ball, if Carolina can do this they should be able to provide the offense with good field position, which will be vital in this game.

LAUREN- WHY THE GAMECOCKS WILL WIN: The Gamecocks defense will overpower the Clemson offense that had torched the ACC this year. Carolina's defense will create good field position for the struggling offense. By forcing Clemson to rely on their run game, they will lose the ability to score quickly and often which has been their hallmark this year. As much as it breaks my heart…
CLEMSON 17- SOUTH CAROLINA 14

NIKKI- WHY THE TIGERS WILL WIN: The Gamecocks have owned the Tigers over the last three seasons, but with an offense that is seemingly unstoppable, Clemson is ready to turn the corner and send its seniors out with a bang. The South Carolina defense is very talented and very good there’s no doubt, but offensive coordinator Chad Morris doesn’t take it lightly when an opponent shows him up and that’s just what South Carolina did in 2011. The Clemson offense will use the Gamecocks’ aggressiveness against them to hit the big play or move the chains using Boyd’s mobility. The Clemson defense has been susceptible to the big play and that probably won’t stop Saturday night, but at home and under the lights Venables’ boys will make the plays they need to in order to seal the victory.
CLEMSON 45- SOUTH CAROLINA 28

Post written by Clemson Girl's Sports Bloggess, Nikki Steele and Gamecock Girl's Sports Bloggess, Lauren Hall

Gameday Prediction - Clemson vs. Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech has been a thorn in Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s side since he became head coach.

Swinney has won just one game in five tries, but his Clemson Tigers have a new mindset and toughness about them, as well as boasting the nation’s fifth-longest active home win streak.

Can Swinney and the Tigers reverse their fortunes against a struggling Yellow Jackets squad?

GEORGIA TECH AT NO. 15 CLEMSON

WHY GEORGIA TECH MIGHT WIN
Paul Johnson’s Yellow Jackets are off to a less than stellar start at 2-3 after losing the last two to Miami in an overtime thriller and Middle Tennessee State in a blowout. Johnson has questioned his team’s manhood and challenged them to step up on both sides of the ball. Last season, the Tigers and Jackets squared off after Tech lost its previous two games. Clemson will always get Georgia Tech’s A-game and best shot because let’s face it- the two teams aren’t very fond of one another.

Tech is led by second-year starting quarterback Tevin Washington, who leads the ACC in touchdowns scored with 11. Washington is very capable of running the triple-option offense and has even scattered in a few nice throws this season. He is becoming a better-rounded quarterback which could be scary for Clemson’s defense.

The Jackets also have running back Orwin Smith, who has rushed for 245 yards and two touchdowns. The Tech defense has been a concern as of late, giving up over 500 yards of total offense and 91 points over the last two games. However, the Jackets have had key injuries to outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu and cornerback Louis Young, who are both expected to return this week. And, defensive coordinator Al Groh had a lot of success against Clemson last season dropping eight into coverage and pressuring Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd.

WHY CLEMSON MIGHT WIN
Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris has the Clemson offense clicking on all cylinders through the first five weeks of the season. Coming into the season, all eyes were on wide receiver Sammy Watkins, but Watkins’ absence in three games has forced other playmakers to step up. Most notably, Nuk Hopkins, Jaron Brown, and Brandon Ford have stepped up their games and proven that this offense doesn’t revolve around Watkins. Andre Ellington is healthy for the first time in his Clemson career, which has paid dividends for the Tigers. Ellington has had three career games so far this season- two rushing career highs and on career high in receiving yards.

The Tigers are going to score and score a lot. The key to this game will be the Clemson defense. Can the Tiger defense do their jobs and stick to their assignments? The matchup that needs to be watched closest will be Clemson’s defensive line versus Tech’s offensive line. Clemson defenders need to get off their blocks and use good technique to avoid the cut block on the inside. After shedding the blockers, just hit somebody. Whoever has Washington, hit him on every play. Whoever has Smith, hit him. Just hit somebody. The Jackets are going to get their yards and they are going to score, but the key- as is every week- is not giving up the big play. The defensive line and linebackers must contain Washington on every play and the secondary can’t get lulled to sleep by long stints of running plays because eventually Johnson will dial up a pass.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN
Twelve of the last 17 games have been decide by five points or less, making the series one of the most competitive in the country; however, this one won’t be as close. Points will be scored by both teams, but the key will be for the Tigers to get points on every possession, and based on Tech’s defensive performance this year that is very possible. This game will be close heading into the fourth quarter, but the Tigers offense will just be too much for a Georgia Tech defense that lacks depth.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON, 42- GEORGIA TECH, 27

Post written by Clemson Girl's Sports Bloggess, Nikki Steele.

Gameday Prediction - Clemson vs. Boston College

If the Clemson Tigers want to prove that the 2012 squad can be something special, they must start this weekend doing something that only one Clemson team in the last seven years has been able to accomplish.

Win at Boston College.

Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, MA has been less than friendly to Clemson as the Tigers have only managed to win one time since Boston College joined the ACC in 2005.

The Tigers will have to manage to scrap out a win without star wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who is out with a stomach virus, and wide receiver Martavis Bryant who underwent emergency surgery for a groin injury Tuesday night.

Clemson still has plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, but the big question that remains going into week five of the season is, does the Tiger defense have enough horses to make stops and win the game?

Will the Clemson defense step up this week and take the pressure off of the Clemson offense?

NO. 17 CLEMSON AT BOSTON COLLEGE

WHY BOSTON COLLEGE MIGHT WIN: Boston College has history and a curse at Alumni Stadium on their side, where even much more talented Clemson teams always find a way to lose. The Eagles are led on offense by junior quarterback Chase Rettig, who has improved since his first start back in 2010. Rettig has thrown for 951 yards, with six touchdowns and one interception. The Eagles’ leading rusher is Andre Williams, who has 36 carries for 117 yards. Rettig likes to spread the ball around to three different receivers, who all have over 100 yards so far this season- Alex Amidon, Tahj Kimble, and Jonathan Coleman. If the offensive line can hold Clemson’s defensive line, then Rettig can get the ball to his targets, because Clemson’s secondary has proven to be suspect many times this season. On defense, Boston College has three of the ACC’s top tacklers in Nick Clancy, Kevin Pierre-Louis, and Steele Divitto. Those three linebackers will have a huge part in determining how effective Clemson’s running game will be, especially since Clemson will be without Watkins and will be forced to just line up and run the ball.

WHY CLEMSON MIGHT WIN: The Clemson Tigers have so much speed and talent on offense - with dual threat quarterback Tajh Boyd, running back Andre Ellington, and wide receivers Nuk Hopkins and Jaron Brown - that opposing defenses can’t pick just one player to key on or they will get beat by the others. This should be the case against Boston College. The Eagles have a great linebacking corps, but the linebackers can’t cover the Tigers’ wide receivers. The running game may get off to a slow start because of the Eagles’ big defensive line and linebackers, but at some point defensive coordinator Bill McGovern will have to drop a linebacker or two into coverage, opening up things Andre Ellington. The Clemson defense shouldn’t have as difficult of a time this weekend as they did matching up with the FSU playmakers, so maybe- just maybe- we will see a Clemson defense play a solid game. Clemson defensive tackles Josh Watson, DeShawn Williams and Grady Jarrett have been solid so far this season ,preventing opposing offenses from just running the ball up the middle. Linebacker Tig Willard seems to always be around the ball and in position to make a tackle. And, Clemson fans are watching a star grow before their eyes in freshman Travis Blanks. Blanks made some mistakes last week, but his talent continues to show and he is emerging as a leader on the defense.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The Tigers will come out and try to establish the run early, but will have little success due to the Eagles’ front seven on defense. Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris will continue to run the ball, because as the game wears on, the Boston College defense will wear down and holes will open up for Ellington. The Clemson defense will be, well, the Clemson defense, giving up yards and points, but at the end of the day Boyd and the Tiger offense will prove too much for Eagles to handle.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON 37 BOSTON COLLEGE 24

Post written by Clemson Girl's Sports Bloggess, Nikki Steele.

Clemson Sports: Game Prediction - Clemson vs. Ball State

CLEMSON- Last week was fun in the Georgia Dome, but there’s no place like home.

In 2011, the Clemson Tigers were a perfect 7-0 in the friendly confines of Death Valley before going on the road for five straight games dating back to the NC State game in early November.

As fans, we can’t wait to see the Tigers run down the hill, the Clemson band’s pregame performance and tailgate with 80,000 of our closest friends.

Quarterback Tajh Boyd said it best this week when he said that Death Valley is the Tigers’ haven and Clemson must win at home.

"This is home for us,” Boyd said Tuesday. “This is our haven. You are not going to come into somebody's house, take the remote and start flipping through the channels. So for us, it is just you have to win at home. You have to win at home. You have to take advantage of the situations. We don't want anyone to disrespect us at our house."

The Tigers will open up play in Memorial Stadium against Ball State, which beat Eastern Michigan 37-26 in the season opener last week.

So, in the words of Clemson announcer Dale Gilbert, “It’s game time in Death Valley!”

BALL STATE AT NO. 12 CLEMSON

WHY BALL STATE MIGHT WIN

Ball State head coach Pete Lembo runs a spread offense that orchestrates long, grueling drives and takes large chunks of time off the clock. Quarterback Keith Wenning is battle-tested and has played in some of the toughest environments in college football- starting at Oklahoma a year ago. Wenning was 26-for-41 for 267 yards last week. The Cardinals have a home-run threat in running back Jahwan Edwards, who rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns against Eastern Michigan. The good news for Ball St. is that their strengths of spreading the ball around and having a mobile quarterback play to the weaknesses of Clemson’s defense. The linebackers and defensive line will have to make more plays this week and tackle better if they hope to contain the explosive Cardinal offense. Against Auburn, there were too many missed tackles that allowed the running back to get to the second level forcing the Clemson secondary to save the day.

WHY CLEMSON MIGHT WIN

Ball St. hasn’t faced an offense that has as much speed as Clemson and probably won’t face another one. Andre Ellington proved last week that when he is healthy he is as dangerous as any running back in the country. Just ask Auburn - he torched that SEC defense for a career-high 228 yards.Boyd had- in my opinion- one of the best games of his young career. He showed the growth that he has made over the course of a year by using his legs to keep plays alive and checking down to receivers when the big play wasn’t open. At the receiver spot, not many people have a Nuk Hopkins, a Martavis Bryant and a Charone Peake that can line up at one time. Ball St. will try to use the same defensive scheme that Auburn did to avoid the big play, but it is unlikely that they have the speed to keep up with all of Clemson’s talent at the skill positions.

THREE KEY CLEMSON IMPROVEMENTS

Tajh’s Helmet: The NCAA implemented a new helmet rule for this season- if a player’s helmet comes off-unless as a result of a penalty- that player must sit out the next play. Clemson became very familiar with new rule when Boyd’s helmet came off –or was ripped off- three times forcing backup quarterback Cole Stoudt into the game. The Clemson equipment staff changed the type of helmet Boyd will be wearing, so hopefully that will alleviate his helmet issues from the Auburn game.

Penalties: The Clemson offense was called for seven penalties in the game, which is a record under offensive coordinator Chad Morris. The offense was flagged for two illegal shift penalties that negated big plays, and numerous false starts. The good news, however, is after being called for six penalties in the first half the offense settled down and wasn’t penalized again until late in the fourth quarter. The penalties have to be kept to a minimum to keep drives from stalling and to help the offense take advantage of scoring opportunities.

Dropped Passes: The Clemson tight ends dropped three passes and allowed an Auburn defender to take the ball away for an interception. The Clemson offense definitely missed former tight end Dwayne Allen, who is now playing in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts. Morris said after the Auburn game that the only way to fix the dropped passes was to keep throwing to the tight ends, so expect a large dose of passes to the tight ends this weekend against Ball St.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN

Ball St. racked up over 500 yards of offense in the opening week, and I expect them to move the ball against Clemson- but just like last week the Tiger defense will hold in crunch time and prevent the Cardinals from scoring a ton of points. On offense, Clemson has proven that they can be slow out of the gate, but they will pull away in the third quarter to allow some of the younger guys to gain some much-needed game experience. And, if the game comes down to special teams, my bet is on Tiger placekicker Chandler Catanzaro who has been money hitting all four of his attempts last week.

FINAL SCORE - CLEMSON 48, BALL ST. 21

Post written by Clemson Girl's Sports Bloggess, Nikki Steele.

Anna's Monday Sports Recap

Hi ladies!!

The spring season in many sports is drawing to a close, and this past week both the Clemson track and field team and the men’s golf team participated in their respective ACC tournaments.

The women’s track and field placed first in the ACC this weekend in Durham for the fourth straight year. Ranked number 5 in the nation, they scored a school record 202 points and won seven event championships. Sophomore star Stormy Kendrick won the 100 meter and 200 meter dash events. Not to be forgotten, the Clemson men had their best finish since 2008, finishing fourth.

Photo Source: clemsontigers.com
Meanwhile, the Clemson golf team placed third in the ACC Tournament and scored a team total of 861. Sophomore Crawford Reeves scored a career-best five under par 67 to lead the way for the Tigers. Georgia Tech and Duke finished ahead of the Tigers respectively. It should be noted that coming into the tournament, Clemson was ranked 6th in the ACC, but outdid the teams ranked above them- UVA, NCSU, and WF- this weekend.

Clemson baseball toppled UGA in Athens 5-2 on Wednesday, earning a sweep of the Bulldogs on the season. The Tigers beat Wake Forest at home in 2 games out of 3 this weekend. In the first game of the series against Wake Forest, sophomore pitcher Dominic Leone was most impressive, throwing for 8 scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts. Clemson improved to 25-14 on the season and 11-10 in the ACC.

This upcoming week, Clemson takes on Furman at home on Tuesday at 6:30pm before gearing up for some more critical ACC action down the stretch when they take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in a three game home series this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

In other notable news, The Football Writers Association of America has ranked Clemson in the top 11 for the best sports information departments in the country. The Tigers were just the 5th team to repeat the honor from 2010, joining Georgia, Rutgers, University of Southern California, and Utah.

Athlete of the Week: Stormy Kendrick

Stormy Kendrick is a girl on a mission! The sophomore track and field athlete hails from Gastonia, NC and the underclassman already ranks first in Clemson history in the 100 meter dash, third in the 60 meter dash, eighth in the 200 meter dash, and 10th in the 200 meter dash. Kendrick won the International World Junior championships in both the 200 meter dash and 4x100 meter relay this past year. This makes her only the second Clemson female in history to place at the event. Last year, she was named the ACC Outdoor Freshman of the Year. Kendrick is majoring in health science at Clemson.

Photo Source: clemsontigers.com

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!! Check back next Monday for this upcoming week’s Clemson sports update. Go Tigers!!
-Anna
Follow me on Twitter: @annahick

Share