Game Prediction - Clemson vs. Virginia

A November to remember starts Saturday.

The Clemson win over Georgia in August was great, an undefeated September was fantastic, that month of October was pretty good, but all football teams are measured on what they do during the month of November.

If the 2013 Clemson football team wants to be remembered as an elite team, the path to a November to remember begins in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday.

Can the Tigers have a successful start to the month of November and leave Charlottesville with a win?

WHAT: NO. 8 CLEMSON AT VIRGINIA
WHERE: SCOTT STADIUM – CHARLOTTESVILLE (VA)
WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 3:30
TV: ESPN

WHEN CLEMSON HAS THE BALL: After struggling against Boston College, Florida State, and the first half against Maryland, the Clemson offense started to show signs of life, beginning with a touchdown pass from Tajh Boyd to freshman tight end Jordan Leggett at the end of the first half in College Park last week. Boyd who was gimpy and banged up began to loosen up and run the ball a little bit and he also found his groove in the passing game. Add in a 200-plus yard rushing day from Roderick McDowell and Zac Brooks and the Clemson offense was hard to stop. The offensive success should continue this week against a Virginia defense that ranks 83rd in the country against the run, giving up 182 yards per game. The Tigers will need another big day McDowell as the Wahoos rank 29th nationally against the pass, giving up just 211 yards per game and have Anthony Harris in the defensive backfield, who leads the nations in interceptions with five. Boyd’s job, however, should be a little easier without Virginia’s top defensive lineman in DT Brent Urban and two cornerbacks in Demetrious Nicholson and Maurice Canady, who are all out with injuries.

WHEN VIRGINIA HAS THE BALL: Virginia’s offense starts with first-year quarterback David Watford, who has progressively gotten better each and every week and threw for a threw for a career-high 376 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort to Georgia Tech last Saturday. The Wahoos also have two dynamic wide receivers in Tim Smith and Darius Jennings, who became the first Cavaliers ever to have at least 10 receptions each in the same game. Smith caught 10 passes for 151 yards, both career highs. Jennings had a career-best 13 receptions for 199 yards and two TDs. The Cavaliers have also had 11 different players with a rushing attempt and 18 different players have caught a pass, meaning the Tigers will have to defend the entire field. Junior tailback Kevin Parks has rushed for nine touchdowns and is second on the team in receptions with 29. Junior tight end Jake McGee has 31 catches (in seven games). Defensively, the Tigers’ defensive line will need to consistently pressure Watford to take pressure off of the defensive backs. The key will be for Clemson to shut down the Wahoos’ rushing attack, so that Vic Beasley and company can focus on Watford and containing the passing attack.


SPECIAL TEAMS: The Cavs have a solid punter in Alec Vozenilek, who is averaging 41.0 yards per punt, but the Tigers counter with Bradley Pinion who is averaging 40.75 yards per punt. Vozenilek booted the fourth-longest punt in the nation this year with a 77-yard kick at Pittsburgh. Neither team is lighting up the punt return category. Virginia is 109th nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 18.56 yards per return. Clemson is even worse – the Tigers are 123rd nationally (out of 125 teams) in averaging 17.06 yards per return. Kicker Ian Frye (3-for-4 on field goals) has been injured since late September, but may return this weekend. Clemson’s Chandler Catanzaro has been solid has always, including a 4-for-4 effort against Maryland last week.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Clemson’s defense plays great for three-fourths of games, but has yet to really put together a complete game effort. Could this be the week that they finally put it all together? Combine that with an offense that is continuing to regain its confidence and it should be a successful day for the Orange and White. The game will probably be close until the third quarter, but a Virginia team that is relying heavily on the play of freshmen and sophomores will eventually give in to Clemson’s athleticism and experience allowing the Tigers will pull away.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON 38 – VIRGINIA 13

Post written by Clemson Girl Sports Bloggess Nikki Steele.

Game Prediction - Clemson vs. Maryland

Throw matchups, x’s and o’s, and personnel out the window this week, Saturday’s game comes down to one thing.

Mental toughness.

Can Maryland overcome all of the injuries on offense? Or will it be Clemson who overcomes its recent struggles and the blowout loss to Florida State a week ago?

The team that is able to overcome all of the negativity is the one that will emerge victorious on a cold, windy Maryland afternoon.

WHAT: No. 9 Clemson (6-1, 4-1) at Maryland (5-2, 1-2)
WHEN: 3:30 on ESPN
WHERE: Byrd Stadium, College Park, Maryland

WHY MARYLAND MIGHT WIN: Clemson has a history of playing some of its worst football in College Park and letting Maryland stay in games or even win games that the Terps shouldn’t. For all of the injuries that Maryland has sustained, the game is still in Byrd Stadium, it is still Homecoming, and it is still the Terps last game against the Tigers as ACC rivals. For Maryland, without it’s starting quarterback, running back, both star wide receivers, linebacker, and safety, Saturday’s game is all about mental toughness. Can the Maryland defense force a couple of turnovers and score points to help the offense. A week ago, the Florida State Seminoles scored 24 points off of Clemson turnovers. If Maryland can do the same, Byrd stadium will have something to cheer about and the Terps can put more pressure on Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd. Despite the injuries that have riddled the Maryland football team, the defense is still only giving up 123.7 yards per game on the ground, good for 27th in the country and 2nd in the ACC. The Terps are also averaging 7.7 tackles for loss per game. If the defense can keep Clemson’s running game in check and force Boyd out of his comfort zone, the Terps can hang around and possibly pull out an upset late the fourth quarter.

WHY CLEMSON MIGHT WIN: For all of the struggles that the Clemson offense has endured over the last two and a half games, the quarterback is still Tajh Boyd who holds numerous Clemson records, the Tigers still have Sammy Watkins at wide receiver, they still have senior Roderick McDowell in the backfield, and they still have Brandon Thomas on the offensive line. All is not lost. The Clemson offense needs to get the confidence that they had against Georgia back, and it all starts with the running game. To be a dominant offense, you have to be able to run the football. The offensive line wants to run the football and McDowell wants to run the football. The Clemson defense, on the other hand, had been dominant up until last week when it seemed like nothing they tried, worked. Maryland quarterback Caleb Rowe, isn’t a threat to run the ball leaving him vulnerable to Clemson defensive ends Vic Beasley and Corey Crawford. Without receivers Stefon Diggs and Deon Long, the Clemson secondary’s job got a whole lot easier. If the Clemson defense can avoid giving up the big play, it will be a long day for the Terp offense.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Clemson has had problems establishing its ground game over the last several weeks, so the Tigers will come out and try to get the running game going early and take some pressure off of Boyd who has struggled with his consistency in the last two games. Expect Boyd to complete some short passes early on to get his confidence up and then hit the big play to give Clemson an early lead. With Rowe at quarterback, the Clemson defense won’t have to worry as much about keeping him in the pocket and can just pin their ears back and go after him because he doesn’t have the scrambling ability that Brown possesses. The Clemson offense will get back in its groove after struggling mightily a week ago and the defense will find the swagger that it lost against the Seminoles.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON 37 MARYLAND 10

Post written by Clemson Girl Sports Bloggess Nikki Steele.

Game Prediction - Clemson vs. Florida State

There has never been a day like this on the campus of Clemson University.

On the eve of the first top-five showdown in Death Valley history, the energy and excitement are palpable – College GameDay is set up on Bowman field, the students have returned from fall break, RVs are steadily rolling into town, everyone around town is wearing orange.

For a college town, it just doesn’t get much better than this.

85,000 fans will pack into Death Valley around 7:30 tomorrow evening, to witness two top-ranked teams battle it out for a chance to continue their national championship hopes, and the upper hand in the ACC.

There’s a lot on the line, but which team has the advantage?

WHO: No. 5 Florida State at No. 3 Clemson
WHEN: 8:22 p.m.
WHERE: Death Valley, SC
TELEVISION: ABC

WHEN CLEMSON HAS THE BALL: Everyone knows the playmakers on Clemson’s offense – quarterback Tajh Boyd, running backs Rod McDowell and Zac Brooks, wide receivers Sammy Watkins, Martavis Bryant and Adam Humphries. But, this offense hasn’t faced a defense like that of the ‘Noles in 2013. Florida State’s defense has held opponents to 20 or less points in 26 of its last 33 games. The Seminoles’ defense has held ACC opponents under 100 yards rushing in eight of its last 10 road games. Boston College (2013) and Wake Forest (2011) are the only teams to gain over 100 yards rushing during that time. FSU has held ACC opponents to 20 or less points nine times in the last 14 ACC road games. There are two keys to the game for the Clemson offense. Can the offensive line hold off Florida State’s front four and create running lanes for Boyd, McDowell and Brooks? And, how will the receivers respond to the physical style of play by the ‘Noles secondary? The matchup of the night will be FSU cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and Watkins – both of which have said that they are up for a physical fight to determine who reigns supreme. If the Tigers can consistently run the ball, then that could force Florida State to bring up a defensive back to help defend the running game and create space for the receivers on the edge.

WHEN FLORIDA STATE HAS THE BALL: Florida State has an experienced offensive line and weapons at ever position, but the offense will flow as does freshman phenom quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston has passed for 1,441 yards and rushed for another 135 yards, and he’s also accounted for 19 touchdowns in his first five games. Making it easier on the freshman is the fact that he is surrounded by a wealth of talent. Devonta Freeman is first on the team with 385 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Karlos Williams has found the end zone six times, and he has 244 rushing yards, while James Wilder Jr. has rushed 36 times for 214 yards and two scores. Through the air, Rashad Greene and Kenny Shaw are tied for first with 23 receptions. They have 407 and 406 receiving yards, respectively, and Greene is tied for the team lead with five touchdown catches. Kelvin Benjamin (6-5, 234) is a matchup nightmare for corners, and he has caught 17 passes for 299 yards and three scores. Throw in tight end Nick O’Leary, who has 11 receptions for 132 yards and five touchdowns, and the FSU attack is formidable. The Clemson linebackers and secondary will need all the help they can get in coverage, and that help will surely come from the defensive line. Can defensive ends Vic Beasley, Corey Crawford and Shaq Lawson get to Winston in a hurry and not give him time to find an open receiver? The key for Clemson’s defense will be to pressure Winston, make him uncomfortable, and second-guess his decisions.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Clemson field goal unit had a bevy of problems last week with two missed field goals, but rebounded late in the win over Boston College with a made field goal attempt. Clemson’s Bradley Pinion has been consistent this season with his kickoffs and is averaging 41.7 yards per punt. Florida State always has good special teams and this year is no exception. Redshirt freshman kicker Roberto Aguayo has made all 42 kicks this season, setting a new FSU record for consecutive kicks (PATs, FGs) to start a career. He leads the ACC in scoring (11.2 points per game). Punter Cason Beatty is averaging 40.9 yards per punt

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: These teams are even in every facet of the game – offense, defense, and special teams. Neither team has a distinct talent advantage over the other. But, what does Clemson have in its favor? Two things. Death Valley – the crowd and the atmosphere could be a difference maker in this game. And most important, Tajh Boyd. When in doubt, you go with more experienced quarterback. Boyd has played in big games before and knows how to win on the big stage. So, I’m going with home field advantage and the senior quarterback…

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON 31 – FLORIDA STATE 24

Post written by Clemson Girl Sports Bloggess Nikki Steele.

Game Prediction - Clemson vs. Wake Forest

Wake Forest always strikes fear in the hearts of Clemson fans, but Dabo Swinney’s Tigers have exorcised those “Demons” in winning four straight over the Deacons.

There is a common misconception among Clemson fans that Wake Forest always gives Clemson trouble; however, the Tigers have won 11 of the last 14 in the series, while the Demon Deacons have only won twice in Death Valley – in 1998 and 1962.

Will the Tigers winning ways continue in Saturday’s Homecoming matchup?

WHAT: Wake Forest at No. 3 Clemson
WHERE: Memorial Stadium
WHEN: 3:30, ESPNU

When Clemson has the ball: The Clemson offensive attack has yet to really get going and has just kind of sputtered its way to a 3-0 start, but after playing together for four quarters last Thursday night, there should be more continuity and the playmakers should be more comfortable with each other. Quarterback Tajh Boyd had a rough first half at N.C.State, but appeared to get more comfortable as the game wore on and I expect that to continue over into Saturday’s game. With the absence of Charone Peake and Martavis Bryant [suspended for inappropriate gestures], look for running backs Rod McDowell and Zac Brooks, along with tight ends Sam Cooper and Stanton Seckinger to be a big part of the early game plan. New starters Kalon Davis and Shaq Anthony on the offensive line will have their hands full with nose guard Nikita Whitlock and defensive end Zach Thompson who are easily among the best in the conference and who have a combined 14 tackles for loss and five sacks.

When Wake Forest has the ball: There is no doubt that the Demon Deacon offense runs through senior wide receiver Michael Campanaro. Campanaro is Wake Forest’s most consistent weapon and big-play threat, and he has 25 catches for 354 yards and five touchdowns. He’s averaging 14.2 yards per catch with a long of 66 yards. Quarterback Tanner Price has completed 55.5% of his passes for 852 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. However, the Wake Forest running game has yet to get off the ground as the Deacons have only rushed for 487 yards and four scores over four games. Josh Harris is the leading rusher with an average of 37.8 yards per game. If the Deacons can’t get the ground game going, it could be a long afternoon in Death Valley, especially if defensive ends Shaq Lawson and Vic Beasley are able to pin their ears back and go after Price.

Special Teams: The special teams units for the Tigers have been second to none in most areas led by Bradley Pinion and Chandler Catanzaro and you can expect that to continue this Saturday. Pinion has been banged up with some soreness in his knee, but I don’t expect that to be an issue Saturday. Catanzaro has been perfect this season on field goals and extra points, while becoming Clemson’s all-time leading scorer. On the opposing sideline, The Deacons’ punter Alexander Kinal is averaging 39.9 yard per punt. Kicker Chad Hedlund has only had three touchbacks in 17 attempts and has only connected on five-of-eight field goal attempts with a long of 38 yards.

What will happen: The Tigers got off to a less than stellar start to their ACC schedule last week in Raleigh; however a week in the friendly confines of Death Valley on Homecoming may be just what the doctor ordered. Clemson will be playing with a makeshift offensive line due to injuries at right tackle and left guard, but I don’t expect there to be any drop-off. The Clemson offense will want to open up the running lanes for McDowell early to take a little pressure off of Boyd who will settle in for the first time in 2013. Campanaro will get his touches and his yards for the Deacons, but they just don’t have enough of a rushing attack to keep Beasley and the Clemson defense honest for the entire game allowing the Tigers to get to Price in long yardage situations. You heard it here first…Clemson will finally return a kickoff for a touchdown and get things rolling in the special teams department.

Final Score: Clemson 38 – Wake Forest 13

Post written by Clemson Girl Sports Bloggess Nikki Steele.

Clemson Gameday Photos - Clemson vs. USC

What.a.game. Mix a night game in Death Valley and a huge in-state rivalry game, and you've got a heck of a game. Every year this rivalry game is a nail biter to the end. Our Tigers fought hard, but in the end, they just couldn't get the plays made to beat their arch nemesis the Gamecocks.

Final score: Clemson 17, USC 27.

Heartbreaking. But the Tigers still had a great season, finishing strong and no doubt heading to a big bowl game against a more challenging competitor.

One of the best things about a night game is that it gives you ALL day to tailgate. And even though Clemson fans and Gamecock fans are on opposite sides of the field during the game, you definitely saw many tailgates-divided during the day - meaning that even though we can't agree on the same team, we can still share a cold beverage at the tailgate and play cornhole together. :)

Special thanks to Summer Priddy and Melissa Nelson for taking gameday photos for Clemson Girl this past weekend. Also, big thanks to our readers who submitted their own gameday photos to be shared.

Can you believe this football season is just about over? Time flies! You can view Saturday's gameday photos in the slideshow below, or you can see the entire album on our Flickr site.

Clemson Sports: Game Prediction - Clemson vs. FSU

This post was featured on the Huffington Post sports section on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012.

There is no reason for the Clemson Tigers to board the buses to Tallahassee, because they have no chance of winning in Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday night.

If you have listened to the national media for the last week, then you know that the 10th-ranked Tigers have no shot at staying within two touchdowns of No. 4 Florida State. And, according to FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher, the Tigers are very similar to Wake Forest – the team FSU beat 52-0 last week - but with a few more “bells and whistles.”

The Tigers and Noles are set to show the nation how good the ACC can be as the teams take center stage in an 8 p.m. game on ABC Saturday night.

Do the Tigers stand a chance or should they just stay in South Carolina?

Let’s take a look at how the two teams match up.

NO. 10 CLEMSON (3-0, 0-0 ACC) AT NO. 4 FLORIDA STATE (3-0, 1-0)

WHY FLORIDA STATE MIGHT WIN
The Seminoles have the number one defense in the country after allowing only three points in three games. The Seminoles return nine starters on a defense that was ranked in the top-five a year ago, and can stake claim to the top defensive line in country with the talents of Everett Dawkins, Bjoern Werner, and Cornellius Carradine. Werner leads the country with six-and-a-half sacks this season and Carradine isn’t far behind with three-and-a-half. The Noles are only allowing 70 yards through the air and 34 yards on the ground.

The defense is without a doubt the strongest unit on the FSU squad, but the offense is no push-over, averaging just over 52 points per game. The offense is led by senior quarterback E.J. Manuel, who has completed 71-percent of his passes for 525 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception. As much of a threat as Manuel is to run the ball, the Nole offense starts with running back Chris Thompson, who has carried the ball 18 times for 254 yards and three touchdowns. Thompson rushed for 194 yards a week ago against Wake Forest, all in the first half. At wide receiver, Florida St. is led by Kenny Shaw and Kelvin Benjamin, who have two touchdown receptions each.

WHY CLEMSON MIGHT WIN
For all the talk of FSU’s talented defense, the Clemson Tigers have quite a few playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. The Noles will have a big decision to make in who to cover and who to take their chances on. The Clemson offense starts with junior quarterback Tajh Boyd, who has thrown for 747 yards, six touchdowns and one interception and has rushed for 75 yards this season. Against Auburn in week one, Boyd showed that he was plenty capable of keeping plays alive with his feet as well as getting the ball to his playmakers.

Unlike week one, Boyd will have sophomore wide receiver Sammy Watkins in his arsenal of weapons. Watkins was a freshman All-American who had 1219 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, but was suspended for the first two games of the season. To complement Watkins, Boyd can also play toss-and-catch with Nuk Hopkins, who already has four touchdowns and 319 receiving yards. Not to be left out is running back Andre Ellington, who made spectacular runs against Auburn and has rushed for 328 yards and four touchdowns. If the Florida St. defense can manage to cover those three, the Tigers will simply get the ball to Jaron Brown, Brandon Ford, Adam Humphries Charone Peake, or Martavis Bryant, players who are all dangerous in their own right.

The offense has kept the Tigers on pace, while the defense continues to be a work in progress under first year coordinator Brent Venables. Clemson is very young, but solid up front with tackles DeShawn Williams and Josh Watson. At linebacker, the Tigers have heavy hitters in Stephone Anthony, Tig Willard and self-proclaimed headhunter Lateek Townsend. The Tigers will need to stop FSU’s rushing attack and get solid play from the front seven to allow the secondary to settle in and prevent the long play when Manuel decides to throw the ball. Venables has proven over the last two seasons – he was at Oklahoma before coming to Clemson this season - that he is plenty capable of game planning against the Noles and stopping Manuel and offense. If Venables can translate his knowledge from the Sooners to the Tigers, then Clemson has a shot to emerge victorious. But, the Tigers must not allow the big, chunk plays that have plagued them throughout the first three games of the season.

THE X-FACTORS

CLEMSON OFFENSIVE LINE: The Clemson offensive line has been pieced together for much of the season and the original starting five have not played together since the next to last play of the Auburn game. But when they were together, they were successful at opening up rushing lanes and giving Boyd ample time to find his playmakers. The line will have a difficult task in handling the front four on Florida State’s defensive line. The offensive line will have to protect Boyd long enough for him to get rid of the ball or extend plays with his legs. The Clemson line has three new starters, but center Dalton Freeman and right guard Tyler Shatley have a toughness about them that has been missing from the Tigers’ front for many years.

FLORIDA STATE SECONDARY: The Clemson offense has so many weapons at wide receiver in Hopkins, Watkins, Humphries, Bryant and Brown, and for the FSU defense it almost becomes a ‘pick your poison’ type of deal. If Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops decides to double-team Watkins, Hopkins is plenty capable of racking up 100 receiving yards and multiple touchdowns on his own. Defensive backs Xavier Rhodes and Lemarcus Joyner will be tasked with keeping tabs on the Tiger’s receiving corps, and if they can’t do it alone, FSU will be forced to drop a linebacker into coverage, which could ultimately open up the running game for Ellington and company.

CLEMSON OFFENSIVE SNAP COUNT: The Clemson Tigers are averaging just over 79 plays per game, while the FSU defense has only been on the field for 162 plays over the course of three games. If the Tigers can run at least 80 plays, they will have an advantage over the Noles on a hot and humid night in Tallahassee. Many will make the claim that Florida State’s defense should be well-rested and fresh, 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 defense that has yet to play an entire game.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN
The Seminoles will come out with a lot of energy on defense, and will hold the Clemson offense in check for the first half, while the Clemson defense will give up yards, but keep the Noles from racking up a ton of points. Going into the second half, the score will be close, but a FSU defense that hasn’t been tested and hasn’t played four quarters of football will begin to tire towards the end of the third quarter and the Tigers will put the game away to win a game that nobody outside of Clemson gave them a chance of winning.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON, 35 - FLORIDA ST. 24

Post written by Clemson Girl Sports Bloggess Nikki Steele

Clemson Sports: Game Prediction - Clemson vs. Furman

The moment that Clemson nation has waited for has finally arrived.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney can turn the Deuce loose.

After a tumultuous off season, sophomore sensation Sammy Watkins will finally put everything behind him and just play the game he loves.

His first victim will be FCS opponent Furman, who makes the short trek from northern Greenville to Death Valley Saturday at 3 p.m.

Furman at No. 11 Clemson

WHY FURMAN MIGHT WIN
The Furman Paladins come to town with an 0-2 record after suffering a triple overtime loss to Coastal Carolina a week ago. They will also be starting a new quarterback in Greer native Reese Hannon. Even though Hannon will be making his first start, he showed a lot of promise last week as he threw for 255 yards and four touchdowns after an injury to starting quarterback Dakota Derrick. Hannon, who grew up a Clemson fan will be looking to make a statement in Death Valley- a place that he has watched many Clemson games. Hannon will target senior tight end Colin Anderson, who led the team last year with 40 catches for 696 yards and seven touchdowns, making him a consensus All-SoCon selection. The Paladins will try to establish the run game early, knowing that the Tigers gave up over 200 yards on the ground to Ball State last week. Sophomore running back Jerodis Williams will lead the running attack after rushing for 1,055 yards in 2011.

WHY CLEMSON MIGHT WIN
Clemson gets its most explosive player in Watkins back for the first time in 2012 and you can bet that offensive coordinator Chad Morris will figure out how to fit him into an already successful Clemson offense. Add Watkins in with running back Andre Ellington, quarterback Tajh Boyd and receiver Nuk Hopkins and I’m not sure that the Paladins have enough men to stop Clemson from scoring on each offensive possession. The Clemson defense has received a ton of criticism during the first two weeks of the season and rightly so, but one thing that has been overlooked is the fact that an area of the defense has improved each week. The defense was porous outside of the defensive line against Auburn, but the secondary was much improved against Ball St. holding the Cardinals to less than 150 yards passing. This week could be the week for the linebacker and defensive line to step up their game and stop the run.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

CLEMSON’S RUN DEFENSE: The Clemson defense has given up 432 yards on the ground in the first two games, and if the Tigers want to be successful they have to stop the opposing team’s ground attack. There aren’t glaring deficiencies at any position in the defense- it is simply a lack of experience and fine-tuning the details of defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Venables has challenged his defense to step up and be tough against the run , and I think that stopping Furman on Saturday will give the defense a huge boost of confidence before they go on the road for the next two weeks.

THE SAMMY WATKINS FACTOR: Tiger nation and college football fans everywhere have been waiting on the return of Watkins to see if he can build on his record-breaking freshman season or if he was a one-year wonder. All of the media-types at the game will be tracking Watkins’ touches to see how many passes he gets thrown his way, how many times he runs the ball and how many returns on special teams he gets. This will just be a warm-up for Watkins and the Clemson offense, because I feel almost certain that Morris is keeping his offensive playbook under wraps until next week against Florida State.

THE EMERGENCE OF YOUNG STARS: Last week, Swinney was able to play 80 players against Ball St. and I expect this week to be no different. The young reserves will get a chance to show what they are made of and earn the respect of their coaches and fellow players. Who will step up and who will see their last action of the season? Linebacker Tony Steward should see a lot of game action after being injured last season with a torn ACL. Freshman running back Zac Brooks needs to gain game experience so that he will be ready to contribute next season with the departure of Ellington. Punter Bradley Pinion will also be called upon this weekend to gain more consistency in his game to hopefully give senior Spencer Benton a break from all of his duties.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Furman has always been known as one of those teams that can cause trouble for the big boys in college football beating the likes of Georgia Tech and South Carolina. They also gave Florida a little scare in the Swamp last season. However, Clemson just has too many offensive weapons for the Paladins to have much success defensively. This game will be very similar to last Saturday, meaning that the starters will get an early break after gaining big lead and the reserves will get to come in and show their stuff.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON 63, FURMAN 20

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

Clemson vs. Virginia Tech -- ACC Championship game prediction

Clemson players, coaches, and fans needed a spark heading into the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, NC.

What they got was a firestorm from Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney.

In Dabo Swinney’s Thursday post-practice media session, he took the state by storm calling out South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier after Spurrier reportedly said, “We ain’t Alabama, we ain’t LSU, and we definitely aren’t Clemson” after the Gamecocks victory over the Tigers nearly a week ago.

Swinney’s response to Spurrier was simple.

“I guess I would have to say I agree with him,” Swinney said. “He is right. They are not Clemson and they aren’t ever going to be Clemson, to be honest with you…He is exactly right- they ain’t Alabama, they ain’t LSU and they certainly are not Clemson. That is why Carolina is in Chapel Hill, USC is in California, and the university in this state has been and always will be Clemson. It’s right here in Clemson, SC. You can print that. Tweet that.”

Those comments and a four minute video have Clemson fans, players, and the entire state of South Carolina up in arms.

Can that fire that has been found after 400,000 people viewed Swinney’s rant carry over onto the field for the Tigers has they take on the Virginia Tech Hokies Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium?

Let’s take a look at how the teams matchup.

VIRGINIA TECH OFFENSE VS CLEMSON DEFENSE
The Virginia Tech offense is without a doubt better today than they were in week five - a long eight weeks ago. In early October, Logan Thomas had only started five games and was still trying to find his confidence and his niche in the Hokie’s offense. Now, he has completed 193 of his 319 passes for 2,525 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has also carried the ball 125 times for 414 yards and ten touchdowns. Combine his arm strength, his running ability and his 6-6, 254 pound frame and he is a true dual threat quarterback.

ACC offensive player of the year running back David Wilson lines up in the backfield with Thomas and if history is any indication he will have a big night against the Tigers as he rushed for over 120 yards in October. Virginia Tech will also have a healthy receiving corps this time around which will add another weapon to their arsenal.

The Clemson run defense has been non-existent the last part of the season especially after a second string quarterback and a fifth string running back gashed them last week for over 200 yards. If Clemson has any chance of winning tomorrow, the entire defense will have to play disciplined. The defensive line will have to stay in their gaps and clog the running lanes. The linebackers will need to play their positions and not wait for runners to get to them and instead be aggressive and go after the ball carrier. And, the secondary will need to remain disciplined and remember that Thomas is not afraid to throw the ball. ADVANTAGE - VIRGINIA TECH

CLEMSON OFFENSE VS VIRGINIA TECH DEFENSE
The once potent, high-powered Tiger offense has slipped dramatically in recent weeks. Some is due to injuries, but the majority is due to an apparent loss of confidence by quarterback Tajh Boyd. This game for the Clemson offense begins and ends with the offensive line and Boyd. Hopefully, Phillip Price will be back at left tackle to ease some of the pressure on the Clemson quarterback. Boyd must find his mojo again and that ice water in his veins in order to have the confidence to step up in the pocket and make the throws to his ultra-talented wide receivers.

Sammy Watkins should be back in action and getting a little closer to 100% which will give Boyd another reliable target. Another must for the offense is finding a way to run the football. When Andre Ellington was given the opportunity last week, he appeared fresh and healthy. The run doesn’t always work, but offensive coordinator Chad Morris needs to stick with it if not for the fact that it might open up some big plays later in the game.

The Hokie defense is very good and again Clemson will face a very talented defensive line that is more than capable of stopping the run and putting a great deal of pressure on Boyd. The Clemson offensive line needs to come with meanness that we haven’t seen in quite some time and give Boyd the opportunity to make plays. ADVANTAGE- VIRGINIA TECH

SPECIAL TEAMS
Clemson special teams has been the lone consistency for the majority of the season. Kickoff specialist Spencer Benton continues to get better after coming back from a shoulder injury. Punter Dawson Zimmerman, when he is on, is a game changer. And Chandler Catanzaro has already won one game for the Tigers.

As for the Hokies, kicker Cody Journell is 13-of-16 after a somewhat shaky start. And, it is anyone’s guess who will start at punter for Virginia Tech. Clemson could really use another Sammy Watkins’ spark in the return game. Can he get it against a team that is always known for superb special teams play? ADVANTAGE- CLEMSON

WHAT WILL HAPPEN
Virginia Tech comes to Charlotte riding a seven game winning streak and all of the momentum and confidence in the world. Clemson, on the other hand, come in on the complete opposite end of the spectrum after two embarrassing losses to NC State and South Carolina (not Carolina, not USC, and not the main university in this state). All it takes is one play, one spark to get the Shock the World Tour back on schedule. Will Dabo Swinney’s attempt to rally the team and the fans be enough to ignite the Tigers to their first ACC Championship in 20 years?

FINAL SCORE: VIRGINIA TECH 28, CLEMSON 14

Post written by Clemson Girl Sports Blogger, Nikki Steele

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Clemson vs. N.C. State game prediction

The Clemson Tigers are 9-1 and the ACC Atlantic is wrapped up. They are coming off of an emotional win after a game-winning field goal as time expired. There is a nationally-relevant rivalry game looming in eight days. The ACC Championship game is just over two weeks away. A 5-5 opponent is fighting for its bowl eligibility. The Wolfpack is celebrating Homecoming and is playing with a sense of urgency after losing to last place Boston College.

What do all of these ingredients have in common?

They are the perfect recipe for a trap game.

The division title is firmly in hand and the rivalry game with South Carolina looms a week later, and their second trip to the ACC Championship game is in 15 days. The N.C. State Wolfpack; however, have everything left to play for. After losing to Boston College last week, they must now win their remaining two games in order to become bowl eligible.

Here’s how the menu sets up for No. 7 Clemson at N.C. State in Raleigh, N.C. at 3:30pm EST.

N.C. STATE OFFENSE VS CLEMSON DEFENSE
The Russell Wilson era ended in Raleigh over the summer after head coach Tom O’Brien granted him a release to go play professional baseball. After the baseball experiment failed, Wilson decided to transfer to Wisconsin where up until a couple of weeks ago, he was having a Heisman-worthy year.

Enter Mike Glennon- the 6-6 senior quarterback who is leading the Pack offense. Glennon has thrown for 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season. The Pack rely heavily on Glennon’s rocket of an arm because their running game, or lack thereof, has caused them to be very one dimensional over the last three games.

Wide Receiver T.J. Graham is the speedy, downfield threat that Glennon will be looking for throughout the day. Graham has 31 catches for 553 yard and five touchdowns. The N.C. State running game has been inept all season long and is ranked 111th in country averaging 102 yards per game. The Pack will try to run the ball especially since teams have had success against the Tigers on the ground this season.

Glennon is not a threat to run the ball, so look for the Clemson defensive line to be able to put blitz and bring the pressure. Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele talked this week about cornerback Coty Sensabaugh’s speed and how well he tackles. Look for him to be matched up against Graham throughout the day as he gives the Tigers the best chance to limit the damage caused by the speedster. ADVANTAGE - CLEMSON

CLEMSON OFFENSE VS N.C. STATE DEFENSE
The question that everyone has been asking this week is, will Sammy Watkins play? The answer - that decision won’t be made until game time. If Tajh Boyd and the Clemson offense can limit the turnovers and go back to playing disciplined football instead of trying to go 70-yards on every play, Watkins can rest his shoulder and get ready for his first Gamecock encounter.



Offensive coordinator Chad Morris said this week that Boyd needs to be patient and remember his checkdowns instead of forcing the ball down field. If he will throw to his checkdown receivers and if the Tigers can get their running game going again, it could be a long day for the Pack.

Clemson has committed seven turnovers in the last two games. This plays right into the hands of the N.C. State defense who ranks sixth nationally with 27 takeaways. Corner David Amerson has ten interceptions on the year and looks to set an ACC record if he can get to 11 by the end of the season.

The Pack have playmakers on the defense, but they may not have enough to keep the Clemson offense tied down the entire game. If the trend of defenses dropping seven or eight men into coverage continues this week, Boyd needs to remember his ever so reliable tight ends Dwayne Allen and Brand Ford to be open on the short passing routes over the middle. With or without Watkins, the Tigers have plenty of talent at both running back and wide receiver to stretch the field.

The key for Clemson is to get the offense going early with Boyd and Andre Ellington running the ball and sprinkle in some passes to keep the defense honest and give Boyd his confidence. ADVANTAGE - CLEMSON

SPECIAL TEAMS
The Tigers haven’t played a team with a true threat in the punt or kickoff return game since the UNC game, where T.J. Thorpe took a kickoff 100 yards for the touchdown. This week, it’s another TJ - TJ Graham who averages just under 13 yards per punt return. Pack kicker Niklas Sade is just 12-for-17 on field goals and has only made four of his last eight attempts.

Clemson kicker Chandler Catanzaro was a difference maker last week winning the game as time expired. Dawson Zimmerman is always dependable and can be a game changer at punter. Kickoff duties will go back to Spencer Benton this week as long as he can be more consistent than last week. Clemson’s advantage will be greater if Watkins is able to play and is on the field returning kicks. ADVANTAGE - SLIGHT CLEMSON

WHAT WILL HAPPEN
This is the third time this season that Clemson has been a team’s homecoming - Maryland and Georgia Tech are the other two. The Pack comes home after a humiliating loss in Chestnut Hill, MA last week and is looking for redemption and the doctor has ordered a win over a top-ten ranked team to cure their ailments. The Pack have enough playmakers on both sides of the ball to make this a game, but this group of Tigers refuses to give up and won’t be intimated by anything or anyone. Look for this to be a typical 2011 Clemson game - a slow start and close in the third quarter with the Tigers pulling away in the fourth.

FINAL SCORE: CLEMSON 31, N.C. STATE 20

This post was written by Clemson Girl sports blogger, Nikki Steele.

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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.

On 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.

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.

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