#2 Clemson VS # 17 Boston College : Preview & Prediction
NO. 2 CLEMSON (9-0, 6-0 ACC) at NO. 17 BOSTON COLLEGE (7-2, 4-1 ACC) SATURDAY, NOV. 10 8 P.M. ET ALUMNI STADIUM (44,500) CHESTNUT HILL, MASS.
CLEMSON/BOSTON COLLEGE SERIES HISTORY: – OVERALL: Clemson leads series, 16-9-2 – HOME: Clemson leads series, 7-3-1 - ROAD: Clemson leads series, 8-6-1 - NEUTRAL: Clemson leads series, 1-0 – LAST MEETING: Sept. 23, 2017 (34-7, W) – STREAK: Clemson, Won 7
TV: ABC (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor) RADIO: Clemson Tigers Network (Don Munson, Rodney Williams, Tim Bourret, Reggie Merriweather) **Sirius 84, XM 84, Internet 84**
Chestnut Hill, MA
Preview:
The Tigers of Clemson roll into suburban Boston and take on the 17th Ranked Eagles of Boston College on Saturday night in front of a sold-out Alumni Stadium and in front of a National TV Audience on ABC Sports. The 8 pm Kickoff is slated to match the two top teams out of the ACC’s Atlantic Division. Clemson with a win can Clinch the division and attain one of its team goals for 2018. The Tigers are trying to complete the season with another ACC Title in hand and a potential trip back to the College Football Playoffs.
The Eagles of Boston College under Coach Steve Addazio have found bowl eligibility and continue to rise in the polls each week with a 6-2 overall record and a 4-1 mark inside the ACC. Coach Addazio has his most experienced and talented squad to date in his tenure as the head man at “BC”.
With the tandem of AJ Dillon and Anthony Brown leading the Eagles on offense and then add in two of the most athletic Ends in the ACC with the likes of Zach Allen and Wyatt Ray and the Eagles are stout and bring plenty of experience to both sides of the ball.
The Tigers come into this game 9-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play. Clemson riding a wave of offensive output that rivals any Clemson team in history. In the past 4 games, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 240-36. That is an average of 60 points a game on offense and only allowing 9 points a game on defense during this same span of games. Clemson brings this momentum into Chestnut Hill to a Game Day environment as BC has yet to experience in quite a few years. ESPN and its “GameDay” show is in town for the first time since 2009. The BC fan base is all fired up with good reason as they carry their own momentum into this game after a convincing road win last week versus Virginia Tech. So look for a great game in Boston on a clear and cold night.
When Clemson has the ball:
Boston College is big across the front of their defensive unit. The Eagles have two of the best ends in the ACC with Zach Allen and Wyatt Ray book-ending the Eagles tough and nasty defense. Look for them to try and stop the Clemson run game from the outset. Using gap and twist stunts to clog up running lanes with the large-bodied defensive lineman they possess. Clemson will look to get that same run game going early as to get the Eagles on their heels quickly. Getting BC to question their calls by keeping them off balance requires just that… Balance in the Clemson offensive effort. The Tigers need to be able to affect the run game and at the same time on any down and distance, have the ability to throw that quick out and or Slant into the boundary. After scouting the Eagles we see one noticeable area that Clemson will try to exploit, and that would be getting the Eagles large linebackers in mismatches with slots receivers and running backs on wheel routes.
Also, the zone in between the Eagles linebackers and safeties is an area we think the Tigers will look to hit with long crossing routes behind the backers and in front of the safeties. The Eagles are talented on this side of the ball, but just not enough to match up with all the skill players on the Clemson side of the ball. Clemson finds its groove midway through the second in our eyes as fatigue starts to set in on the BC line. The Tigers do the same in the second half with the Depth again taking its toll on another Clemson opponent.
When BC has the Ball:
The Eagles come into this contest humming on the offensive side of the ball. With the return of their top player AJ Dillon to the line up two weeks ago brought the Eagles back the ability to be balanced and Dillon offers the perfect complement to quarterback Anthony Brown. Brown who trails only Clemson’s Lawrence in touch down passes in the ACC so far here in the 2018 seasons. Brown sits tall in the pocket and has Avery accurate and strong arm. He is not as comfortable or accurate when throwing on the run. So look for the Tigers to really bring pressure from all over. We think Tanner Muse and Isiah Simmons may play a big role closer to the line of scrimmage than normal. As the Tigers look to give the Eagles a lot of different looks and at the same time keep an extra body in the box to deal with Dillon and the BC run game.
The Eagles will get some yardage on the ground. Never mind the fact the Tigers held Dillon well below his average of the 149/per game in their last meeting. But Dillon is a different back since that game and really came on later in the year. Clemson and its vaunted defensive line will be looking to stop the 240 lb back on Saturday. At the same time, the linebackers and safeties need to watch the different tight ends that the Eagles feature. When it is all said and done the Tigers will hold the Eagles well under their season averages in rushing, passing and scoring. Clemson’s Defense will impose its will in the latter parts of this game.
BC Players to Watch: #2 RB: AJ Dillon, #13 QB: Anthony Brown, #2 DE Zach Allen
Prediction: Clemson 42 Boston College 13.
Depth Chart:
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