#2 Clemson vs South Carolina: Preview & Prediction
Palmetto Bowl: RIVALRY WEEK Can the Tigers Make It Five in a Row?
NO. 2/2 CLEMSON (11-0, 8-0 ACC) vs. NR/RV SOUTH CAROLINA (6-4, 4-4 SEC)
SATURDAY, NOV. 24 • 7 P.M. ET • MEMORIAL STADIUM (81,500) • CLEMSON, S.C
– OVERALL: Clemson leads series, 69-42-4 – HOME: Clemson leads series, 18-10-1– ROAD: Clemson leads series, 51-32-3– NEUTRAL: N/A
– LAST MEETING: Nov. 25, 2017 (34-10, W) – STREAK: Clemson, Won 4
TELEVISION: ESPN (Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Todd McShay)
RADIO: Clemson Tigers Network (Don Munson, Rodney Williams, Tim Bourret, Reggie Merriweather)**Sirius 119, XM 193, Internet 955**
RADIO: Touchdown Radio (Brett Dolan, KC Jones)
Clemson,SC
Clemson rolls into the final game of the 2018 regular season 10-0 and ranked #2 in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings. The Tigers look to end the season at 12-0 and ride the momentum into next week’s ACC Championship game versus Pittsburgh to be held in Charlotte on December the 1st. But before that can happen the Tigers have to get by in state Rival South Carolina. The Gamecocks come in not living to their pre season expectations. As the team from Columbia coming off an 9-4 season in 2017 and returning all their skill talent and backfield along with a veteran offensive line, was expected to challenge Georgia for the SEC east. Instead the Gamecocks find themselves at 6-4 and looking to play “spolier” to the Tigers and their goals beyond this game.
The entire state of South Carolina point to this game as your neighbor or even family members can dis-own you on this day each year. And usually that is just the case as these two have spent the past 110 plus years going at it on an annual basis. The Tigers hold a huge advantage in the all time series at 69-42-4 all time. The Tigers are looking for their fifth victory in a row over the Gamecocks.
Look for the Gamecocks to go all out on this Night live on ESPN in front of a National Audience. But the Tigers won’t let the Gamecocks spoil the 2018 campaign as this Clemson team is as dialed in and as focused as I have seen in years of covering Clemson Football.
Preview:
When Clemson has the ball:
South Carolina will look to stop the run game and force Lawrence to win it with his arm. The Gamecocks are going to count on confusing the young signal caller as he will be blitzed and see many looks from the SC defensive backfield. That all depend on if the Gamecocks can stop Travis Etienne who is looking to add to his record setting season numbers. Etienne who is averaging an astounding 8.5 yards per carry, is looking to add to his 1168 yards so far in 2018. Look for the Gamecocks to take some chances with their safeties and that is when Lawrence will take advantage of Clemson many weapons in the passing game and will find a lot of open space to deliver the ball. The Gamecocks will try just as many teams this season have to overwhelm the true freshman. But at this point in the season the gunslinger from the Peach State has seen the kitchen sink thrown at him by opposing defensive co cordinators and has shined on each and every occasion.
We just don’t see the Gamecocks having any success here especially with the depth issues on the front line and injuries affecting their defensive backfield. Clemson will be able to run and pass at will after a quarter or so of feeling out the Gamecocks and seeing how they plan to defend the #2 team in the Nation. Then Clemson implements the game plan as they make the adjustments to what they see. And the Tigers start driving up and down the field at will.
When SC has the Ball:
The Gamecocks have a lot of talented players on the offensive side of the ball. Obvious it’s their plan to get the ball in the hands of their best player Deebo Samuel. Samuel, who is with out a doubt a threat to take it the house any time he touches the ball. But if there is one thing Clemson and defensive co ordinator Brent Venables has been able to do all season is take away a teams top weapon an force them to adapt. I see the same thing here, you will not be able to shut out a player of Samuels ability but he will be held well below his season average.
The Clemson defense has been impressive and very efficient all year as it has only allowed 12.3 points a game. Look for the Tigers to really clamp down on the South Carolina run game and force the Cocks into 2nd and long situations and then pin their ears back and use that advantage on the line to pressure the South Carolina QB all night. See the past two seasons versus the gamecocks and you see the game plan on this night. Pressure Bentley and force him into mistakes.
Look for the Gamecocks to have some success as they will throw the ball over 40 plus times in this game and eventually will find a open receiver. But the Gamecocks run game will have the hardest time getting things rolling agains the Clemson defensive front that only gives up 64 yards a game on the ground. The plan to force Bentley to make decision while on the run and under immense pressure will cause a turnover at one point. The Tigers just as in the two previous seasons will manage to manhandle this gamecock unit in all areas sans a break down here and there.
Clemson’s defense dominates and overwhelms the Cocks.
SC Players to watch: QB #19 Jake Bentley, #1 Deebo Samuel, #8 DJ Wonnum
Prediction: Clemson 45 South Carolina 13
Clemson Sports News Staff Predictions:
Joy Suddeth (Publisher/Staff Photographer) : 40-14 Clemson
“We’ve already seen rivalry games getting emotional this week…. Execution is what we need to see over Carolina . Both teams will come out fighting competitively and anything could happen. SC has won their 5 consecutive games against Clemson and now Clemson will take their fifth .”
Lindsey Rhodes: (Staff Writer/Contributor) 42- 17; Clemson
“The South Carolina offense will have a big task on their hands Saturday night, protecting their quarterback against the best defensive line in America. Bentley has three quality targets; Deebo Samuels, Bryan Edwards and Shi Smith. The tigers shut these three down, they shut down the Gamecocks offense and apply more pressure on Bentley to handle the ball.
The Tiger offense is going up against a weak Gamecock Defensive line that is not loaded with big bodies. This will allow the talented Clemson Offense to get things going quick and control their destiny through the entire game, I predict Travis Etienne will break free early in the game and the Tigers hold off the gamecocks to finish the season 12-0.”
Dean “The Hat”Cox : (Fan Ambassador/Contributor): 63-0
“Just because we are that much better”
Depth Chart:
Last Years Game:
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