Preview:
Clemson rolls up I-85 north into the State of North Carolina and into the heart of the “Research Triangle” looking to make a statement. The opponent this week is a NCST Wolfpack team that is reeling from back to back losses to BC and Wake Forest. The Pack is injured literally as they will start 13 freshman in the starting 22 on Saturday. Injuries have decimated the Pack, and also inconsistency at the Quarterback position has seen now three different starters so far in 2019. Saturday the Raleigh forest mutts will run out the freshman Devin Leary who started his very first game in the loss to the Demon Deacons. With all the injuries including starting running back Ricky Person has forced Dave Doeren into “running back by committee” with freshman stepping into these roles. Don’t look for this Wolfpack team to present much of a challenge here. Maybe a little early game momentum with the home crowd and adregnaline giving them an early boost… but the Tigers overwhelming disparity in depth takes shape here in a quick hurry. As that cast of freshman the Pack is rolling out there get outmanned and outplayed in a quick hurry. Clemson will jump on this team fast and the pedal stays to the floor until late in the 3rd or early in the 4th quarter. It did the Pack no favors that this Clemson team walks into Carter-Finley with a huge chip on it’s shoulder. The snub by the CFB playoff committee in the release of this week’s initial poll only added fuel to the fire in the Tigers now. Clemson now looks to take out its frustrations on the Pack.
When Clemson has the ball:
Quick and fast will be the formula on the day. Look for the Tigers to come out fast and make a statement with big plays galore in this one. The NCST defense which played decent all season especially against the run. But over the past two weeks in losses to BC and Wake the Pack has been run through and over and big plays galore as they were blown out on both occasions. The Tigers and Travis Etienne will run right through this very thin bunch and set up huge chunk plays for the Wide outs. NCST plays a lot of single high safety man coverage and this will give Clemson immediate match up advantages all over the field. Look for Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross to be roaming wide open a lot in this one. Amari Rodgers will continue to make plays as they will feature him in the quick game. All in all. This Tigers offense is poised to hit their stride this weekend. NCST may have an early stop or two in the 1st quarter , but when it’s all said and done… the Tigers march right through the Pack in a big way.
When NCST has the ball:
Well this won’t be a good day for the guys in red on this day. The Pack will be using it’s third quarterback this season, and running back by committee will not make this any easier. As Clemson and Brent Venables lick their chops on ways to confuse and cause chaos for this young gun all day. Look for a smothering performance here and if the Pack can string together drives with more than one first down is a win for the hometeam. Clemson’s defense has been outstanding all season and this wounded and very young Wolfpack offense is gonna be abused all day. It won’t be pretty and the Tigers will force more than one turnover on this evening. Clemson will keep the Pack under 300 yards and continuing their streak to 10 games and it will be garbage time points for the Pack and it won’t matter.
Special Teams:
Clemson:
kicker BT Potter is 8/14 on the season and has a long of 51 yards on the season and teammate Will Spiers has creeped his average up to 42.5 yards per punt.
NCST:
Christopher Dunn handled the PK duties for the Pack and is 15/18 on the year with a long of 43 yards. Punting for the Wolfpack is Trenton Gill who is having an All ACC, and maybe an All American season averaging 47.0 yards per punt. He will be a tired young man after Saturday night.
Prediction: Clemson 56 NCST 13
