Dabo Swinney and his squad are headed to Raleigh to play the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday, 3:30pm. The Tigers head into Carter-Finley, a 10-point favorite. Clemson has not been it’s usual offensive powerhouse-self this season, but the defense has played lights out.
QB DJ Uiagalelei has not exactly been lighting up the airways, but it seems he hasn’t been asked to. The offense has not shown a lot of explosiveness in the 1st 3 games. Missing this year so far has been the big plays. The Tigers have played a couple of stingy defenses that have played to prevent the big play. In two games against Power 5 defenses, the offense has mustered 17 points with the only two touchdowns coming from freshman RB Will Shipley last game against Georgia Tech. The offense has got to start holding up it’s end.
The Wolfpack return 11 of 12 starters on offense and 8 of 11 starters on defense, making them one of the most experienced teams Clemson will face this year. The offense is led by QB Devin Leary and a solid running game with Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person. The Pack also return 4 starters along the offensive line and will look to establish the run game. They will be facing a Tiger defense that will be without starter Tyler Davis, who is lost to the team for about two months. Clemson will rotate several players in his place.
Defensively, the Pack will be playing without two of their best, LB Payton Wilson and S Cyrus Fagan. Shipley will be making his first start of the season and Tigers have got to start feeling that urgency to put points on the board. It’s time for OC Tony Elliott to start pushing the ball downfield and run the Clemson offense that fans are waiting to see; motion, RPO’s, and getting the ball to the playmakers in space. That is Clemson football.
NC State has victories against South Florida (1-2) and Furman with a tough loss against Mississippi State, 24-10. In that game, the pack allowed a KO return for a touchdown and held MSU to 22 yards rushing, but 294 yards passing. At the same time, NCST only had 34 yards rushing themselves.
This game will be won by the coaching staff that better prepares their team for the game. Coach Elliott has to be on top of his game for this experienced Wolfpack defense. Dabo says “Hey, we don’t stink. We will be alright.” The Clemson faithful are counting on this.
Clemson will escape another close one, the media will continue to say the Tigers are done, Clemson will fall in the polls again, and we will do it all over again next week.
Clemson 20 NC State 10
