Right now it’s the Seminoles getting all the love. Experts are thinking that since Clemson lost Deshaun Watson, they’ll drop back a notch or two. Last year Bama made it to the championship game with a freshman quarterback, because the rest of the team was loaded. Same deal at Clemson. The defense is loaded. Offensive line. Receivers. I could quarterback this team.
Starter Kelly Bryant will do just fine. In fact, his stats will eclipse those put up by Deshaun Watson last year. The junior is a more accurate passer then Watson, especially on the tough patterns. Bryant (above) will press Lamar Jackson for ACC player of the year. True freshman Hunter Johnson will get playing time and will impress, but Bryant won't relinquish the top spot.
All the pressure is on FSU. There are still plenty of question marks. Last year their freshman QB took a beating, but kept getting up again. Will their O-line be improved? Or will this be the year the QB gets hurt? Dalvin Cook, last year’s top back, is gone. He was more key than the QB. The Noles have a talented freshman waiting in the wings, but he doesn’t have the experience that Cook did. Will he have Cook’s motor?
If Clemson can take care of business, they’ll do just fine. If one QB struggles or goes down, there are two talented youngsters waiting in the wings. Will Dabo ease up after signing his 8-year contract extension? No way. He’ll have everyone working harder.
Clemson has been on a magical roll for two years. Will this be the year something goes wrong, or the ball bounces the wrong way? A missed field goal or timely turnover? Could be. But the good teams usually have luck on their side. Clemson is a good team. The season will hinge on the late season battle against FSU – to be played in Death Valley.
September 2 vs Kent State. The only question I have: why do they play these hot early-season games at noon? 1-0.
September 9 vs Auburn. Last year the game was close. Season opener at night, at Auburn. This year it won’t be a cakewalk, but Clemson wins. In big games like this Clemson never pulls ahead until late. But that’s ok.
September 16 at Louisville. The Cardinals almost won last year in Memorial Stadium. At home they’re even tougher. Petrino is building a fine program. Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson faded at the end of last year, but worked hard during the off-season, adding ten pounds of muscle. His supporting cast is getting better. But all that doesn’t matter. The Tiger D will be able to slow Jackson & company enough. 3-0.
September 23 vs Boston College. The Eagles are tough. Knock them down and they’ll get back up for more. But they’ll be no match for Clemson. 4-0.
September 30 at Virginia Tech. Another tough road game. Maybe at night. The Hokies are on the way back up. After Louisville and before FSU, this could be the game Clemson doesn’t show up for. Could be. But I say no. In the fourth quarter the Tigers will pull away. 5-0.
October 7 vs Wake Forest. Tigers win big. We get to see some of the backups. 6-0.
October 14 at Syracuse. ESPN the Magazine says this is a big game. Nah. 7-0.
October 21: bye week.
October 28 vs Georgia Tech. Jackets/Tigers used to be a close game. Clemson used to think Tech had some sort of hex them. That was before Dabo. Tigers win big. 8-0.
November 4 at NC State. The Pack always plays Clemson tough. This game may be close, but not close enough. 9-0.
November 11 vs FSU. Game of the year. ESPN College GameDay. At night under the lights on ABC. A close game, but Clemson will impress. And win. 10-0.
November 18 vs the Citadel. Purple out. Everyone plays. 11-0.
November 25 at South Carolina. The Gamecocks will be sky high. For a quarter. In the fourth quarter the stands will be mostly orange. 12-0.
December 2: ACC Championship Game. The opponent will be built up. Experts wonder if Clemson will be caught looking past this game to the semifinal. Dabo won’t let that happen. Clemson will probably finish the season ranked number one. 13-0.
January 1: National Semifinal; Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans. As usual, teams like USC and Ohio State get all the hype. All the better. Clemson wins. 14-0.
January 8: National Championship Game; Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Third straight title game appearance for the Tigers. Not an easy feat. Neither is winning it. Clemson loses a heartbreaker. 14-1.
Starter Kelly Bryant will do just fine. In fact, his stats will eclipse those put up by Deshaun Watson last year. The junior is a more accurate passer then Watson, especially on the tough patterns. Bryant (above) will press Lamar Jackson for ACC player of the year. True freshman Hunter Johnson will get playing time and will impress, but Bryant won't relinquish the top spot.
All the pressure is on FSU. There are still plenty of question marks. Last year their freshman QB took a beating, but kept getting up again. Will their O-line be improved? Or will this be the year the QB gets hurt? Dalvin Cook, last year’s top back, is gone. He was more key than the QB. The Noles have a talented freshman waiting in the wings, but he doesn’t have the experience that Cook did. Will he have Cook’s motor?
If Clemson can take care of business, they’ll do just fine. If one QB struggles or goes down, there are two talented youngsters waiting in the wings. Will Dabo ease up after signing his 8-year contract extension? No way. He’ll have everyone working harder.
Clemson has been on a magical roll for two years. Will this be the year something goes wrong, or the ball bounces the wrong way? A missed field goal or timely turnover? Could be. But the good teams usually have luck on their side. Clemson is a good team. The season will hinge on the late season battle against FSU – to be played in Death Valley.
September 2 vs Kent State. The only question I have: why do they play these hot early-season games at noon? 1-0.
September 9 vs Auburn. Last year the game was close. Season opener at night, at Auburn. This year it won’t be a cakewalk, but Clemson wins. In big games like this Clemson never pulls ahead until late. But that’s ok.
September 16 at Louisville. The Cardinals almost won last year in Memorial Stadium. At home they’re even tougher. Petrino is building a fine program. Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson faded at the end of last year, but worked hard during the off-season, adding ten pounds of muscle. His supporting cast is getting better. But all that doesn’t matter. The Tiger D will be able to slow Jackson & company enough. 3-0.
September 23 vs Boston College. The Eagles are tough. Knock them down and they’ll get back up for more. But they’ll be no match for Clemson. 4-0.
September 30 at Virginia Tech. Another tough road game. Maybe at night. The Hokies are on the way back up. After Louisville and before FSU, this could be the game Clemson doesn’t show up for. Could be. But I say no. In the fourth quarter the Tigers will pull away. 5-0.
October 7 vs Wake Forest. Tigers win big. We get to see some of the backups. 6-0.
October 14 at Syracuse. ESPN the Magazine says this is a big game. Nah. 7-0.
October 21: bye week.
October 28 vs Georgia Tech. Jackets/Tigers used to be a close game. Clemson used to think Tech had some sort of hex them. That was before Dabo. Tigers win big. 8-0.
November 4 at NC State. The Pack always plays Clemson tough. This game may be close, but not close enough. 9-0.
November 11 vs FSU. Game of the year. ESPN College GameDay. At night under the lights on ABC. A close game, but Clemson will impress. And win. 10-0.
November 18 vs the Citadel. Purple out. Everyone plays. 11-0.
November 25 at South Carolina. The Gamecocks will be sky high. For a quarter. In the fourth quarter the stands will be mostly orange. 12-0.
December 2: ACC Championship Game. The opponent will be built up. Experts wonder if Clemson will be caught looking past this game to the semifinal. Dabo won’t let that happen. Clemson will probably finish the season ranked number one. 13-0.
January 1: National Semifinal; Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans. As usual, teams like USC and Ohio State get all the hype. All the better. Clemson wins. 14-0.
January 8: National Championship Game; Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Third straight title game appearance for the Tigers. Not an easy feat. Neither is winning it. Clemson loses a heartbreaker. 14-1.
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