Coming off an 11-2 season capped with an Orange Bowl victory over Ohio State, there are high expectations that Dabo Swinney and company can put double-digit wins on the board again. They’ll have to regroup after losing quarterback Tajh Boyd and wide receiver Sammy Watkins to the NFL. Those standouts led the team in passing and receiving yards, respectively.
Returning is defensive end Vic Beasley, who led the team in sacks last season. He, along with six other returning starters will anchor the defense. Senior quarterback Cole Stoudt looks to take over the reigns from Boyd.
Clemson has proven it can win big games with thrilling back-to-back bowl victories over national powerhouses. They start this year preseason number 16 in the Coaches Poll. Clemson is among the elite, once again, in a top-heavy ACC. Of the spreads unveiled thus far for defending champ Florida State’s ACC foes, only Clemson and Miami are given a shot (both spreads are under 20).
Clemson’s conference blemish in 2013 was a lop-sided home loss to division rival (and eventual National Champion) Florida State. The first half of the 2014 campaign contains the rematch from that 51-14 blowout in Death Valley. To avenge the loss, the Tigers have to travel to Tallahassee for the third game of the season. Before they set their sights on revenge, they’ll have their first big test right out of the gate with a trip to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs.
For the third season in a row, Clemson begins its season with an SEC opponent. If Clemson gets past the first 4 games this season at .500 it will be a win. An upset of either UGA or FSU will have the Tigers ranked even higher when the easier second half kicks off in October. The first six games of the year will be telling to see what changes there will be, given the star power lost to the draft.
For information purposes, each game in the first half of the season is on a Saturday, times (if listed) are ET. If ranked, the number reflects the USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll. The spreads listed are from the Golden Nugget’s Games of the Year lines that came out this summer, highlighting their top games of each week and opening betting lines.
2014 Clemson Tigers Schedule Analysis: Games 1-6
Game 1: at #12 Georgia, August 30, 5:30 PM, ESPN. Favorite: UGA -9
Georgia will have revenge on its mind for the 38-35 Clemson victory last season. The rematch is in Athens, and combine that with two ranked teams, opening night, ACC versus SEC, and you’ve got a marquee matchup the nation will be watching. Can Clemson outscore teams again this season? We’ll find out from the get-go. I don’t see as much of a shootout this time around. It’ll be close at the half, but I think I’ll go with the odds and give UGA the edge. Clemson 0-1.
Game 2: vs. South Carolina State, September 6, ACC Network, ESPN3
No reason this shouldn’t be a repeat of last year’s 52-13 pasting. Tigers are back to .500. If this game is not a blowout, fans should really worry about next week. Clemson 1-1.
Game 3: at #1 Florida State, September 20. Favorite: FSU -17
The path to a conference championship goes through Tallahassee, and odds-makers don’t see Clemson avenging the loss from a year ago. With crucial pieces back from the National Championship team, FSU has the tools to repeat. Clemson has to find a solution for Jameis Winston, and get a better start than last season when they were down 27-7 at the half. Playing the underdog might suit them better. Expectations, preseason picks, and high rankings had Clemson frothing at the mouth last season when the ‘Noles came charging in. The energy was gone almost immediately. The Tigers will be dealing with a hostile road environment, but playing spoiler might ease the pressure and they can go out and play ball. I don’t think FSU gets back in the 50s this game, but the winner will get more than 40. I think FSU will do that, but Clemson keeps it close up to halftime this year. Tigers start 1-2 (0-1 ACC).
Game 4: vs. #23 North Carolina, September 27. Favorite: Clemson -4
After a daunting conference opener down south against the number one team in the land, it’ll be nice to get back to South Carolina. While at home, things don’t lighten up competition-wise. The Tar Heels could be ranked higher than 23 come September and that betting line might swing the other way. Of the first half games, this is the hardest to pick. The last meeting in Clemson between the two was 2011, with Clemson winning 59-38. Points should abound this time around too, as I see touchdowns, not field goals here. I’m taking the Tigers, back to .500: 2-2 (1-1 ACC).
Game 5: vs. North Carolina State, October 4. Favorite: Clemson -23
The second of three home games in a row, and a winnable one. One of their lighter offensive outputs of the ACC season last year was a 26-14 win in Raleigh. Clemson should eclipse that mark. With three of the first four games of the gauntlet first half being stiff competition, the Wolfpack shouldn’t pose much of a threat. Clemson gets back to a winning record, 3-2 (2-1 ACC).
Game 6: vs. Louisville, October 11. Favorite: Clemson -10
This would’ve been a marquee bowl matchup during the Boyd/Teddy Bridgewater years of the respective schools. Now it’s a yearly conference matchup with big implications. Louisville takes Maryland’s spot in the ACC Atlantic, and ups the level of difficulty. Similarities are abundant in these programs with both losing a star QB, putting up great offensive numbers, and looking to maintain success. I don’t think Louisville keeps up with Clemson, and the Tigers win three in a row at home, closing out a brutal first half at 4-2 (3-1 ACC).
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