After scrapping and clawing their way through a loaded front end of 2014, the Clemson Tigers will have three road and three home games to close out the regular season.
In my previous article, I have the Tigers coming out of the front half 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the ACC, with the lone conference defeat at division rival Florida State. The Tigers have a very realistic shot to be sitting 9-2 when they face in-state rival South Carolina in Death Valley to end the season. Before they get to the Palmetto Bowl, they face four ACC opponents and the Sun Belt’s Georgia State.
As with my preview for Games 1-6, all games are on Saturday, except the Thursday Wake Forest game. Times, if listed, are ET, and spreads are from the Golden Nugget’s Games of the Year opening betting lines.
2014 Clemson Tigers Schedule Analysis: Games 7-12
Game 7: at Boston College, October 18. Favorite: Clemson -18
The Tigers travel to Chestnut Hill for their second ACC road game. I see this one going much differently than Tallahassee. The Tigers can outscore the Eagles, and should do just this. BC has no Andre Williams this year, giving Clemson the edge. It will be tight; 18 points may be a bit generous for that opening line, but Clemson gets out of Massachusetts with a W and moves to 5-2 (4-1 ACC).
Game 8: vs. Syracuse, October 25
We get orange vs. orange with Syracuse coming to town. The Tigers have the advantage on both sides of the ball against the Orange and should win by at least two touchdowns. Clemson will go to 6-2 overall, and 5-1 ACC with a needed bye week before their Thursday matchup with Wake.
Game 9: at Wake Forest, Thurs. Nov. 6, 7:30 PM, ESPN. Favorite: CLEM -20
The national spotlight will be on the Tigers and Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem for this Thursday game. With the other football option being an NFL matchup of Browns at Bengals on NFL Network, this will be an opportunity for Clemson to get national attention in a game where it’s heavily favored. I’m taking Clemson to win this one, with Wake unable to stop the Tigers offense. Clemson 7-2 (6-1 ACC).
Game 10: at Georgia Tech, November 15. Favorite: Clemson -6
This could be the trap game the Tigers have to weather. On the road in Atlanta, having won six games in a row, and sitting comfortably in second place in the Atlantic Division. This is the last conference game of the year, and the Tigers can seal up a 7-1 record in the ACC, and make themselves an attractive selection for a top bowl game. The Yellow Jackets will give them all they can handle, and I’m sure this will be a back and forth tilt for four quarters. In the end, I see Clemson finishing conference play with a 7-1 record and 8-2 overall with two home games to close the year.
Game 11: vs. Georgia State, November 22.
A winless team from a year ago comes into Clemson for a tune up before South Carolina. The Panthers will struggle to get on the board, and if they do it’ll be against reserves. The backups will see plenty of action for the Tigers in this one. Clemson then matches up against South Carolina sitting at 9-2 on the season.
Game 12: vs. South Carolina, November 29. Favorite: SCAR -3
The Tigers get the Gamecocks at home to end the season, and it could be a matchup of Top 15 teams if both teams play to their potential. If the season goes as planned, Clemson won’t have lost since September, and South Carolina will be locked in as the East representative in the SEC Title Game. The Tigers have lost five in a row to their in-state rivals, never scoring more than 17 in any of those losses. Getting the game at home, where they last beat SC in 2008, will be a boost. This is about pride, momentum, bragging rights, and jockeying for national attention. I think Clemson keeps the crowd hot for three quarters, but in the end the Gamecocks keep the streak alive and end the Tigers regular season at 9-3 with an ACC record of 7-1.
Unless Clemson gets upset along the way, or slips up against UNC or Louisville, they should be in contention for another double-digit win total this year. The second half will give the Tigers some room to breathe before the big finale vs. South Carolina. If they can finish 9-3, and second place in the ACC Atlantic, Clemson should finished ranked, and get a trip to a high-profile bowl game to close the year.
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