Clemson vs. Pitt Preview
It’s no surprise that the No. 2 ranked Clemson Tigers are expected to win yet another home game against the Pittsburgh Panthers. It has been 39 years since the two teams have met, when PITT defeated the Tigers in the 1977 Gator Bowl, 34-3. Sitting undefeated at 9-0, Clemson is a 20.5 favorite at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Coming off a dominating 54-0 win at home over an unranked Syracuse team is seemingly routine for a team like Clemson. But after two close games against NC State and Florida State, last week’s shutout was what the Tigers needed heading into week 11.
This season, Clemson has outscored opponents 197-43 in the first half. This week against the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Tigers’ first half is important. 5-4 this season and one win away from bowl eligibility, PITT is looking to upset the top-ranked Tigers on the road. With PITT’s hard-nosed offense this season, Clemson cannot afford to ease up at any point. If Clemson plays with the same intensity as last week against Syracuse, Dabo Swinney and his team should easily move to 10-0.
Playoff Hopes
Despite Swinney’s “one week at a time” mentality, it’s hard not to look forward as the Tigers seek a return to the College Football Playoff. Many referring to their undefeated season as “lucky”, surviving close games against unranked opponents, and Dabo Swinney won’t deny it either.
“You’ve got to win games like that to have a special season,” said Swinney. “I understand that and I told them that, but these guys take a lot of pride in their performance and we know we have to play better.”
Call it luck, but there’s two things you can’t deny: the Tigers’ strength of schedule, defeating teams like #3 Louisville and #12 Florida State, and the fact that Clemson is one of only four teams still undefeated. The Tigers finish out their regular season at Wake Forest followed by South Carolina at home. If the Tigers win out; they’re in, but there’s still unfinished business. And if you ask Dabo Swinney, his team understands that.
“(Our players) think they’re supposed to win,” said Swinney. “That’s a mentality that’s been ingrained in these guys no matter what. We’re in control of our destiny in our division, which is the next goal, and anything that comes after that we have to earn. We’re right where we hoped to be, but I can assure you there is no one satisfied in that locker room.”
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