Life After Tajh

Its almost that time. We have only 60 minutes left to watch Tajh Boyd play in a Clemson uniform. Its been quite the roller coaster ride full of ups and downs but at the end of the day #10 will go down as one of the All-Time Clemson greats and rightfully so. He's gone above and beyond what I personally expected out of him and has taken Clemson to the next level and made the Tigers a serious threat in the ACC and beyond. He has come a long, long way from his first days at Clemson. I was there and saw Boyd try, but come up short in rallying his team to a victory over South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte. I was there and saw the empty seats and lack of spirit and enthusiasm from both the Clemson football team and the fans. I read the stories and message boards of Tiger nation and their reactions to our first losing season in 11 years. It was a depressing and difficult time to be a Clemson fan. I remember it like it was yesterday. But things would quickly turn around. Boyd went back to the drawing board and went to work. And the next year he led the Tigers to an impressive 8-0 start (cue the "Shock the World Tour") and some believed that this might finally be the Tiger's year and they would be the Cinderella team of 2011. I was back in Bank of America Stadium later that season to watch him lead the Tigers to an ACC Championship in convincing fashion on the very same field the Tigers played for a meaningless bowl game trophy the season before. I saw Clemson fans coming out of the woodwork after that game only to see them jump right off the bandwagon and once again throw Boyd under the bus (just as they did following the Georgia Tech, North Carolina State and South Carolina games that season) following the 70-33 loss in the Orange Bowl to West Virginia. His performance in big games became a serious concern.

Then I watched him go back to work yet again in the off-season dropping a few pounds and adding some muscle and speed that clearly made him a more dangerous threat heading into the 2012 campaign. Now, not only did you have to worry about his arm strength but him lowering the shoulder and running more often giving the opposing defense one more thing to worry about. We watched as he made countless "home-run" type plays placing the ball perfectly for guys like Deandre Hopkins, Brandon Ford, and Sammy Watkins to go up and make plays. Clemson's offense became one of the most explosive in the country and as a Tiger fan, it was a thrill to watch our offense work under offensive coordinator Chad Morris. Of course 2012 had its low points as well. A disappointing finish against both Florida State and South Carolina had many believing Boyd simply couldn't win the "big ones". Boyd answered many of those questions and proved all the experts and nay-sayers wrong with his performance against LSU in the Chic-Fil-A Bowl and led the Tigers to unbelievable come-from-behind victory over #8 LSU. His progression and maturity as a football player shined Bright Like a Diamond that night. (Yes, I just went there. Sue me.) Even Boyd himself left the Georgia dome that night believing he had played his last game in a Tiger uniform and was ready for the NFL after an overall solid season.

Luckily for Clemson, not only did Boyd return for his senior year, but so did offensive coordinator Chad Morris who appeared to be the leading candidate for the head coaching position at Texas Tech. However, the Red Raiders chose former Tech QB Kliff Kingsbury and Clemson nation led out a collective sigh of relief. The Tigers brought all the momentum in the world into their 2013 season opening showdown with long time rival, Georgia, in a top ten battle that would have instant BCS implications. Boyd again rose to the occasion and led his team to victory to become to the first non-SEC team to defeat two ranked SEC opponents in consecutive games. Boyd has re-written the Clemson record books and has earned his right to not only the Clemson hall of fame but will surely be honored by the ACC the future as well.

Now we have only 60 minutes left of seeing #10 play for Clemson. Its been a wild ride full of program defining wins and heartbreaking losses. Boyd has helped changed the perception of Clemson football and "Clemsoning". The Tigers are 31-8 with Tajh has their starter. Impressive to say the least, however, those losses include 3 to South Carolina as a starter. (Kyle Parker started the 2010 game and played until the 2nd half) Yup, arguably the best QB in Clemson history never took down the Gamecocks and that will leave a lingering blemish on his otherwise sparkling career as a Tiger. One thing is for sure, regardless of what happens against Ohio State, Boyd deserves a warm standing ovation when he walks off the field for the final time on January 3rd. He has helped turn around this program and we would not be where we are today with the services and dedication from #10. So on behalf of Tiger nation, Tajh Boyd, THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

That being said, its time to start preparing for life after Tajh. The good news is the Tigers already have two talented and competitive replacements in Cole Stoudt and Chad Kelly. In their limited playing time this season in "clean-up" duty, we have seen flashes of potential from both quarterbacks and I can't wait to see how this plays out through spring ball and fall camp leading up to another season opener against Georgia, this time "Between the Hedges" in Athens, GA. In my opinion, Stoudt would have to be the early favorite heading into the off-season. Although Chad Kelly should (and will) be right on his heels.

And speaking of Georgia, we have another guy named Deshuan Watson a 6-3, 190 QB out of Gainesville, GA that will also be in the mix and is expected to be the next great Clemson quarterback. He will challenge both Stoudt and Kelly from day one. He is ranked the #1 dual threat QB coming out of the 2014 class and will be on campus in January. Watson is nursing an MCL injury suffered in his last High School game and although it won't require surgery, he will under go rehab in the coming months in order to be ready for spring practice. One thing is for sure, the competition for the starting job will be intense. All three want nothing more than to be the starter for the season opener and have the potential to do so. Chad Morris noted during interviews last week that Bowl Practice is an early look into who will have the edge heading into spring practice. He is pushing all three to play at a high level. We will miss Tajh Boyd but it appears that next year Clemson will not be rebuilding, but simply reloading. It is going to be fun to watch it all pan out.

Bowl Predictions

Capital One Bowl

January 1, 2014--Orlando, Florida 1pm EST 

#9 South Carolina (10-2) vs #19 Wisconsin (9-3) 

The Gamecocks enter this match-up riding a five game winning streak and are looking for their third straight 11 win season in Columbia. South Carolina QB Conner Shaw has left his mark on the Gamecock football program and will look to go out on the winning side when he takes the field against Wisconsin. Shaw has been impressive again this season completing 61% of his passes for 21 touchdowns and only 1 interception this year. You'd be hard pressed to find a ratio that solid anywhere in the country. Mike Davis has led the way on the ground for Carolina with 1134 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. The Gamecocks haven't always blown  the competition, but when it came down to the wire, more times than not, they found a way to get the job done. The Gamecocks were 4-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less this season. Wisconsin hasn't drawn too much attention throughout this season but definitely deserve all of South Carolina's respect. The Badgers have a solid rushing attack and average 283 yards per game ranking 8th in the nation. They average nearly 36 points per game and are a stingy group on defense giving up only 14.8 points per game. A Top QB-RB duo in Joel Stave who has tossed for over 2,000 yards this season (20 TDs, 12 INTs) and Melvin Gordon who is closing in on a 1500 yard season with 1466 yards entering the bowl game and 12 touchdowns lead the way. The Badgers handled two top 25 teams with relative ease in #19 Northwestern (35-6) and #25 Minnesota (20-7) and gave Ohio State all they could handle on the road in Columbus before falling to the Buckeyes 31-24. I could see this one going either way but give the ever-so-slight advantage to Shaw and the Gamecocks. They've found a way to win close games and they get it done on New Years Day. 

The Pick: South Carolina 

FedEx Orange Bowl 

January 3, 2014--Miami, Florida 8:30pm EST

#12 Clemson (10-2) vs #7 Ohio State (12-1) 

Both teams enter this game looking to redeem themselves from their previous performance. The Tigers had six (!!!!) turnovers against the Gamecocks and couldn't seem to get out of their own way in their regular season finale loss in Columbia. Ohio State's last outing didn't turn out so well either and the Buckeyes were horrible on third down covering on only 1 of 10 against Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship. Both of these teams have explosive offenses. Ohio State is fourth in the country in scoring offense putting up 46 points per game and the Tigers aren't too far behind with 40.2 per game. Along with high powered offenses, both teams also have suspect defenses. Clemson simply didn't have an answer for Winston and the Seminoles who dropped 51 on the Tigers and Conner Shaw had his way against Brent Venables' defense. That should scare the daylights out of Clemson fans. With all due respect to Conner Shaw, if we couldn't slow him down its going to be even more difficult to stop the rushing attack of not one, but TWO 1,000 yard rushers in QB Braxton Miller and RB Carlos Hyde. However, Ohio State's defense has also had some major issues especially in the pass defense department which keeps this game way more interesting and scary for Buckeye fans. In their last two games, the Buckeyes gave up 755 yards combined through the air. If you've watched the Tigers at all this season you know they have a wealth of big play receivers and you better believe Clemson will take shots down field early and often and challenge this Buckeye defense. I'm also interested to see what the Tigers can do on the ground. If and that is a big if, Clemson establishes a running game early and Boyd is able to tuck it and run and pick up 4, 5, or even 6 yards here and there, that will open up the passing game and I like our chances and match-ups against Ohio State's defensive backs.

I think this game is going to be a shootout. While I'm not convinced Ohio State has played  (and beat) a quality opponent, the same could be argued for the Tigers. I think this game comes down to who can up with that big turnover that gives their team an extra possession that could be the difference in this high scoring frenzy. Clemson will be playing with a chip on their shoulder and looking to redeem themselves from not only the 70-33 loss to West Virginia in Miami two years ago but their two embarrassing losses this year to Florida State and South Carolina...the only two teams that defeated Clemson last season as well. Bottom line is I think there is more uncertainty on the Tiger sideline. What team will show up in Miami? The one that took down UGA? How bout the team that was down 17-0 against FSU before some fans even got to their seats? Only time will tell. That being said, I have to go with the Buckeyes in a close one. 

The Pick: Ohio State

BCS National Championship

January 6, 2014--Pasadena, California (8:30pm) EST

#1 Florida State (13-0) vs #2 Auburn (12-1) 

I don't believe there is a single person in the WORLD who had these two teams meeting up in Pasadena but if you've watched this wacky season of college football, this match-up should no surprise you. Florida State has cruised through this season with ease and have been dominant every time they stepped on the field. The Seminoles are 2nd the nation in points scored with 53 per game and on defense they are 1st in the nation allowing only 10.7 points per game. Freshmen sensation and Heisman winner Jamies Winston has been phenomenal but has had quite the supporting cast as well. The Seminoles have NFL-ready talent at nearly every single position on the field and have a head coach that is quickly on the rise and is on pace to be among the greatest to ever coach at Florida State. Auburn has been the comeback team of the year. The Auburn Tigers were just 3-9 last year and now they are 12-1 and are 60 minutes away from capturing another National Championship. Gus Malzhan has been simply amazing and his Tigers have found the most improbable ways to win this season. In back-to-back games to conclude the regular season, Auburn scored in the final moments of the game to win. Some would call it luck, and they would be right. However, some times its better to be lucky than to be good. Auburn however has proved its not only lucky, but a great football team and they have earned their trip to Pasadena, make no mistake about it. Florida State on the other hand could be more questionable. Yes they have been absolutely dominant, but their level of competition is not even in the same ball park as Auburn. (SEC! SEC! SEC!....happy now?) That being said, Auburn is a very predictable team. They literally run the same handful of plays time and time again at you. I guess you could say that they bore you and put you to sleep with it then catch you napping and hit you with the big play. With plenty of time to prepare and break down film, I think this FSU defense will be well prepared for Tre Mason and company and will make them fight for every yard. I'm by no means an ACC homer but if there was ever time for me to pull for the ACC against the SEC, its now. I think Winston and the Seminoles get the job done in Pasadena by a touchdown. 

The Pick: Florida State

Other Picks:  

Chic-Fil-A Bowl:  #24 Duke (10-3) over #21 Texas A&M (8-4)

Gator Bowl: #22 Georgia (8-4) over Nebraska (8-4) 

Alamo Bowl: #10 Oregon (10-2) over Texas (8-4) 

Outback Bowl: #16 LSU (9-3) over Iowa (8-4) 

Cotton Bowl: #8 Missouri (11-2) over #13 Oklahoma St (10-2) 

Rose Bowl: #4 Michigan St (12-1) over #5 Stanford (11-2)

Fiesta Bowl: #15 UCF (11-1) over #6 Baylor (11-1) 

Sugar Bowl: #3 Alabama (11-1) over #11 Oklahoma (10-2) 

Redemption

As most of us expected, Clemson was selected by the Orange Bowl to represent the ACC taking the place of Florida State who will square off against Auburn for the BCS National Championship in Pasadena, California January 6, 2014. The Tigers will take on #6 Ohio State down in Miami on January 3rd and will seek to redeem themselves from their last trip to South Beach. I don't think I have to remind you (but I will anyway) of the 70-33 woodshed beating put on my Tigers by West Virginia two years ago in Miami. After that loss, Coach Dabo Swinney promised Clemson nation that it wouldn't take another 31 years for the Tigers to return to the Orange Bowl and just two years later he has followed through on his promise. Although Clemson fans would have obviously liked to win the ACC outright, I don't think you will find many Tiger fans complaining about where Tajh Boyd and company will be spending the holiday season.

Clemson has a great opportunity standing before them next month. If the Tigers hope to redeem themselves from their last appearance in Miami and also ease the sting of last month's loss to rival South Carolina, this is a game they have to win. A win over #6 Ohio State would not only be a great ending to this season but would go a long way in proving the Tigers are truly a BCS worthy team and are ready to take that next step. However, it won't come easy. Urban Meyer is in his second year as the head coach of the Buckeyes and has an impressive 24-1 record in Columbus. The Buckeyes have two 1,000 yard rushers in QB Braxton Miller and RB Carlos Hyde and have big, physical players all over the field, many of which will likely be playing on Sundays later in their career. When you sit down and view the teams side-by-side, there are actually quite a few similarities. Both teams have high powered offenses that can light up the scoreboard and beat you in a variety of different ways. However, both the Buckeyes and Tigers have some significant areas of concern on defense, specifically in the secondary. That being said, I think we could very well be headed towards a high scoring affair in Miami and it should be an exciting game.

Tajh Boyd has basically re-written the Clemson record books but has struggled in big-time games and will leave Clemson having never beaten South Carolina. His legacy and draft stock will be heavily affected by the outcome of the Orange Bowl and you have to think that Boyd would want nothing more than to end his career with a BCS bowl victory over the Buckeyes and will leave it all out on the field. It's going to be a great opportunity for Clemson to make a statement on the national stage. Will they rise to the occasion? Or will it be the same old story yet again? Only time will tell but you really can't stress just how big this game is for the Tigers. Not only would it be big to end the season with a signature win and help with recruiting but it would be a great springboard for the 2014 season. Although the Tigers lose some key guys on offense including Tajh Boyd, Roderick McDowell and (most likely) Sammy Watkins, Clemson will be more-so reloading, rather than rebuilding next year. The defense should be even better next year and potentially be among the best in the country. Many people don't realize that Clemson led the nation in a quite a few defensive categories during the duration of the season. Once the smoke clears at the QB position, the Tigers should also be in pretty good shape offensively. To get to the point, a win in Miami along with all the returners coming back and a solid recruiting class could have the Tigers preseason ranked in the top 5 heading into the fall of 2014. But lets just take things one at a time. And for now that means focusing on Ohio State and playing what will have to be their best game of the season to take down Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes.  

Rivalry Week

Its that time of the year again! Rivalry week has arrived! While most of the nation will have their eyes set upon the Auburn-Alabama showdown, there is another pretty big rivalry game going on down in Columbia, SC. Two top ten teams will face off under the lights in Williams-Brice Stadium where the Gamecocks have won 17 straight and currently hold the record for longest (active) home game winning streak. Much of that success can be attributed to Conner Shaw. The guy just has that unmatched will to win and when he's on the field no matter how healthy he is, you know you're gonna get 100% from him every play. From a Clemson fan perspective, he is easily the most well respected Gamecock QB I have watched. Gets it done on the field, he is a great leader, stays out of trouble and represents his team and university well. Strictly business from him and I respect that to the utmost degree. 

This rivalry doesn't get the national attention it deserves but its quickly on the rise. Saturday will be the first EVER meeting of top ten ranked teams between the Gamecocks and Tigers. Although recent times have been not-so-memorable for Clemson fans, its been fun to see this rivalry become relevant on the national stage. In the "old days" (remember, I'm just 21 years old) South Carolina and Clemson alike would be fighting for that 8th/9th win and a respectable bowl trip. Fast forward to now, both have been contenders for conference titles and now both teams almost "expect" to have 10-win seasons. Incredible to see how times have changed and in short period of time. Both of these programs are on the rise and I'm thrilled to see this rivalry continue to grow. This is THE game of the year in this state and is talked about 365 days a year. Spurrier and Swinney have been taking shots at each other since June and July. This is truly a heated and year-long rivalry. For the Tigers, Saturday is, simply put....a must-win. Clemson has had to listen to the criticism and jokes for four years straight now. It has been a long and tough four years. A LONG, LONG, FOUR YEARS. Its time to reclaim the dominance in this rivalry. Is this the year the Tigers get the job done and take down South Carolina? Only time will tell but both fan bases should take the time to enjoy this special era of this rivalry with both teams recent success. This won't last forever and might not ever happen again. So be sure to step back and enjoy the greatness of this moment, no matter who you cheer for. 

PREDICTIONS: 


#1 Alabama vs #4 Auburn

The Iron Bowl is bigger than ever this year....at least from a hype standpoint. This year's game features a top 5 showdown. The winner earns a trip to the SEC Championship to take on either Missouri or South Carolina. The game also has BCS title game implications. Auburn has been the comeback team of the year after winning only three games in 2012 topped off by a 49-0 woodshed beating from Alabama. This year the Tigers are much improved. However, I don't think it will make a difference. Auburn needed a fluke Hail Mary to hold off the rally from a struggling UGA squad that has lost just about every significant piece of their offense at some point or another this season. Auburn does have the home-field advantage going for them but not sure how much they will actually have to cheer about. Auburn 's offense is pretty simple and they run basically the same 6-7 plays at you. Granted they are very good at executing these plays...from a game-planning standpoint, you know exactly what Auburn is going to try and do. Nick Saban was created for games like these and I think his guys come out and show why they are the #1 team in the nation. Roll Tide, Roll!

The Pick: Alabama 41 Auburn 21 



#2 Florida State vs Florida 

This game barely even deserves any discussion at all. Florida has had a horrible season plagued by injuries and ineffective coaching. I like Will Muschamp and I hope Florida AD Jeremy Foley stands by his world and gives Muschamp a chance to get this ship sailing in the right direction. However, after last week's lost to Georgia Southern (!!!!) at home, Gator country is...not pleased about the condition of the program right now and rightfully so. Jamies Winston is probably the best player I've ever seen in person and off the field issues aside, he has been extremely impressive so far this year. That being said, I'm interested to see how he matches up against a solid defense like the one he will likely face in the national championship...assuming the Seminoles and Crimson Tide handle their business these next two weekends. As for this game, even with it being in the Swamp and even with it being a rivalry game and all...I just don't see the Gators standing a chance of even holding the Seminoles under 40 points. We saw the effects of having a 3rd string QB under-center last weekend....this one is just gonna be downright ugly.

The Pick: Florida State 56 Florida 10




Georgia @ Georgia Tech

Both teams enter this year with a record of (7-4, 5-3) and are looking to end the season on a positive note. Its been quite the year for the Bulldogs who had dreams of a BCS title this year. However, a season opening loss to Clemson and key injuries to Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall, Malcolm Mitchell and most recently, QB Aaron Murray have crippled their offense, literally. Its been a devastating year for the Dawgs and it seemed to be one thing after another in Athens this year. However with Gurley back healthy I would have to give the Bulldogs the edge here. The yellow jackets are 5th in the nation in rushing yards and their option-based offense can be extremely tricky. However, Vad Lee is pretty atrocious at throwing the football...probably why they don't air it out too often. Despite the losses they have suffered including Aaron Murray who tore his ACL last weekend, I still think UGA is the better team of the two and they will make it known. Hutson Mason is now the man in Athens...will be interesting to see how he responds.

The Pick: Georgia 31 Georgia Tech 21 



#6 Clemson @ #10 South Carolina 


Preview: 

Clemson (10-1, 7-1) vs South Carolina (9-2, 6-2) 
Columbia, SC--Williams Brice Stadium 7pm ESPN2 

This year's game is HUGE. Plain and simple. South Carolina has had the Tigers number the past four years and have dominated Clemson. The Gamecocks game plan hasn't been a complicated one. On defense, expect South Carolina to bring some pressure and try to sniff out the running game and more importantly, try to rattle Tajh Boyd who hasn't played so well against the Gamecocks. On offense they are going to try and establish the running game early and set up the play-action pass and attack this Tiger secondary who will be without Safety Travis Blanks who suffered a torn ACL last weekend against the Citadel. One of the major keys to this game will be the line of scrimmage. South Carolina has won that battle the past few years and last year the Tigers had no answer for Clowney who recorded 4.5 sacks in Death Valley. The Tigers are going to have to step up and be physical up front on both sides of the ball. Conner Shaw can beat you through the air or on the ground. If he has success running the ball early... it could be a long night for the guys in Orange and White. If Boyd can get comfortable in the pocket and Clemson can establish some success in the running game, the Tigers will have a much better chance at escaping Williams-Brice with a victory. Another key to the game is time of possession. The Gamecocks held the ball for 39:58 of the game last year compared to 20:02 for the Tigers. (That is pure domination) In 2011, South Carolina held the ball for 37:17 compared to Clemson's 22:43. In addition, the Tigers have been outscored 124-54 the past four games, each game by double-digits. That being said it will be crucial not only for the Tigers to make stops on third down to end Carolina drives but to also be able to drive the ball against the Gamecocks. Although Clemson will need a few big plays and scoring strikes, being able to use some clock and move the ball will be huge down the stretch. Lastly, the Tigers must win the turnover battle. Conner Shaw has only thrown one interception this year...the Tigers have recorded a interception on defense in every game this year. Conner Shaw is the winningest QB in Gamecock history and had led his school to 17 straight wins at home. Clemson has the third longest road game winning streak in the nation. Something has to give Saturday night...who will rise the occasion? I have a hunch that it will be the supporting cast that plays a big role Saturday night...guys like Brandon Wilds/Nick Jones for South Carolina, and Mike Williams/Zac Brooks for Clemson could be the extra push that makes the difference.

Prediction: 

Overall I think this is the best team Clemson has had heading into game week against the Gamecocks in the past few years. I think the Tigers play much better than they have in recent past against South Carolina and give them all they can handle. However, things have just not came together overall when the Tigers have squared off against the Gamecocks. Clemson is a four point underdog Saturday night but that might be a good thing. Not many people are giving the Tigers the chance Saturday and that could be a motivating factor that plays into the Tigers favor. Boyd is the best QB in Clemson history. He has re-written the record books for Clemson. However, there is one thing he hasn't been able to do...beat Carolina. Fair or not, his legacy will be judged by the results of Saturday's game. I see this game as a true toss up but due to the past few years and with the game being played under the lights in Williams-Brice, its hard to pick against Shaw and the Gamecocks and the coaching advantage of Steve Spurrier. As much as it hurts, I think the streak extends to five straight. Shaw once again finds a way to get it done for his team, but it won't be easy. Prepare for a instant classic as we add another chapter to this great rivalry.

The Pick: South Carolina 31 Clemson 27



Other Predictions: 

#3 Ohio State over Michigan 

#8 Stanford over #25 Notre Dame

#13 Oregon over Oregon State 

#21 Texas A&M over #5 Missouri

#24 Duke over North Carolina 

Keeping The Dream Alive

For those of you that know me personally, you know that since high school I knew I wanted to become a sports journalist and one day make my way to ESPN. However, other than a few internships here and there along with just writing for fun and having friends and family read my "articles" I hadn't really taken that next step to make my dreams a reality. In May of 2012, I decided I would start this blog. At first I wasn't sure how I wanted to organize it, how often I would post and what content it would include. I've discussed just about everything at some point or another...NFL, NBA, Golf, Tennis, MLB, and College Baseball. However, nothing has been more fun than writing about college football and more specifically, my Clemson Tigers. Its now been a year and 6 months since this blog was born and I can honestly say its been one of the best choices I've ever made. 

Things started off slow with only a few views a week, mainly from friends and family via a link on Facebook. Not too long after I got the blog up and running I decided to start a twitter account  (@CHallSportsTalk) which would be, unofficially, linked to my blog where I would tweet about sports, converse with other "sports geeks" and media outlets to help build my network and simply learn from others and become a better writer. Little by little, I got better and started posting more often and drawing larger audiences. 

The past year has been simply amazing. Thanks to my blog I've made my way onto the radio three times with two different stations, been offered a few jobs with various sports media outlets and I have readers all over the globe including Russia, China, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Malaysia, South Korea,
Indonesia, Lativa, and Pakistan. Also, one of my tweets made collegespun.com 's "Top 10 college football tweets of the day" list last November.

At the beginning of this season, I set out a goal to double by page view number and surpass 5,000 views on my blog before the end of the football season. Today I'm thrilled to announce I have met that goal. I want to say thank YOU, the reader for viewing my material week in and week out and giving me feedback and motivation to keep this dream alive. I down play it a lot in face-to-face conversation but nothing makes my day and sometimes even entire week, more than hearing someone tell me they enjoy reading my blog, or strike up a conversation about football or even ask for my thoughts about upcoming games. The support I've received has been unreal at times. 

I hope to keep this thing going strong as long as I can and continue to provide quality content that you guys (and girls) enjoy reading. Its your support, kind gestures and comments that have kept not only this blog but this dream alive. I truly feel like this is what I'm supposed to do and pray I continue to grow as a writer and a person overall. In closing, I again just want to thank all of you for reading and hopefully I can continue to build my audience and keep you guys interested in what I have to say. Its been a fun ride this past year and six months and I'm looking forward to the future and where this dream takes me. One thing is for sure, if and when I make it big...you guys will be the first to hear about it. Thanks again and of course...Go Tigers! 

Week 12 Predictions

November To Remember

With college football kicking off on Tuesday night, fans were blessed with the chance to watch football Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, AND Saturday last week. It was rather nice if I do say so myself. The big news out of the earlier played games came from out west as #5 Stanford knocked off #2 Oregon 26-20 giving them their second straight win over the Ducks. Baylor took on Oklahoma that same night but had no trouble with the Sooners dominating them by a score of 41-12. That is a 29 point margin of victory over the former #10 team in the nation.  Very impressive! If Baylor was to win out and somehow Alabama or Florida State trip up, Baylor would be right in the mix for a chance to play for a BCS title. The Bears host a 7-3 Texas Tech squad Saturday night in Arlington. Vanderbilt pulled the big upset of the day blowing out Florida in the Swamp and ruining the Gators homecoming festivities, 34-17. Texas A&M survived a shootout with Mississippi State 51-41. Neyland Stadium couldn't slow down Auburn and the Tigers got it done on the road. Over in the ACC, the Coastal division is a mess and Florida State continues to dominate anything that crosses its path. With just a few weeks left in the regular season its now or never for teams to make that final push and make a statement. Its not about how you start but its how you finish....its time to make this November something to remember. I've rambled on enough....lets get to business. 

#23 Miami @ Duke 

Duke is 7-2...let that sink in. If the Blue Devils can knock off the Hurricanes this weekend, they could find themselves making a trip to Charlotte next month to battle FSU for the ACC Championship. Miami is coming off not one but two blowout losses after falling to Logan Thomas and the Hokies last Saturday. Georgia Tech is 1st place in the division but with a road trip to Clemson Thursday night, the opportunity to make a move towards the top of the division is on the table for Duke, Miami and Virginia Tech. I'm gonna put something down in writing I thought I would never say, BUT I'm jumping on the Blue Devil bandwagon. Make it three straight losses for the Canes and give the ACC Coach of the Year trophy to Mr. Cutcliffe for a job well done this year. 

The Pick: Duke

#10 South Carolina vs Florida

The wheels have fallen off in Gainesville. Florida looked like it was a force earlier in the season but a pile of injuries has made life very difficult in Gator country. Things got much worse after Saturday's debacle at home against Vanderbilt. A night game in Columbia with SEC-East title dreams hanging in the balance? Against the Ole Ball Coach's former team? Hard to pick against the Gamecocks, considering the situation. You know Williams Brice will be rocking. NOT SO FAST though....I'm picking South Carolina but they can't come out flat and overlook the struggling Gators. Florida has nothing to lose, and that makes them dangerous regardless of how they have played the past few weeks. 

The Pick: South Carolina 

#7 Auburn vs #25 Georgia 

Another classic SEC showdown between these two rivals. Auburn has had a great turnaround this year and have positioned themselves for a crash-course showdown with rival Alabama to conclude the regular season that will have BCS title implications. Auburn's only loss this year came against LSU back on September 21st. Georgia still has life in the SEC despite its roller-coaster season and a win would not only shake up the BCS picture but make things even more interesting in the East division. Its going to be tough for the Bulldogs to go on the road and pick up the win, but I think they find a way. Yupp, I'm calling for the upset!! 

The Pick: Georgia 

#8 Clemson vs Georgia Tech

We have Thursday night football in Clemson for the first time in over a decade. Not to dismiss the Citadel next week but this will be the Tigers last "real" home game and Boyd's last time playing under the lights in Death Valley. The Tigers have responded well since their woodshed beating from the Seminoles and are as healthy as they've been all season and are playing well at the right time. This rivalry is always an interesting showdown. 12 of the last 18 games have been decided by five points or less including a 6 game streak between 1996-01 when every single game was decided by exactly three points. Defending the option is never an easy task and Clemson will have to play good assignment football every single snap to avoid giving up big plays and keep the yellow jackets in front of them. Do your job and stick to your assignment and the rest should fall into place. I think the defense will rise to the occasion at home and take care of business and the offense does its part as well. Not to mention a prime-time crowd under the lights...Tigers roll. 

The Pick: Clemson 

Other Predictions:

#12 Oklahoma State over #24 Texas

#1 Alabama over Mississippi State 

#2 Florida State over Syracuse 

Virginia Tech over Maryland 

#5 Baylor over Texas Tech 

Week 10 Predictions

South Carolina was one of the biggest winners of last weekend overcoming a 17-0 deficit in the 3rd quarter and outlasted Missouri in double-overtime for the stunning and crucial 27-24 win over the Tigers and kept their SEC Championship dreams alive. Clemson overcame another sluggish and overall unimpressive performance to take care of Maryland on the road 40-27, both Oregon and Alabama won in convincing fashion and LSU avoid disaster against a feisty Furman team that gave the Tigers all they could handle before running out of gas down the stretch. Week 10 has now arrived and we are blessed with yet another top 10 ACC showdown. Florida State welcomes rival Miami to Doak Campbell Stadium. Elsewhere in the country, Clemson travels to Virginia for the last match-up against the Cavs until 2020, South Carolina looks to stay on track at home against Mississippi State, and Georgia and Florida square off in an SEC-East elimination game featuring two unranked teams. Lets get to business! 



Florida vs Georgia 


This game isn't quite what we expected it would be weeks ago, but injuries and misfortune have plagued both teams and now they both are holding on for dear life and find themselves in pretty much a playoff to the SEC Championship. Win and stay alive...lose and you can forget about a trip to Atlanta. Georgia might have the worst luck of this season and has lost key players all over the field. Florida lost  Driskel weeks ago for the rest of the season and simply put, both teams are just desperate for a win. I don't see either of these teams making it to ATL especially considering Florida still has to make a stop in Columbia to take on the Gamecocks. As for Saturday, I see this one as a toss up. And I think UGA' s injuries cost it another one.

The Pick: Florida



#14 South Carolina vs Mississippi State

Following last weeks miracle at Missouri, the Gamecocks are back on track and right back in the thick of things when it comes to the SEC-East. I think they build off that huge win last weekend and roll against the Bulldogs. Conner Shaw is tough as nails and Mike Davis is one of the best running backs in the country. The defense still has some issues to be worked out but overall South Carolina proved it is BCS worthy last week and they avoid the letdown Saturday and get it done at home.

The Pick: South Carolina


#11 Auburn @ Arkansas 

Auburn appears to have bounced back in a major way from last season and look to be on a crash course to a showdown against rival Alabama with the winner advancing to the SEC Championship. The Razorbacks are win-less in conference play and just 3-5 overall to this point. They could easily become the spoiler team in the SEC this season and ruin another team's season if they are overlooked but I don't believe that will actually happen. Auburn keeps rolling and probably cracks the top 10 when the BCS polls are released Sunday evening.

                                                                                  The Pick: Auburn


#8 Clemson @ Virginia 


The Tigers look to pick up another conference road win Saturday when it hits the road for Virginia. I legitimately had forgotten the Cavs had a football team and haven't heard much of anything at all about them all season long. At first that worried me until I did a little research. UVA comes into the game 2-6 overall and win-less at 0-4 in conference play. They are giving up nearly 30 points per game and can't seem to avoid mistakes and when they are on the good side of turnovers, simply can't turn them into points. Lack of execution has killed them all year long. With any road game one should exercise caution but the Tigers, despite a less than stellar showing the past three games, should get it done "easily". Hopefully Clemson can put together its first complete game of the season and win big. The last few weeks have not been fun to watch, I'm ready to see that change on Saturday.

The Pick: Clemson


#3 Florida State vs #7 Miami

Growing up I always remember hearing stories and seeing highlights from this rivalry game. (WIDE LEFT, WIDE RIGHT..etc)  In recent years it hasn't grabbed the nations attention as much but this year is a different story. FSU has looked as good as anybody in the country behind Jamies Winston and Miami has caught many of us off guard and despite a sloppy game last week against Wake Forest, have looked solid thus far and enter the game undefeated as well. The "U" has showed some heart and came out on top in a couple nail bitters so far this year so in that regard, they are "battle tested". However, the lack of competition is a concern. They did knock off #12 Florida earlier in the year but that has been the only ranked team they have faced. While FSU is still on a high following their rout in Death Valley two weeks ago (sorry to bring it up again, Clemson fans) and a beat-down of NC State last weekend.  ESPN College Gameday will be on hand in Tallahassee and this one has the makings of another classic. However, this team is exceptionally good. Not only do I think the Seminoles win, I think they win big at home and they once again will jump Oregon in the BCS rankings and just might find themselves at #1, even if for a brief moment of time. (ACC! ACC! ACC!)


The Pick: Florida State 

Week 9 Predictions

UPSET EXTRAVAGANZA!!! 

Depending on the colors you represent, week 8 was quite an entertaining weekend...a weekend full of upsets that nearly shook the rankings upside down. It started on Thursday night and carried on well into the latter hours of Saturday night. SIX of the top 11 fell Saturday including #3 Clemson, #6 LSU, #7 Texas A&M, #8 Louisville, #9 UCLA, and #11 South Carolina. The upsets didn't stop there either as Georgia lost their second straight game and fell to Vanderbilt. It was a rough weekend for many. Clemson let a golden opportunity pass by and got absolutely dominated against a legit National Title contender in Florida State. Jamies Winston has proved to be one of the best to play for Florida State and still has plenty of football left as a Seminole. With the BCS rankings now out, its now or never for many teams and every game counts. Clemson saw its National Tide dreams come to a crushing halt as did Louisville. Only a handful of teams remain unbeaten heading into this weekend. Things have been weird in the SEC this year...Georgia is 4-3 and Missouri is 7-0. (Show me a person that saw that coming and I'll show you a future PowerBall winner.) Anyways, its a new week and more importantly a chance to get back on the winning side for many top ranked teams that came on the wrong end of an upset last Saturday. The fact that we are now in Week 9 disgust me. That Clemson-UGA showdown seems ancient now...I could only wish I could say the same about the showdown...or shutdown I witnessed last Saturday in Death Valley. But without further due....lets do this! 

North Carolina State @ #2 Florida State

Last season North Carolina State was able to pull the shocker as the Wolfpack took down the Seminoles in Raleigh. However many things have changed since last year. Last week proved anyone can lose any given Saturday. BUT there is no way North Carolina State can hang with Florida State in Tallahassee. Too many weapons all over the field and speaking from experience, FSU isn't exactly a fun place to play. Seminoles leave no doubt in this one. 

The Pick: FSU

Vanderbilt @ #16 Texas A&M 

Fresh off a win over Georgia, Vandy is feeling good about themselves but they need to keep it in perspective. A win is a win and injuries are a part of the game, BUT Georiga has lost almost every key player and are struggling now and find themselves in serious danger of not making a bowl game. Texas A&M might have to go without the services of a injured Johnny Manziel but they have plenty of other play makers that can get the job done Saturday.

The Pick: Texas A&M

#21 South Carolina @ #5 Missouri 

With Conner Shaw likely restricted to the sidelines this weekend, the Gamecocks will look to Dylan Thompson to step up and lead South Carolina when they head to Columbia, MO for a HUGE prime time showdown in the SEC-East. Missouri proved last week that it could win without QB James Franklin who is out for the remainder of the season. New QB Maty Mauk lead the Tigers past the Gators 36-17 in his first career start. The Tigers have some play makers at the WR position and will be a test for South Carolina's secondary. As much as I want to buy-in to Missouri, I can't pull myself to believe the ole ball coach will lose two in a row. Gamecocks find a way to get it done after last weeks disappointing performance against Tennessee...but it won't be easy. 

The Pick: South Carolina

#9 Clemson @  Maryland

I don't know why Maryland always gives the Tigers problems but that is the reality. The last time the Tigers played in College Park, they had to rally from an 18 point deficit to win a shootout 56-45. The Tigers can not afford to get into that type of situation again this year. It will be very interesting to see how the guys respond after last weeks blowout loss. The Tigers have plenty to play for but can't allow FSU to beat them twice. I'm pretty worried about this game as this road trip is always more difficult than it should be for the Tigers. However, I think they respond well and get the job done. 

The Pick: Clemson 35 Maryland 21

Other Games of Interest 

#6 Stanford over #25 Oregon State

#3 Oregon over #12 UCLA

#15 Oklahoma over #10 Texas Tech

#1 Alabama over Tennessee 

#7 Miami over Wake Forest 

Week 8 Predictions

So after an unannounced bye week, I'm BACK! Had a busy week with class and midterms this past week and wasn't able to squeeze in time for my weekly predictions. But hey, just like every team gets a bye week, I figured I deserved one too and I'm rested up and ready to go for what promises to be another epic weekend of college football. Last Saturday proved to be upset weekend as Georgia, Stanford, Oklahoma, Northwestern, and Michigan all were knocked off. Clemson flirted with the upset bug against Boston College for most of the first half before outscoring the Eagles 21-7 in the second half and securing a 10 point advantage. Once again the defense stepped up when they needed it most and outside of a few mishaps, played well and recorded their 5th straight game holding an opponent to 14 points or less. Hard to believe it is now Week 8 and time to separate the contenders from the pretenders. This week is highlighted by, quite frankly, the biggest game in ACC History. For the second time this season, Clemson's Death Valley will be in the limelight. How will they fair this time?   LETS DO THIS! 

Week 8 Predictions 

#10 Miami @ North Carolina 

After an almost four year hiatus, the Hurricanes appear to be back as they have cracked the top 10 of the polls. The Tarheels on the other hand haven't been able to get on track and their lone win this year came against Middle Tennessee State. (!!!!)The Tarheels do have home field advantage over the Canes but unfortunately for them, it won't matter. Miami wins and wins big in Chapel Hill and becomes one step closer to a trip to Charlotte to play for the ACC Championship in December. 

The Pick: Miami 

#24 Auburn @ #7 Texas A&M

The much improved Tigers...I mean War Eagles..I mean War Tigers...or..whatever they are calling themselves these days look to pull the shocker at Kyle Field this weekend. The Aggies survived a thriller against Ole Miss last weekend 41-38. Johnny Football is having another great year and has thrown for over 1800 yards and 14 touchdowns. When it comes down to it, not confident that Auburn's offense can match Manziel and put up enough points. Aggies get the job done. 

The Pick: Texas A&M

#11 South Carolina @ Tennessee 

Tennessee was literally inches away from knocking off Georgia in Neyland Stadium two weeks ago and after a much needed bye week, the Vols will look to take down South Carolina this weekend. The Gamecocks won big at Arkansas and look to take control of the SEC-East following Georgia's loss to Missouri on Saturday afternoon. Conner Shaw is playing some of his best football ever and things appear to be coming together for the Gamecocks. I think Tennessee will again put up a good fight just as they did against Georgia....but at the end of the day, the genius of Steve Spurrier and the talent of South Carolina will prove to be too much for the Vols. South Carolina should win but I'm just saying, Be careful!

The Pick: South Carolina 

#6 LSU @ Ole Miss

The Rebels fell short in their upset bid against Texas A&M last weekend and will try to fair better this week when LSU comes to town.  LSU is playing well and Zach Mettenberger  isn't the same guy we saw in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against Clemson last December. (yeah I know I've said it before but I owe him do after dogging him all off-season!) The Tigers are 6-1 and if they win out, they will have a solid argument for a spot in the BCS title game. But they will have to get past Alabama and Texas A&M. Their confidence is building and they are quickly becoming a threat in the SEC west. I'm close, really close, to calling an upset for this one but just can't quite pull myself to do it. But I believe Les Miles and company find a way to get it done on the road. 

The Pick: LSU 

And last but not least.......

Christopher's Game of the Week

#3 Clemson vs #5 Florida State
"It ain't the Bowden Bowl anymore....its better!"

Preview: 

Jimbo vs Dabo. Jameis vs Tajh. #3 vs #5. College Gameday will be on hand. This one is going to be good, folks. This match up has quickly become quite the rivalry game. Both sides hate each other and as of late the winner of the game goes on to win the Atlantic division. With all due respect, this is the REAL ACC Championship game. It has also become a true home-and-home series as the home team has won nine of the last ten. In every game since 2002, the home team has came away with the victory, with the only exception being a stunning win in Tallahassee by Clemson back in 2006. The last time FSU won in Death Valley was in 2001. **FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Remember the song "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys? How bout "Let Me Blow Your Mind" by Eve and Gwen Stefani? And I KNOW you haven't forgotten about Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me" well those were the songs atop the Billboard 100's the last time FSU won in Death Valley. **And say what you will, but FSU hasn't been the same program since their loss to Clemson in 2003 when the Tigers knocked off the #3 Noles 26-10 in a sellout crowd in Death Valley. Back then, this game was known as the Bowden Bowl. Saturday's showdown will be the biggest EVER played in Death Valley and its the first top 5 college football game ever in the state of South Carolina. Both teams have a shot at winning a National Championship and have a Heisman-caliber QB under center. It doesn't get much better than this. All eyes will again be on Clemson, SC this Saturday night at 8pm when the Tigers come rolling down the hill to take on the Seminoles. If you think you've seen loud, wait till Saturday night. Rumor has it that the Guinness Book of Wold Record will be on hand to see if the crowd can break the record for loudest stadium. Bring your ear plugs...this one is going to get a little rowdy. \

Players to Watch:

Clemson- QB Tajh Boyd, RB Roderick McDowell, WR Sammy Watkins, DE Vic Beasley 

Florida State- QB Jamies Winston, RB Devonta Freeman, WR Rashad Greene, RB James Wilder Jr.

My Thoughts:

As I've noted  earlier, this has truly become a series in which the home team wins. Florida State has yet to be truly tested this year. Their signature win to this point was......a 63-0 win over Maryland? (Granted Maryland was ranked at the time (#25) but lets be serious here, folks!) Clemson on the other hand won a physical brawl against Georgia in week 1, had to battle for a scrappy Thursday night road win in Raleigh and were forced to rally in the 4th quarter to win, what Dabo Swinney called a "Street Fight" Saturday afternoon in Death Valley against Boston College. In short, what I'm saying is the Tigers are more battled tested to this point..and it a hostile and close game, that could be a HUGE advantage. Jamies Winston is the truth, I'm not even going to pretend he is not. However, the Noles have had a pretty favorable road to get to this point and haven't been truly tested yet. Clemson will prove to be a big test for them and the atmosphere will be second to none Saturday night. Clemson's offense struggled to get going last weekend and had some issues holding on to the football but I believe those problems will be addressed. FSU is coming off a bye week and should be rested and ready to rock. However, Jimbo is only 1-2 following bye weeks in his time at FSU. If you're into that kind of thing you might also want to hear that Swinney is 8-0 in home games against ACC teams he lost to the previous year on the road. (Shout out to Clemson SID Tim Bourret for that note) And Tajh Boyd is undefeated against ACC competition in Death Valley. This one will likely be another shootout just as the Clemson-UGA game was. If you aren't making plans to watch this game, you really need to re-evaluate your life. This will be another instant classic. I'll be telling my children and grandchildren about this one. The winner will not only take control of the ACC, but make a statement on the national stage as well. For the Tigers, simply put...it could be a program defining win. A win Saturday...for lack of better words, would be monumental. 

Bottom Line: 

Although I anticipate this game being a high scoring affair, I think Clemson's defense is what makes the biggest difference, not their powerful offense. The Tigers recorded 5 sacks Saturday and held the nations leading rusher, Andre Williams in check for much of the game giving up only a 2.9 year per carry average. Clemson's Vic Beasley has emerged as one of the best DE's in college football and leads the nation in sacks and had a monster game Saturday with 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup, and 1 touchdown that sealed the win for the Tigers early in the fourth quarter. If the defense can continue to improve in their run defense and avoid giving up the big play, Clemson will be in great shape Saturday. The Tigers lead the nation in sacks, tackles for loss, and third down defense. (Yeah, that's right) The crowd will also play a major role...on Saturday they forced BC into back to back penalties as they tried to get the play called in from the sidelines and get set. As wild as the atmosphere was for the opener against UGA, Saturday promises to be even wilder. The Tigers are the underdog and rightfully so after their performance Saturday. Clemson is still searching for that true complete game and they tend to always rise to the occasion when the Noles come to town. History says the Tigers find a way Saturday night and I tend to agree. I think the electric crowd plays a major role throughout the game and Clemson's bend-but-don't-break defense makes just enough stops to put the Tigers in position for victory.

The Pick: Clemson 36 Florida State 30

Week 6 Predictions

Week 5 kicked off last Thursday with two of the ACC's finest (I really hope you caught my sarcasm) squaring off as Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech met up for Coastal division battle. I'll save you the pain of a full recap but its safe to say if Miami can take down the yellow jackets this weekend they all of the sudden look like the front runner for the Coastal Division. After being shutout to now #25 ranked Maryland, West Virginia caught many by surprise when they upset #11 Oklahoma State, 30-21. Despite losing Conner Shaw early in the game, South Carolina was able to hold on for the 28-25 victory on the road against UCF. Clemson wasted no time against Wake Forest jumping out to an early 21-0 lead in the first quarter before cruising to a 56-7 win in Death Valley. Georgia got the job done at home against LSU, 44-41 in what will prove to be one of the best games of this 2013 college football season. And finally, USC (yeah, you know.....that one that used to be relevant in the early 2000's) parted ways with Lane Kiffin after a 62-41 loss to Arizona State.  Who will make headlines in week 6? 


Week 6 Predictions: Take Your Pick


#6 Georgia vs Tennessee 

Georgia QB Aaron Murray stepped up and had a great performance last weekend as the Bulldogs knocked off LSU between the hedges. Murray has thrown for over 1300 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. We know UGA has been tested nearly every week but Tennessee's three wins have come against Austin Peay, (didn't even know they had a football team) Western Kentucky, and South Alabama. The Vols at least have home field advantage going for them. However, it won't make much of a difference by the time halftime rolls around.

The Pick: Georgia 

#13 South Carolina vs Kentucky 

The Gamecocks got off to a shaky start last weekend on the road at UCF but behind Dylan Thompson and some hard-nosed running by Mike Davis, who racked up 167 yards and 3 rushing TD's, they weathered the storm and held off a late Knight rally to beat UCF. Shaw will get the start and has looked well in practice following his scary shoulder injury suffered in the 1st quarter last week. Bottom line...Kentucky is simply a bad football team. They might be able to pull some strings and keep it interesting early but the power and speed of Mike Davis will prevail yet again. Gamecocks roll to another victory and slowly inch their way back to the top 10.

                                                                                    The Pick: South Carolina


#25 Maryland @ #8 Florida State 

Yes, Maryland is indeed ranked #25 heading into this week and are hoping they can pull the HUGE upset in Tallahassee this Saturday and make a statement in the ACC's Atlantic Division. I have not seen Maryland play yet but they have proved to be a much better team than they were last season. However, this will be their first true test. I've been impressed with Winston's play thus far but still not sold on FSU as a whole just yet. (Maybe its just the Clemson fan in me) That being said, with the game being in Doak Campbell Stadium, and the uncertainty of Maryland, I have to stay conservative with my pick on this one.

The Pick: Florida State

                                    #3 Clemson @ Syracuse 


The Tigers head up to Syracuse, NY for a meeting with ACC-newcomer, Syracuse, who will be playing in their first ACC football game. The fans and players are hyped up and confident they can knock off the Tigers Saturday but I have to belt out ( in my Lee Corso voice) NOT SO FAST, MY FRIEND! Syracuse's signature win to this point is a 54-0 rout over Wagner. WAGNER! Now I know anybody can beat anyone at any given time and playing on the road is never easy BUT Clemson has proved thus far that they are a legit BCS contender. The defense is coming off one of it's best games in the Swinney era and the Clemson offense is back on track after some issues against North Carolina State. Don't be surprised to see Syracuse have some success early but soon enough Tajh Boyd and the Tiger offense will take control of this game.

 The Pick: Clemson

Other Games of Interest: 

#14 Miami (FL) over Georgia Tech

#18 Florida over Arkansas 

Auburn over #24 Ole Miss

#17 Baylor over West Virginia

#5 Stanford over #15 Washington