Clemson preview

The Tigers of Auburn take their young team to a hostile environment for the first time this Saturday into the confines of Death Valley, home to the Clemson Tigers. Clemson, I'm sure you have heard, is very similar to AU in that the people who built AU, moved to South Carolina and built a similar campus, etc. After last year's game, where Clemson was one pass away from winning, they have had this game circled on the calendar and have wanted another shot. AU was fortunate to win last year and that game really catapulted them into the conference games and playing with more intensity and physicality (word?, it is now). Clemson's season spiraled out of control and the team that probably should have beaten AU ended up 6-7.

This weekend's game will be a shootout, I believe. Both teams have struggled this year defensively and I don't really expect that to change Saturday. Auburn has had the opportunity to play MSU, a bit more of a challenge than Wofford or Troy, but both teams have given up huge chunks of yardage. Clemson brought in a Malzahn protoge who runs a very similar offense as AU. CU's QB, Tajh Boyd is a smaller version of Relf: runs better than he throws. He is complemented by Andre Ellington, who gashed us last year for 140 yards, in the backfield along with a pair of 5-star freshman phenoms in RB Mike Bellamy and WR Sammie Coates. Clemson, like AU, is a young team trying to get a feel for their identity and has had some issues with production and execution.

I feel that Clemson's struggles in the first two games are nothing to write home about, because they were probably overlooking/preparing in advance for AU and the two HUGE games that follow, FSU and VT. AU will have to stop the run, especially the read option that is sure to come, and make Boyd throw the ball in order to beat Clemson. The interior D line has to play big and make some stops and the rush ends cannot over-run the play. And for goodness sake, someone please punish the QB on the option read. If AU does, Boyd will think twice about running and he will more than likely pitch it sooner, allowing our defense to rush to the ball. On offense, we need to continue to play physical and push them off the line of scrimmage. I think AU will be able to move the ball, but will have to put points on the board. A deep ball every now and then would be nice too. Malzahn has a knack for setting up plays, for example: AU may run the bubble screen every game and then, out of the same formation, AU may run a reverse flea-flicker against bama for a TD. The point is I expect to see more bubble screens Saturday.

Another 11am kick and the temps are supposed to be in the upper 60's to low 70's. The crowd will be loud and the young team will have to be able to communicate and respond. This is a huge game for both teams, however, 4 of Clemson's coaches either played or coached at bama, so a little more incentive for them. I think Clemson will come out fired up and hot and will take a lead, but AU will respond and be able to move the ball consistently. Again, I see a shoot-out and a back and forth score until Parkey kicks the game winner with no time on the clock.

Prediction: AU - 31 CU - 28