Clemson vs. N.C. State prediction

Nov 5, 2010, 12:15 PM

N.C. State at Clemson

When Clemson Has the Ball
The Tigers will have to execute on offense against the Wolfpack defense. Passes will have to be completed. Rushes will have to get at least beyond the line of scrimmage or better. First downs will help the Tigers keep the ball for more plays. State's defense will try to sack the quarterback so the Clemson offensive line will have to block them. Wolfpack defenders will also try to catch passes that are intended for Tiger receivers. Clemson does not want that to happen.

When N.C. State Has the Ball
The Wolfpack fields a quarterback who either does or does not have a child, like previous State qb Phillip Rivers did. Either way, we don't care. The Wolfpack will have to move the ball in the right direction, toward the goal that the Tigers are defending, with the ultimate goal of scoring touchdowns and/or field goals. The Wolfpack offense is much like the Tiger offense, in the sense of not wanting to commit turnovers. These teams have quite a bit in common.

Special Teams
Kicking is one of the aspects of a football game, but only a relatively small part of it, which is odd because the name of the game has "foot" in it so you'd think there would be more kicking, like there is when girls fight. Clemson will be looking to have punts go very far. Same goes for field goals, unless they are close, then the kick doesn't have to go far. It just has to make it through the uprights. State will be trying to do the same. Each team will also try to block these kicks. Neither team is very good at blocking kick-offs.

Coaching
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney faces some tough questions this season, such as, "Is it pronounced 'Dayz-bo' or 'Dahz-bo' or what? We work for ESPN and we put a 'Z' in 'Clemson' so we need to know where to put the 'Z' in your name." N.C. State head coach Tom O'Something is a quiet spoken man who rarely shows emotion on the sidelines, unlike his predecessor who wore red shoes and looked more like he belonged on the Sopranos than on a coaching staff.

BOTTOM LINE
Don't forget to pick up the trash around your area while tailgating.

THE PICK

CLEMSON 31, N.C. State 17