Friday December 04, 2009

ACC Championship Prediction by Rev O

I'm still having a hard time swallowing the loss to the coots last weekend but life goes on. My only saving grace is that I don't live in South Carolina so I don't have to listen to the USC fans talking about it. I was hooting and hollering when Spiller broke the opening kickoff for a TD but I quickly calmed down after Jamie Harper fumbled the ball on the next Clemson drive. OK, I'm over it now and time to move on. It's been a long season. Both teams will come into this game with emotion. Let there be no doubt - Paul Johnson has done a great job executing the triple option and they will gain yards on the ground against a very good Clemson defense but I think Kevin Steele will have the Clemson defense ready at the beginning of the game rather than half way through the second half like the last time. The Clemson defense will play disciplined defense and stick to their assignments. It's the only way you can beat the triple option offense of GT. The Clemson defensive line needs to play hard and stuff the run up the middle making the GT offense go outside where Clemson's speed will prevail like it has all season. The Clemson offense needs to control the line of scrimmage so a running game can be established and therefore opening up the passing game.

When Clemson has the ball: Advantage: Clemson

Clemson Scoring Offense is 2nd in the ACC. GT Scoring Defense is 6th in the ACC.
Clemson Total Offense is 8th in the ACC. GT Total Defense is 6th in the ACC.
Clemson Rushing Offense is 3rd in the ACC. GT Rushing Defense is 5th in the ACC.
Clemson Passing Offense is 7th in the ACC. GT Pass Defense is 8th in the ACC.

Kyle Parker has developed into a good freshman QB and he will have to throw the ball well against a good GT defense led by ACC Defensive Player of the Year Derrick Morgan who leads the ACC in sacks with 12. Clemson's offensive line and backs will have to do a good job blocking Morgan when Parker drops back to pass. Clemson has its own special weapon of course in the way of ACC Offensive Player of the Year, and this just in, first team All-American, CJ Spiller. CJ will give it his all but I think he has been ailing a little in the last couple of game due to his injured toe. His cuts are not as sharp as they used to be but the speed is still there. As in the first game between these two teams, I see Clemson moving the ball with a balanced offense but where Clemson can be most effective is in the passing game. Parker completed just 15 of 32 passes the last time these two teams met and Clemson still almost won the game. If he's on his game, I can see some hurt being put on the GT pass defense.

When GT has the ball: Advantage: GT

GT Scoring Offense is 1st in the ACC. Clemson Scoring Defense is 4th in the ACC.
GT Total Offense is 1st in the ACC. Clemson Total Defense is 3rd in the ACC.
GT Rushing Offense is 1st in the ACC. Clemson Rushing Defense is 4th in the ACC.
GT Passing Offense is 12th in the ACC. Clemson Pass Defense is 2nd in the ACC.

Clemson leads the league in sacks but since GT runs the ball from the triple option, this will not have an affect on the outcome of the game. The ends playing disciplined defense and playing the QB will be vital. This will allow the CBs to come up on the pitch man with lightning speed. But the defense will have to watch out for trickery and not get burned with a long pass play. The Clemson defensive backfield will need to keep an eye on 6-3, 229lb WR Demaryius Thomas who has great ball skills and speed. They throw to him most of the time. Paul Johnson is too good a coach to not know that the Clemson defense will be hard to run and pass against so he'll have something up his sleeve. Clemson Beware!! Brandon Maye will also need to do a good job of stuffing the dive up the middle. And again, If the defensive tackles can get some penetration this will further disrupt the triple option. It's time for Sapp and Bowers to shine again.

Special Teams: Advantage: Clemson

Spiller and Ford will continue to wreak havoc on Special Teams. That is if GT decides to kick to them. Paul Johnson has had all season to see what Spiller can do to a confident kickoff team. If the game is a close one, special teams might be the difference, both in field position and field goals. Jackson will need to show some good consistency.

Intangibles: Advantage: Even

They are playing in neutral territory and there will be just as many Yellow Jackets fans in the stands as Tiger fanes.

Prediction: The bookies have GT as 1 pt favorites. That sounds like a draw to me. Can GT beat the Tigers twice in one season? As usual, I'm going against the experts and being optimistic:

Clemson 24 GT 17

Go Tigers!!

Rev O