CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Brad Mills - USA Today Sports
Brad Mills - USA Today Sports

Pollack on Clemson-NC State: "This should be an awesome showdown"


by - Assoc. Editor -

ESPN analyst David Pollack gave his game breakdown of No. 3 Clemson versus No. 16 North Carolina State on Saturday afternoon.

"This should be an awesome showdown," he said. "If you think the Wolfpack are just a team that has been just skating by, they are really good. They are really physical. If you watch Ryan Finley throw the football, he's been there for five years, has so much experience. He dinks and dunks. If you look at Clemson's pass defense, it hasn't been the best this season.

Pollack thinks that the Wolfpack defense will be a test for Lawrence and Co.

"If you flip on the other side, NC State makes you earn every yard. Watch No. 3 middle linebacker, he is an absolute animal. Trying to stop Travis Etienne, if you look at Clemson, this should be an offense that is centered around him for the rest of the season while Trevor Lawrence continues to grow. I think we got a heck of a matchup coming to Death Valley this weekend."

Pollack said the Wolfpack might be the toughest left for Clemson on the Playoff.

"I think (NC State) is the biggest challenge for Clemson the rest of the way because NC State can make Trevor Lawrence beat them through the air," said Pollack recently on an ESPN show. "They're physical enough upfront. They're a good tackling defense. They're disciplined enough that this week - and for that purpose - Alabama is the team I expect to be the one that runs the table. I think Clemson has a few more challenges on its hands coming up that will take all they need."

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