Clemson vs North Carolina Preview and Prediction |
It's mid-October and time for one of the more interesting traditions in sports
to unfold once again. No, we're not referring to the pennant races, the mid-season point of the NFL, or the NCAA national football championship race. It's Carl Torbush's annual production of his one-man play "Hanging on for Dear Life." QUARTERBACKS- Ronald Curry is an exceptionally gifted athlete who is blessed with the rare combination of size, speed, and quickness. Unfortunately for Torbush, Curry hasn't proven to be anything more than a slightly above-average quarterback. While his numbers have been respectable in 2000 (74-135, 1250-yds, nine touchdowns and five interceptions), Curry hasn't yet shown the decision making ability to effectively lead the Tar Heel offense. Ironically, Clemson's Woodrow Dantzler is now the player that North Carolina fans expected Curry would be when he arrived in Chapel Hill. Advantage: Clemson RUNNING BACKS- True freshman Brandon Russell leads the Tar Heel rushing attack despite averaging only 3.4 yards per carry. As a team, North Carolina has gained only 128 yards per game on the ground and scored a total of only six rushing touchdowns. In direct contrast, Clemson has averaged nearly 300 yards rushing and has amassed an astonishing 29 rushing touchdowns in seven games. Advantage: Clemson. CLEMSON RECEIVERS VS. UNC SECONDARY- North Carolina's secondary has struggled thus far, allowing 233 yards per game through the air and a total of 11 passing touchdowns. Cornerbacks Anthony Anderson (5-9) and Errol Hood (5-10) could have serious problems guarding Clemson's sizable receivers, particularly if 6-4 Kevin Youngblood joins 6-3 Rod Gardner in the starting lineup. Advantage: Clemson UNC RECEIVERS VS. CLEMSON SECONDARY- North Carolina's receiving corps is both deep and talented, with junior speedster Kory Bailey leading the way. Bailey has proven to be both a deep threat and an effective possession receiver, averaging 17.6 yards per catch and 63 yards per game through the air. 6-2 sophomore Sam Aiken leads the team with three receiving touchdowns while Bosley Allen boasts an impressive 22.3-yards per catch average. Despite giving up a league-leading 163 yards per game through the air, Clemson cornerbacks have been burned a handful of times in the past two weeks. Advantage: North Carolina CLEMSON OFFENSIVE LINE VS. UNC DEFENSIVE LINE- North Carolina has churned out its fair share of talented defensive linemen over the past few years and it certainly appears that the Tar Heels are once again loaded up front in 2000. Sophomore Julius Peppers (who will play against Clemson despite suffering a concussion last Saturday against NC State) and senior Ross McAllister are the bookends of a North Carolina unit that has allowed an average of only 101 yards per game on the ground. With that fact in mind, the going will be tougher for a Tiger offensive line that has dominated its opponents thus far. Advantage: Even NORTH CAROLINA OFFENSIVE LINE VS. CLEMSON DEFENSIVE LINE- North Carolina has struggled to establish a ground game (128 yards per game average) while Clemson has been exceptional at stuffing the run as the Tigers have allowed an average of only 74.7 yards rushing per game. It will be key for the Clemson linemen to provide an effective pass rush, something this unit has failed to do consistently thus far. Advantage: Even LINEBACKERS- A strong performance by the Clemson linebackers will be critical if the Tigers are to keep Curry under wraps. Look for North Carolina to try and hit their running backs and tight ends in the flat and underneath in an effort to take advantage of Clemson's ultra-aggressive blitzing schemes. For the Tar Heels, Merceda Perry and All-ACC candidate Brandon Spoon lead starting group made exclusively of seniors. Advantage: Even SPECIAL TEAMS- North Carolina kicker Jeff Reed has connected on 6-7 field goal attempts thus far for an 86% success rate. Clemson kickers have connected on a mere 91% on PAT kicks. Those statistics alone make the advantage decidedly clear in this category. Advantage: North Carolina COACHING- Quite simply, it is a miracle that Carl Torbush has remained the head football coach in Chapel Hill as long as he has. The Tar Heels are loaded with talent- perhaps more so than Clemson- yet continue to flounder about in the depths of mediocrity. One could only imagine what might happen to a UNC basketball coach if his teams consistently performed at such a level. As for Clemson, the Tigers haven't appeared to fire on all cylinders since the second half against Virginia on September 23. With Florida State and South Carolina looming, it's time for the team to find its stride as they head into the stretch run. Advantage: Clemson Clemson- 42 North Carolina- 17 A look back at last year's North Carolina game at Death Valley
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