CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Clemson vs Auburn prediction

Clemson vs Auburn prediction


by - Senior Writer -

The scrimmages are over, and it’s time for some big boy football.

The Clemson Tigers will take a trip down to the Plains of Auburn on Friday in anticipation of Saturday matchup. Kickoff is at 7:06 p.m., against their mirror image from the SEC.

Depending on which poll you look at, the home team is ranked either 15th or 16th in the country, and they have a big old quarterback in Cam Newton who will try to give the Clemson defense fits. And if you listen to all of the pundits, Newton will rush for 627 yards in the first quarter and the Clemson Tigers will be found cowering behind an ACC logo.

In honor of GameDay being at Auburn on Saturday, we invoke the spirit of ESPN’s Lee Corso when we say, “Not so fast, my friend.”

It’s true: Auburn has the advantages on their side, but this one already has the feel of a good old-fashioned, down-to-the-wire slugfest.

Clemson at Auburn

When Clemson Has the Ball

Watching Auburn play against both Arkansas St. and Miss. St., it became apparent that defensive coordinator Ted Roof isn’t into a lot of trickery. Auburn lined up in a lot of Cover 4, Cover 2 and Tampa 2, and it was apparent against Miss. St. that if the Bulldogs had a quarterback with ANY accuracy, he could picked Auburn apart. Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker is 15-26 for 283 yards and four touchdowns so far this season, and if the offensive line can give him time to throw, he could have a big day. My gut feeling is that Auburn, knowing how dangerous Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper are, will load the box and force Parker to find tight end Dwayne Allen or one of his receivers. The best-case scenario is that Clemson is able to run at will and Parker can find the holes in the zone enough to keep the chains moving. Yes, Auburn’s defense played well last week, and they have top-flight players in DE Antoine Carter and DT Nick Fairley, but the early guess is that Clemson can move the football.

ADVANTAGE – CLEMSON

When Auburn Has the Ball

The Clemson defense needs a big game. However, Auburn will send out quarterback Cam Newton, who is a threat with both his arm and his legs. This cat is dangerous, but I had one Clemson coach tell me that the name of the game against Auburn will be to make Newton win the game with his arm, not his legs. DE Andre Branch played the “bandit” position last week against Presbyterian and it would not be surprising to see him act as a spy on Newton – Branch is 6-5 and 265 pounds compared to the 6-6, 250-pound Newton. The big question will be if Clemson can stop the other runners that Auburn has – including Onterio McCalebb and freshman Michael Dyer. This group is a big reason that Auburn ranks ninth nationally in rushing offense with 278.5 yards per game. However, if Clemson wants to shut down the Auburn offense, they need to shut down Newton. And isn’t it about time Clemson had a big game from safety DeAndre McDaniel? Or maybe even safety Rashard Hall?

ADVANTAGE – AUBURN

Special Teams

This could be the difference for both teams. Clemson kicker Chandler Catanzaro has been perfect so far, including a 47-yard field goal, and punter Dawson Zimmerman has gotten off to a nice start. There haven’t been any huge plays in the return game, but Marcus Gilchrist is averaging a whopping 23.8 yards per punt return. Auburn has a dangerous weapon in kicker Wes Byrum, a pre-season Lou Groza Award finalist – but the key is to get Byrum to kick beyond 40 yards. For his career, Byrum is 33-for-39 from 39 yards and in. From 40 yards and out, he is a more pedestrian 12-of-22.

ADVANTAGE – EVEN

Coaching

The hiring of Gene Chizik at Auburn caused some consternation and head-scratching down on the Plains, but Chizik has quietly guided Auburn back to talk about contending in the SEC. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has the same record (15-8) through his first 23 games as his predecessor, Tommy Bowden, but there is a different feeling around Clemson now than at any time during the Bowden era. Will that new toughness translate into wins on the big stage? We’re about to find out.

ADVANTAGE –EVEN

BOTTOM LINE

Auburn has everything going for it – a 13-game winning streak against Clemson; the love of the national media; home-field advantage; a big, running quarterback; national rankings; GameDay on site. With all of the hoopla and love being thrust on Auburn, the key for Clemson will be to weather the initial emotional storm that will be present at Jordan-Hare Stadium. It usually takes eight to ten minutes from the game clock for an emotional crowd to settle in, and by that time, each team has an idea of what the other is trying to do. Clemson has to play smart in those first ten minutes, protect the football, and then settle in and run the ball and control the clock. Oh yeah – and corral Newton. If Clemson can get through that first outburst without falling behind, the possibility for an upset win on the road is very real. Jamie Harper said earlier this week that Clemson fans are going to see Clemson “grow up before their eyes.” I believe him.

THE PICK

CLEMSON 26, AUBURN 24



Previous picks - Actual score

CLEMSON 56, PRESBYTERIAN 6 - CLEMSON 58, PRESBYTERIAN 21

CLEMSON 52, NORTH TEXAS 10 - CLEMSON 35, NORTH TEXAS 10

Ultimate Level LogoUpgrade Your Account

Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.

Upgrade Now
Comment on this story
Print   
Send Feedback to David Hood: Email | Comment
FIRST LOOK: Clemson Basketball Dancing in March Bobblehead unveiled
FIRST LOOK: Clemson Basketball Dancing in March Bobblehead unveiled
4-star lineman picks up Clemson offer on visit
4-star lineman picks up Clemson offer on visit
WATCH: Clemson coordinators talk spring progress, break down latest scrimmage
WATCH: Clemson coordinators talk spring progress, break down latest scrimmage
No. 2 Tigers take on Hurricanes
No. 2 Tigers take on Hurricanes
Post your comments!
Subject (Replies: 61) Author
spacer Clemson vs Auburn prediction
Crump®
spacer Clemson 37 - Auburn 24...
tigerP94
spacer What's your prediction? Post it here***
Crump®
spacer CU-38 AUB-31***
DefensiveTackleU
spacer Winner gets the steak knives!***
MDT1GER
spacer 24-17 Auburn.
MDT1GER
spacer 24-17 Good Guys!***
TigerJustin
spacer 28-24 going wtih my heart***
tgrfan42069
spacer btw clemson has the 28***
tgrfan42069
spacer I wish I felt better about this one . . .
Smiling Tiger®
spacer Clemson 33-28******
william
spacer 30-13 Clemson.***
tigahfan
spacer 34-17 Auburn
Clemsonjoe
spacer Clemson 31 - Auburn 30***
tiger_thom®
spacer Clemson 27-24***
Tiger95
spacer My prediction
Baltimore Tiger®
spacer Clemson 23, Auburn 21***
BigTigerShow
spacer 35-17 Auburn.....
ClemsonZJ
spacer Re: 35-17 Auburn.....
Nosmelc_Sregit
spacer Russell Wilson, Christian Ponder, Morgan Newton...
camcgee®
spacer No. He's more like TCU's Andy Dalton, only bigger & faster
Razzmatazz
spacer Morgan Newton is NOT a mobile quarterback***
HoustonTiger05
spacer Re: 35-17 Auburn.....
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer I am with ya on this one. Dont see us pulling this game out***
fishingtiger
spacer Me - 24, Bud Light - 0 ***
Accu
spacer Me 1 --- Jim Beam 0 CU 28 Aub 33
nudetigerfan
spacer 34-17...Tigers***
Rowdy28
spacer Auburn 89 - Clemson 4
doppelganger
spacer Re: Auburn 89 - Clemson 4
brad12
spacer Re: Auburn 89 - Clemson 4
SOLOS®
spacer Tigers 34 - 6
AikenC
spacer Clemson 35- Auburn 27***
camcgee®
spacer Clemson 31 Auburn 23
BigOrangez
spacer Re: Clemson vs Auburn prediction
SOLOS®
spacer Re: Clemson vs Auburn prediction
Scann1282
spacer 13-6. Clemson.***
mattthematty
spacer Clemson 24, Eagles 21***
MarineOneClemson®
spacer Re: Clemson vs Auburn prediction
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Re: Clemson vs Auburn prediction
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer 38-17 Clemson
kfast600
spacer Heart: 34-31 Clemson. Head: 34-31 Auburn. 30% upset. chance***
Razzmatazz
spacer Orange Colored Glasses?????***
kbtiger®
spacer Re: Orange Colored Glasses?????***
Ridgeland Booster®
spacer Clemson....Shixtee-Shree to Sheventeen***
E335JStone
spacer Hope: 28-14 CU / Prob: 42-13 AU ***
RU4GOD2
spacer Is my meter broken?***
PJSmith
spacer My prediction: Pain***
PGTiger
spacer Signed
BuzzPaw
spacer i got a lotta mo***
12 - 0
spacer Clemson 27 Auburn 21***
PACIFIC BEACH TIGER®
spacer 34-30 Clemson***
gatecitytiger
spacer Clemson 4, Auburn 3
ATLOrange®
spacer Wait. Is Willard out at WLB (elbow)? Is Maye 100%. at WLB?***
Razzmatazz
spacer Hoping the D I thought we had will show up..ClemU 28-20.***
joeyb®
spacer Re: Clemson vs Auburn prediction
jprysinski
spacer 34-17 Good Guys!***
deleted
spacer I swear I hope I am wrong, but Auburn 27 CU 17
tigertrain®
spacer Clemson 9 Auburn 3 Go you mangy cats!
LongTimeTater
spacer 28-17 - CLEMSON***
kktigers
spacer 30-27 Clemson***
PMS165
spacer Re: Clemson vs Auburn prediction
wireless
spacer Re: Clemson vs Auburn prediction
clemsonfan1973