By Will Vandervort.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — So who has the edge as the 22nd-ranked Clemson Tigers visit top-ranked Florida State tonight at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla.? The Clemson Insider breaks down all the key matchups as the Tigers go for their first ACC victory of the season.
Sean Maguire vs. Clemson defense: Things got even more interesting late Friday night as FSU officials announced quarterback Jameis Winston will be suspend for the entire game against Clemson. What was once an edge for Florida State, Clemson’s defense can now turn all of its focus to Mr. Maguire, who will be making his first career start and has played in just 10 games and thrown only 26 passes in his three seasons at Florida State. Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley and the rest of the Tigers defense don’t have to worry about how dangerous Winston is when he is in and out of the pocket and can focus on trying to make Maguire beat them. Look for the Tigers to try and take away the running game and short passes and force Maguire to make pressure passes on third down with Beasley, Corey Crawford, Grady Jarrett and Stephone Anthony coming after him. Advantage: Clemson
Clemson defensive line vs. FSU offensive line: This was the matchup of the night until the news about Winston was released. But this is still a very important matchup in the sense that both coaches came out this past week and talked about how close things really were up front between the two. Though Florida State won the game by 37 points, the Tigers still sacked Winston three times and held the Seminoles to 3.2 yards per carry on the ground. But the Seminoles, led by left tackle Cameron Erving, limited Clemson all-American defensive end Vic Beasley all night and gave Winston enough time to get the ball out of his hand as he threw for 444 yards and three touchdowns. Florida State is considered to have the nation’s best offensive line with five senior starters back from last year’s national title team, while the Tigers have all 12 letterman from the defensive line back, including four senior starters. Advantage: Even
Clemson’s Wide receivers vs. FSU secondary: FSU’s secondary is considered one of the best and most physical ones in the country. This group is led by sophomore safety Jalen Ramsey, who has 20 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. Cornerback P.J. Williams has a knack for making big plays, including a strip-fumble and fumble recovery in the win over Oklahoma State in the season opener. The other corner, Ronald Darby, is arguably the best lockdown cornerback in the ACC and the nation. As a sophomore in 2013, Darby allowed just nine completions and zero touchdowns on only 27 targets. The Tigers no longer have Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant, but Artavis Scott and Mike Williams are doing their best to fill their shoes. Scott is coming off a freshman record 164 yards and two touchdowns against S.C. State. The freshman is averaging 25.6 yards per catch, while Williams is averaging 24.4 yards per reception and has 171 yards for the season. Advantage: Florida State
FSU wide receiver Rashad Greene vs. Clemson corner Mackensie Alexander: Senior vs. Freshman. Experience vs. potential. Greene is one of the best receivers in the country and he is full of big-play potential. He had a 72-yard catch-and-run in the Seminoles’ victory last season and he has burned the Clemson secondary for 16 catches for 280 yards and four touchdowns. But Alexander was brought in just for this matchup and the young freshman will be eager to show the world he can hang with best in the country. Advantage: Florida State
Clemson Special Teams vs. FSU Special Teams: The Tigers special teams unit looked better against S.C. State as Ammon Lakip made three kicks and the coverage teams looked better. But that was S.C. State and Dabo Swinney called FSU’s special teams units the best in the land. Kicker Roberto Aguayo has made 99.2 percent (129 of 130) of his career kicks (102-102 on PAT’s and 27 of 28 on field goals) for the Seminoles and ranks 15th in scoring and ninth among kickers in scoring in school history and he is only a sophomore. Kick returner Kermit Whitfield averaged 36.4 yards per kick return in 2013. The average broke a 59-year-old ACC record and led the nation by over six yards. Whitfield has gained at least 25 yards on nine of his 18 career kickoff returns including one against Oklahoma State. Clemson allowed a 90-yard return two years ago that changed the course of the game and then allowed Todd Gurley of Georgia to return a kick 100 yards in the season-opener. Advantage: Florida State
Bottom line: The news on Jameis Winston is huge and it will affect the game, but not the outcome. The Seminoles are just too talented at every position and like Swinney said earlier in the week, the program is bigger than one player and that includes Mr. Winston. The Tigers will hang tough in this one, and I have thought that from the start, but in the end, FSU’s playmakers find a way to keep the defending national champions undefeated, while getting a leg up in the ACC’s Atlantic Division.
Prediction: Florida State 23, Clemson 16