By Will Vandervort.
Here is a look at all the top matchups for today’s No. 19 Clemson at Wake Forest game, which will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Clemson’s run defense vs. Wake’s running game: Is this a mismatch of all mismatches? Since the Georgia game, Clemson has allowed opponents to rush for just 69 yards a game. Wake Forest comes in with the worst rushing offense in the country at 34.5 yards a game. The Demon Deacons have rushed for just 276 yards all season and no running back has more than 143 net yards. Advantage: Clemson
Clemson’s running game vs. Wake’s run defense: The Demon Deacons are not too bad up front or on defense at all for that matter. They just wear down because their offense has not got the job done. They are allowing 178.5 yards a game on the ground but most of that is coming late in the game after they have been on the field the whole night. Clemson’s running game is not too good by any stretch, but it has become stronger as a game goes on, especially in wins over Louisville, Boston College and Syracuse. I look for this trend to continue tonight in Winston-Salem, N.C. Advantage: Clemson
Clemson wide receivers vs. Wake’s cornerbacks: Mike Williams and Artavis Scott have emerged as playmakers in Clemson’s passing game as Scott has 45 receptions this year for 502 yards and three scores, while Williams leads the nation with a 21.2 yards-per-catch-average and has 743 yards on just 35 catches and four scores. Wake’s Merrill Noel and Kevin Johnson are perhaps the best combination of cornerbacks in the ACC this year and more than likely will be playing on Sundays. As bad as things have been this year for the Deacons, the secondary has allowed just six touchdown passes through the first eight games of the season. Advantage: Wake Forest
John Wolford vs. Clemson’s defense: For the third time in four games Clemson will face a true freshman quarterback in John Wolford. Because he is playing with a ton of other freshmen as well, Wolford and the Wake offense have struggled all year. He has been sacked 31 times, he has thrown 13 interceptions and has just seven touchdown passes. Wolford has thrown for 1,377 yards and is completing 61.3 percent of his passes, but his longest throw down field is just 46 yards. The Tigers secondary ranks fifth in the country in pass defense, 12th in pass efficiency defense and has allowed just eight touchdown passes. The Tigers have also recorded 30 sacks this year and has record at least three sacks in seven of its eight games. Advantage: Clemson
Clemson special teams vs. Wake’s special teams: Wake’s Mike Weaver is 9-for-9 on field goals with a long of 43 yards, while punter Alex Kinal is averaging 43.6 yards per punt with 17 downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line with no touchbacks. Punt returner Jared Crump is averaging 12.8 yards per return. Clemson’s opponents are averaging just 2.8 yards on Bradley Pinion’s 51 punts this year. He has a net average of 40.0 yards, but he has nailed 22 punts inside the 20-yard line and has just two touchbacks. The Tigers punt and kick coverage teams have done much better since the Georgia game, but the punt and kick return teams continue to struggle to get anything going. Adam Humphries 72-yard punt return for a score in the Louisville game is the lone bright spot all year. Kicker Ammon Lakip has improved greatly and has made 15 of 19 field goals this season, including 11 of his last 12 overall. Advantage: Wake Forest
Bottom line: This game is so lopsided on one side of the ball—when Wake Forest has the ball—there is no way anyone can imagine Wake Forest winning this game. But the question is can Clemson get enough offense to win the game from quarterback Cole Stoudt and company? If Stoudt can’t get them going, then look for Deshaun Watson to come in and man the ship the rest of the way. With Clemson’s defense so dominant and Wake’s offense so bad that’s all a Clemson quarterback has to do in tonight’s game. Just manage the game, take care of the football and make enough plays in the running game and the Tigers will come out of Winston-Salem at worse with a two-score victory. The defense will play great, but if Watson does not play, look for the offense to struggle and to do just enough to get a victory.
Prediction: Clemson 16, Wake Forest 0