Here is a look at the top matchups for today’s game between No. 3 Clemson at NC State. The game is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m., and will be televised regionally on ABC and nationally on ESPN2. The Wolfpack enter the game with a 5-2 record and are 1-2 in the ACC, while the Tigers are 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the ACC.
Wayne Gallman vs. NC State run defense: NC State head coach Dave Doeren said earlier in the week the key to slowing Clemson’s offense down is to slow down running back Wayne Gallman. Maybe that is true, but just ask Boston College how well that worked. Gallman is ranked third in the ACC in rushing at 105 yards per game, and he has rushed for at least 111 yards in four of the last five games. The only game he didn’t was against Boston College so Deshaun Watson aired it out for 420 yards and two touchdowns. NC State’s run defense is pretty stingy and it may stop Gallman, but if that’s the case, can it stop Watson and Clemson’s playmakers at wide receiver and tight end. I don’t think it can do both. Advantage: Clemson
Deshaun Watson vs. NC State secondary: This goes a lot towards what I said above. I think Doeren seems pretty cocky about his secondary of he feels stopping Gallman is the only key in slowing the Tigers down on offense. They tried this same approach with Virginia Tech a few weeks back and backup quarterback Brenden Motley threw three touchdown passes against them. Deshaun Watson is a little bit better than Motley, and I know Clemson’s wide receivers are. Advantage: Clemson
Clemson’s offensive line and Deshaun Watson vs. NC State’s blitz: The Wolfpack will want to bring pressure. That’s what they do. They had seven sacks against Wake Forest last week and are third in the ACC with 19. The goal isn’t to get sacks though. They want to break up the timing of Watson and his wide receivers. The trick will be how fast Watson and the O-Line can pick up the blitz and recognize where they might be coming from. Though he was sacked three times in the BC games and knocked down several other times, most of the time Watson picked out where the blitz was coming from and checked into the right play. That frustrated BC. No college quarterback east of the Mississippi recognizes where the blitz is coming at pre-snap better than Watson. This is perhaps the biggest matchup in the whole game. Advantage: Clemson
Clemson secondary’s vs. NC State’s wide receivers: NC State feels like they can challenge Clemson’s wide receivers. This should be interesting to watch. Several Clemson players did say the Wolfpack secondary seemed to be their strength on defense. Even Swinney said it will be a challenge. Though that might be the case, I still like Artavis Scott, Jordan Leggett Hunter Renfrow, Charone Peake, Ray Ray McCloud and Deon Cain in these matchups. Leggett is especially appealing. He is going to pull a safety down in coverage because a linebacker will not be able to stay on him so that will leave someone like Scott or Cain in single coverage and like Clemson’s chances in those matchups. Advantage: Clemson
NC State’s Special Teams vs. Clemson’s Special Teams: NC State ranks third in the ACC on kick returns (26.5 ypr) and third on punt returns (15.8 ypr). Punt returner Bra’Lon Cherry is second in the ACC with a 16.4 yard average, including one touchdown. His longest return has been 52 yards. Kick returner Nyheim Hines, a true freshman Clemson recruited, ranks second in the ACC as well at 27.4 yards per return. His has a kick return of 90 yards. The Tigers gave up a 100-yard kickoff return at Louisville earlier this season. Clemson’s punt coverage has been solid for much of the season as punter Andy Teasdall has held opponents to only 4.0 yards per return, and after Ammon Lakip took over the kickoff duties following his three-game suspension to start the season, opponents are averaging just 18.0 yards per kick return. Lakip has 13 touchbacks in his 27 kicks, and 16 have gone to the goal line. As for placekickers, the Tigers seem to have the edge with Greg Huegel. The freshman has made 9 of his 11 kicks this year, including a long of 47 yards. NC State’s Kyle Bambard, also a freshman, has made just 3 of 8 kicks this year. He is 0-for-2 from 40-plus yards and just 3-of-6 from 30-39 yards. Advantage: NC State
Bottom line: Clemson is better.
Prediction: Clemson 55, NC State 10