No. 6 Clemson at Miami
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Here is a look at the top matchups for today’s game between No. 6 Clemson at Miami. The game is scheduled to kick off at 12:02 p.m., and will be televised nationally on ABC. The Hurricanes enter the game with a 4-2 record and are 1-1 in the ACC, while the Tigers are 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the ACC.
Wayne Gallman vs. Miami run defense: Gallman was held to his lowest output of the season by Boston College last week. The Eagles, who lead the nation in run defense, held him to 48 yards on 17 carries. But Miami’s front seven isn’t as good as BC’s. The Hurricanes are allowing opponents to run for 167.3 yards per game and nearly 5.0 yards per carry. It doesn’t help Miami either that linebacker, and leading tackler, Raphael Kirby (44 tackles) is out for the season with a torn ACL. Gallman is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and 97.3 per game, which ranks third in the ACC. Gallman has 584 yards and five touchdowns. Advantage: Clemson
Deshaun Watson vs. Miami secondary: The question is how will Miami defend Watson and a Clemson passing game that seems to be warming up? Watson threw for 420 yards against BC last week after the Eagles gambled and lost time-and-time again while bringing constant pressure and leaving their corners on the edge. Miami has recorded 15 sacks this year and will bring pressure at times. But the secondary, despite recording 11 interceptions to lead the ACC, ranks 11th in pass defense, allowing 212 yards per game. Opponents complete nearly 60 percent of their passes. Watson has thrown for 1,410 yards and a league leading 14 touchdowns this year, while completing 68.2 percent of his passes. Watson has thrown seven interceptions this year, but only three have been charged to him. Advantage: Clemson
Clemson’s defensive line vs. Miami’s offensive line: Miami is still working several guys on the offensive line and has not settled on a set lineup even though they are halfway through the regular season. The seven guys working various spots include tackles Trevor Darling, Sunny Odogwu and Danny Isidora; guards Kc McDermott, Joe Brown, Alex Gall and Isidora; and center Nick Linder. Miami ranks 12th in the ACC at running the football at 136.3 yards per game, though running back Joe Yearby has 517 yards and five touchdowns this season. Yearby is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Clemson’s rush defense ranks third in the ACC at 114.2 yards allowed. Teams are averaging just 3.0 yards per carry this season. Clemson once again is among the nation’s best in recording tackles for loss at more than 9.0 per game, which ranks ninth nationally. Defensive end Shaq Lawson has 11.5 tackles for a loss, while the other end, Kevin Dodd, has eight tackles for loss and a team-high 4.5 sacks. Freshman Christian Wilkins is fourth on the team with 44 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss. Advantage: Clemson
Miami’s Brad Kaaya vs. Clemson secondary: Kaaya is without a doubt the best quarterback Clemson has seen this season. He has thrown just one interception this year in 219 pass attempts and has thrown just five in the last 421 attempts. What makes him even more special is the fact, despite having no real threat of a running game he has been sacked just seven times. He has a quick release and makes good decisions. He makes it hard to defend him because he gets rid of the ball so fast. He also does a great job of putting the ball in the hands of his playmakers like Rashawn Scott, who has 33 receptions for 446 yards and four touchdowns. The Tigers are allowing opponents to complete just 43.8 percent of their passes for 167.5 yards per game. The Tigers have seven interceptions and have allowed just six touchdown passes this season. Advantage: Miami
Miami’s Special Teams vs. Clemson’s Special Teams: Kicker Michael Badgley has made 16 of 19 kicks for Miami, while punter Justin Vogel is averaging 45.5 yards per punt. Punt returner Corn Elder averages 14.2 yards per return. He has one return for 72 yards and a touchdown. Clemson kicker Greg Huegel has made has made 8 of 10 field goals, while Ammon Lakip has helped the Tigers on kick coverage with his high and deep kicks. Punter Andy Teasdall has a net average of 38.9 yards, but he has 11 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Ray Ray McCloud is averaging 42.0 yards on three kickoff returns, while Artavis Scott is averaging 25.2 yards per return. Advantage: Miami
Bottom line: Can Clemson take care of the football? The Tigers have turned the ball over five times in the last two games, which has led to 27 points for the opposition. That is something Clemson cannot do against a team like Miami and a quarterback like Brad Kaaya. The sophomore will make them pay. Miami leads the nation in turnover margin, while Clemson ranks 12th in the ACC. But what gives Clemson the edge today is its production on third down on both offense and defense. The Tigers lead the ACC on opponents’ third down conversions, holding the opposition to a 20.0 percent conversion rate. On offense, Clemson ranks sixth in the ACC at 43.3 percent. Miami is last in the ACC on third downs at 32.9 percent conversion rate, while opponents have a 31.4 percent success rate.
Prediction: Clemson 24, Miami 20