Now it is time for the blood to start pumping, the hair to raise wherever it is you happen to have hair (no details please), and whatever nervous twitches you may have to start going at full speed. While it may not be good for your health, it's exactly how I hope to feel every week, especially for a game I'll be in attendance for. I'll enjoy the tailgating with family and college friends, the atmosphere as I'm walking into the stadium, and the electric pulse of the crowd during the "LET'S GO...HOKIES!!" chant right before Sandman. I'll be bringing a friend with me for the game who I don't think has ever been to Lane Stadium before, but if he has it was as a fan of the other team, so it's always fun to initiate new blood.
All eyes will be on us for the first time really all season, while the Tigers have gotten most of the national exposure and respect due to their big wins the past two weeks. I'm always curious how much of our games the analysts actually watch when we're not on a nationally televised game or playing big time opponents. They do their research and read the stats, but I can never fully believe their views on what the team is doing right or wrong or capable of. So to some extent I don't blame anyone who puts more of their faith into Clemson right now, but as usual, I think we're flying under the radar to how prepared we are for a game of this caliber.
Clemson Offense
To give credit where credit is due, Clemson has surprised me with their efficiency on the offensive side of the ball all season long. With a new coordinator, new QB, and new offensive philosophy, there haven't really been any growing pains this year for the Tigers. Averaging almost 38 points a game is pretty damn good, even if you want to argue the opponents and their respective defensive capabilities as a possible catalyst for that average.
The key to stopping this high powered O will come down to two things: Keeping them out of the endzone, and keeping them off the field. Sounds simple, and what you should do every game, but I'll expand.
Clemson is very good at controlling the clock and wearing down the opposing D by the 2nd half. To try and counter that, it is important for both sides of the ball to contribute. The defense needs to do its thing and get the stops as quickly as possible. This will keep the crowd loud and excited each possession, and will keep the legs rested. The offense needs to be able to sustain their own drives to give Bud's Boys ample time to rest. Once again, sounds simple and obvious, but will play a big part in the final outcome.
Tajh Boyd has been lights out this year (66% completions, 13:1 TD:INT). He is able to keep the opposing defense honest by spreading the ball out to a plethora of receivers, so you can't focus on just one or two guys. If there is one guy you need to keep your eye on every play, it is freshman Sammy Watkins. He leads a large pool of receivers in every statistical category by a good margin for the low amount of games played. He is also one of those freak athletes that is capable of scoring just about any time he gets his hands on the ball.
While the passing game is definitely the focus and strength, the run game shouldn't be underestimated. There are very capable backs on this roster, and Andre Ellington was one of my "players-to-watch" at the beginning of the season. There needs to be a high level of discipline to shut down the run, and force Boyd to try and make calls at the line in a deafening atmosphere. We also can't afford to put all our chips in one basket and focus solely on one receiver. Hosley would be great to have on Watkins as often as possible, but with all the movements, and shifts the Tigers will do, it wouldn't be good in the long run to have Jayron shadow him all the time.
Clemson Defense
While the main attraction of the game will be the Clemson O vs the Hokie D and who wins that battle, as a Hokie fan, I'm excited to see what happens on the other side of the coin. Clemson is averaging giving up 25 ppg, while the Hokies average scoring almost 35. Statistically speaking we should be able to score 3-4 touchdowns in this game as long as we're not completely inept. Even if we take away one for difference of opponent's skill level, we're still looking at points in the 20s.
For as successful as Clemson's recruiting has been year in and year out, it is surprising what poor numbers the Tigers are giving up. There has been turnover in some positions this past season, and a couple of studs who are a little too young/inexperienced to contribute right now, but the numbers are still bad. Giving up 400 yards a game, with there being an almost 50/50 split between rushing and passing yards doesn't scare most opposing offenses. If you're good at passing, do that. Same for run heavy teams. And teams like VT who are very balanced and capable at both, you have a fall back if one isn't going so well that day.
In the past, it's been the Tigers' O-line that has given them problems, but this year it is the D-line. Instead of getting sacked all the time, now they can't tackle anyone behind the line of scrimmage. In a game of two young QBs, trying to rattle the other could play a big key, and in that area the Hokies definitely have the advantage. The Lieutenant should have plenty of time in the pocket to survey the D and make appropriate decisions. The Jet and J.O. should be able to find the holes and get positive yards on every touch. This is the area we need to exploit if we want to control the clock and scoreboard.
The (Not Really An) Intangible
The beauty of college sports is the fact that there is turnover for every team every year. Each season and recruiting class is the possibility for almost every program to take a step forward in becoming a contender. The down side to this is that it makes the past record between two teams almost a pointless stat; especially for teams like Clemson and VT who only play each other (scheduled) twice every five years. In the second game of a two year series, you can look at what happened last year, but after that, usually half the starters and sometimes the coaches are different.
Having said that, the Hokies have completely dominated the Tigers. Here are the scores of the each game since the 1998 season:
1998 - VT 38, Clemson 0 (Clemson, SC)
1999 - VT 31, Clemson 11 (Blacksburg, VA)
2001 - VT 41, Clemson 21 (Gator Bowl)
2006 - VT 24, Clemson 7 (Blacksburg, VA)
2007 - VT 41, Clemson 23 (Clemson, SC)
In some of those games VT was clearly the better team. Some of them Clemson was hot or we were cold, and we were underdogs. Whatever the situation, the players, the coaches, etc., we played electric on defense and were able to punch them in the mouth from early on through most of the game. If this game was being played with last year's VT defense, but this year's Clemson offense, I would be more scared of this game than I am. Not to say I'm not scared, I think this is literally a 50/50 game as to who the winner will be. But the reason we have had success against the Tigers in the past decade-plus is a strength for us this year too. Not that I would have otherwise, but that is the main reason I am picking the Hokies to win.
Score Prediction: Gobblers - 27 Tigers - 20
LET'S GO...HOKIES!!!
Follow along on twitter @UtProsimGobbler
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