Paw Predictions: No. 2 Clemson vs. South Carolina
No. 2 Clemson will host South Carolina in prime time, under the lights at home for just the second time this season, and the Tigers are currently a 26 point favorite over the Gamecocks, the largest spread in rivalry history. Our official prediction will come out later but you can see how the national media is viewing this game below.
The last time these two met:
247 Sports, 42-21 Clemson/41-10 Clemson
What they said:
“Hummer: Clemson is winning this game. That’s not even a question. The real thing to ponder is if the Tigers will cover. As it is, I don’t think Clemson will score quite enough to do so. The Tigers’ attack, while more explosive under Trevor Lawrence’s direction, remains run-first with a heavy dose of play-action. South Carolina, meanwhile, has found its stride as an offense late in the season, averaging 36 points per game since the start of October. The Gamecocks keep within shouting distance … Clemson 42, South Carolina 21.
Crawford: I've been around the Palmetto Bowl since I was a toddler and have actually not spoken with some relatives and friends during the month of November because of it. In South Carolina, there's no such thing as Hate Week, but there's Hate Year. Since the Gamecocks' school record five-game winning streak over the Tigers near the end of Steve Spurrier's tenure, Clemson has won four straight including back-to-back against Will Muschamp by an average of 36.5 points per game. Saturday night will get ugly, possibly early, for South Carolina's injury-depleted defense against a rival with overflowing talent. I picked 45-17 earlier in the week, but after talking with a few other insiders, I'm leaning toward an even larger margin of victory and the Clemson cover ... Clemson 41, South Carolina 10.”
What they said:
“This is a tall task for the Gamecocks. They have not fared well against quality competition this year, and now they go on the road to face the second-ranked Tigers. And this is a Clemson squad that is two wins away from its fourth consecutive playoff appearance. Clemson will get Etienne going early on, and that will open up all kinds of options for the offense. The South Carolina offensive line will compete early on, but as it gets worn down, things will go downhill fast. Clemson finishes a perfect regular season by dismantling the Gamecocks.”
Bleacher Report, 45-14 Clemson
What they said:
“Ole Miss and Florida combined for 604 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground in November clashes with South Carolina. Clemson's running game should dominate, but its defense won't be anywhere near as forgiving as either previous opponent.”
What they said:
“Clemson has reached Alabama status. There is no spread where I feel comfortable picking against the Tigers to cover, mostly because I think there is a very low ceiling for how many points we can expect from the opposition. Clemson's defense has been preparing itself to peak in December and January, and we're seeing the fruits of that preparation with suffocating performances on the field.”
College Football News, 40-17 Clemson
What they said:
“Clemson’s switch will remain flipped on.
South Carolina is the best team the Tigers have faced since the close call at Texas A&M earlier in the year, but it doesn’t have the offensive balance and it doesn’t have the firepower to keep up.
On the other side, the D will hold its own to stay in the game, but that won’t be enough. Give it a quarter, and Clemson will find its rhythm on two good scoring drives – Lawrence won’t have to deal with too much pressure – to get up, stay up, and move on to the ACC Championship.”
What they said:
“The 10-win seasons, coaches, what have you, they let the recruiting build in a way it almost never does. It took work, some bit of luck and circumstance and time.
What that means is South Carolina’s margin for error is zero. That talent gap means USC has to work harder for extra yards each play, and to keep Clemson from extra yards.
The Gamecocks’ best hope is the offense finds a spark and gets rolling, creating a shootout as a banged up defense does its best. The issue is Clemson’s defense is playing at a level hardly seen. Their front is so good, it’s flat out preventing the kinds of big pass plays that used to be the Tigers’ weakness.
There’s a path to be competitive, but it’s hard to go far enough down it to find the road to victory. In all likelihood, it’ll be another long night in Death Valley.”
What they said:
“Clemson can match South Carolina's five-game win streak from 2009-13 with a win on Saturday. Clemson looks better each week, and that trend should continue against the rival Gamecocks. Trevor Lawrence should continue his development with an efficient showing while relying on Travis Etienne and Tavien Feaster to gash South Carolina's defense. Will Muschamp will make sure his team plays the Tigers tough, but the disparity in talent will be evident.”