No. 1 Clemson vs No. 7 Miami: Our Take
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Each week we give you three keys to the game and our staff predictions. Here is a look at the ACC Championship and Miami.
The Match Up:
#1 Clemson (11-1, 7-1) vs #7 Miami (10-1, 7-1)
Clemson's vs. Miami 2015 Highlights:
All-Time Series:
Miami leads 6-4
at Neutral Site: Miami leads 1-0
at Clemson: Miami leads 2-0
at Miami: Clemson leads 4-3
First Meeting: Miami 7-6 at Miami, 1945
Last Meeting: Clemson 58-0 at Miami, 2015
Last Miami Win: 30-21 at Clemson 2010
Streak: Road team won the last 5 games
Key 1: Dominate Defensively
Clemson's defense thrives against one-dimensional teams, and that's what Miami has been without Mark Walton at running back. If you can't rush the football against Clemson, the Tigers are going to be tough to beat.
Clemson's defensive line is one of the best in college football, and if they begin to take over, Miami will be forced to throw the football more than they want and that will lead to another problem.
Several listeners to our daily radio show called in and said that they felt Miami was a lot like South Carolina, and those callers are correct. The 'Canes quarterback Malik Rosier can be erratic, much like Jake Bentley. Under duress, he's tended to make poor decisions. This season Rosier is 198-359 for 2798 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
If Clemson's front four makes Miami abandon the run, the recent losses of receiver Ahmmon Richards and tight end Christopher Herndon will add more pressure to Rosier than he has faced this season. Keep your eye on wideout Braxton Berrios though, this guy is one tough cover and will certainly have his name called more than once.
Last night, Lowell the Producer pointed out that when Miami throws the ball more than 30 times per game, their margin of victory shrinks significantly. That might be where we are headed.
The 'Canes have struggled all season on 3rd down, and Clemson's defense will present issues for Miami given the Tigers ability to force teams to be uncomfortable on offense. Forcing teams to play behind the sticks has been a big part of Clemson's recent success.
Key 2: No Chain, No Gain
Miami's 'Turnover Chain' is without a doubt one of the best gimmicks I've ever seen in college football. I remember laughing about Tennessee's 'Hunt the Ball' trashcan earlier this season because it was ridiculous.
Miami's chain is no joke. It has a life of its own.
The Hurricanes have forced 29 turnovers this year. A large part of their success is because they are willing to take chances in hopes that the chain will make an appearance. The turnovers are valuable but more than anything they have often produced much-needed momentum for Miami.
If I'm Clemson, I would at least attempt to use Miami's desire to flaunt the chain against them.
I think if the Tigers use a nice double move, with a pump fake from Bryant, it might be more than enough for a Clemson wideout to find himself running free in the secondary.
In fact, Clemson could probably hit on a few plays like that if they can protect Bryant long enough for the play to develop.
If the chain stays in the box and Clemson hits on big plays the Tigers could dominate in the Queen City.
Key 3: Play Clean Football
The Tigers have been far from flawless this season, but during last week's rivalry game, a contrast in discipline was easy to see. South Carolina consistently made plays that kept Clemson on the field or changed the momentum. The Tigers didn't need any help, but the Gamecocks continued to lend a helping hand.
Clemson's been there this season. Think back to Clemson's lone loss at Syracuse.
The Tigers had avoidable penalties that kept handing Syracuse bits of momentum. You can't do that. Clemson's lack of discipline cost them time after time in the Carrier Dome. Bryant's ankle injury didn't help, but there is no excuse for the penalties that Clemson kept getting that night.
In the ACC Championship, Miami will need some help to beat Clemson in front of what will surely be a pro-Clemson crowd. The Tigers need to focus on playing clean football and not lending a hand to the Hurricanes with silly penalties.
If they do that, the Tigers will increase the chances that they bring home another conference crown. If Clemson shoots itself in the foot a few times, Miami's chances to hoist an ACC title increase.
Prediction:
This game has the chance to be an epic matchup between the Tigers and the Hurricanes. Two years ago, it was Clemson's 58-0 win over Miami that became the catalyst for Mark Richt's return.
Richt being at his alma mater has been fantastic, I'm not sure there has been a better hire in college football during that period.
The U lost their way under Al Golden, and Richt's arrival in Coral Gables has helped bring back one of college football's great brands.
I believe that Miami is the second best team Clemson's faced this season. I'd rank them just ahead of Virginia Tech, but well behind Auburn. So there is a fairly large gap between these two teams.
If Clemson's defense can make Miami throw the ball more than they really want to, the Tigers will improve the chances that they can force a turn over or two which will allow Clemson's offense more opportunities to put points on the board.
Clemson has scored a non-offensive touchdown in every game away from Death Valley this season. There is a good chance that will continue against the 'Canes.
Rosier is a guy who will put the ball in peril and against Clemson, that won't cut it. Rozier will have to play a clean game to protect the Hurricanes from huge momentum plays for Clemson.
As for Clemson's offense, they have been balanced from day one, and the emergence of Tavien Feaster and Travis Etienne as the lead running backs has been huge. Clemson's ability to hit the home run on the ground can be backbreaking.
The Tigers have also added to their weapons through the air the past few weeks as we have seen more targets for Tee Higgins. Higgins' rise could become an even bigger deal if his impact begins to make things easier on Deon Cain.
Seeing Higgins come on has to be a relief for Kelly Bryant. The range and catch radius that Higgins possesses is a tremendous asset for Bryant's mentality. Just knowing you have a "go and get it" guy is something that Clemson has missed this season. Having that additional attribute in the downfield passing game is a huge deal for Bryant's confidence.
They say it's hard to stay hungry when you are fed so well, but Coach Swinney keeps Clemson wanting for more. While some believe Clemson has some "wiggle room," the staff has to see this game as a playoff game. You win, and you are in. That's all you need to know about the type of motivation you should expect to see from Clemson.
In the end, the Tigers defensive versatility and talent win more battles than they lose. This, in turn, will give Clemson's offense more chances to put points on the board against the Hurricane allowing the Tigers to bring home a third straight ACC Championship.
Final Score Predictions:
