College Football Week 1: 5 bold predictions
3. Deshaun Watson crushes Auburn’s soul
The Clemson Tigers take on the Auburn Tigers in a battle of mascots Saturday. With Clemson coming off a defeat in last year’s National Championship, they certainly are out for revenge. Since they can’t play Alabama in that first game, they will take on an Auburn team that needs to find its identity.
Gus Malzahn has struggled ever since he coached Cam Newton as offensive coordinator when they won it all. Since then, Malzahn has been unable to find a quarterback that fits the system he runs. Auburn will continue to go through hard times this year, as their quarterback situation is just as bad as it was last year.
Clemson, however, is poised to be just as big of a threat this year. Even with the departure of their best defensive lineman, the Tigers have plenty of depth to fill in any holes. Moreover, they sport the best quarterback in college football, Deshaun Watson. He is a machine on the field, whether he is running or throwing the ball. Another potential Heisman winner, Watson hopes to continue his success by running over Auburn early.
Watson not only has the ability to extend plays, but his accuracy is stellar. It’s hard to find a good runner and an accurate passer, especially one who understands the offense as well as any player. If Watson sticks to his game plan, I don’t think Auburn can put up a fight in the second half. That’s why I predict Watson will have more than 300 yards passing against Auburn.
Although Auburn’s defensive line has some strong players, I don’t think the secondary can keep up with Watson. Barring any unforeseen circumstances or injuries, Watson is ready to unleash his arm and score early. By the time the clock hits zero, Watson will have thrown 300 yards and probably a couple of touchdowns as well.
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