Clemson Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are another one of those teams battling their way out of the bottom of the ACC. They went 7-6 (3-5 ACC) in 2016. Improvement is on the horizon for head coach Dave Clawson as he enters year four.
The Demon Deacons got plenty of production from running backs Cade Carney and Matt Colburn. Carney ran for 589 rushing yards and six touchdowns and Colburn ran for 626 rushing yards and two touchdowns last season.
The duo could be a bigger force if the offensive line improves. They return three starters but they have struggled to keep their quarterbacks healthy. Kendall Hinton was injured early in the 2016 season and replaced by John Wolford.
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Wolford threw for 1,774 passing yards and nine touchdowns but he also had 10 interceptions. The rising senior also ran for 521 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He returns as the team’s starting quarterback in 2017.
Wake Forest was a much better team on the defensive side of the ball. The only downside entering this season is they return just five starters from last year’s squad.
The Clemson Tigers should make easy work of the Demon Deacons. Despite Wake Forest’s returning experience on offense, the Tigers defense is just too good for them to stop.
Clemson has won the last eight games against Wake Forest heading into this year’s matchup. The Tigers offense should be finding it’s groove entering October. They should handle business here.
Final: Wake Forest 10, Clemson 31 (5-1, 3-1 ACC)