The Clemson Tigers find themselves in another primetime Saturday night matchup, this time against budding ACC-rival, the Louisville Cardinals. Here’s all the information you need for the game.
The Clemson football team has survived one test already against a ranked opponent. However, another challenge awaits on the road against the Louisville Cardinals.
The game looks eerily similar to the Florida State Seminoles visit to Louisville last season. The Cardinals were coming off a road win to open ACC play before stomping the Seminoles 63-20 at home. Quarterback Lamar Jackson had 146 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in that victory.
The Clemson Tigers are 2-0 but could find themselves battle-tested against Pocket Lamar. Jackson ran for 162 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in last year’s game but this season, he looks like a much more polished passer in the pocket.
The Clemson defense has allowed nine total points so far through two games but with a player as dynamic as Pocket Lamar entering the fold, things get could away from them in the end. Clemson football did see their team register 11 sacks at home against 15th-ranked Auburn. On the road, though, momentum tends to be in favor of the home team.
Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s Clemson vs. Louisville game:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
Time: 8:00pm ET
Location: Louisville, KY
Venue: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
TV: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to victory
The Clemson football team will have their hands full containing Lamar Jackson but if he stays Pocket Lamar, he could pose problems too. He threw for three passing touchdowns in last week’s victory over North Carolina.
Wide receiver Jaylen Smith had 9 receptions for 183 receiving yards and a touchdown and Dez Fitzpatrick had four receptions for 78 receiving yards and two touchdowns. If Jackson can get these two to come up big for him again, Clemson could lose their first ACC game of the season.
Next: 5 Overreactions from Louisville’s win over UNC
Prediction
The Clemson defensive line will be a bear for the Louisville Cardinals’ offensive line to hold at bay but they’re capable, which showed in last week’s 47-35 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Clemson football did enough last week against a not-so-good Auburn offense, but this Louisville offense is pretty good. They’re averaging 614.5 total yards of offense per game through two weeks. It could be all too overwhelming for quarterback Kelly Bryant to keep up with this week.
Final Score: Louisville 45, Clemson 42