Clemson Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. NC State in Week 10
By Dana Becker
If Clemson football wants to return to a third College Football Playoff, it will need to get past NC State this Saturday.
The Tigers are ranked fourth in the first installment of the CFP released earlier this week, but currently, they are not playing in the ACC championship game.
That right belongs to the Wolfpack, who are unbeaten in the league and a game ahead of Clemson, the defending two-time ACC champions.
Earlier this year, the Tigers lost to Syracuse on a Friday night by three, a game in which quarterback Kelly Bryant was knocked out of. Bryant returned following a bye, leading Clemson (7-1, 5-1 ACC) past Georgia Tech this past Saturday night.
“This is playoff football,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “That’s what it really comes down to.”
Bryant had one of his best games yet as the replacement for Deshaun Watson, throwing for 207 yards with two touchdowns, adding another 67 yards on the ground.
NC State (6-2, 4-0 ACC) had its hopes of reaching a first CFP crushed when Notre Dame scored a 35-14 victory over them last week.
Revenge will also be on the mind of several Wolfpack players, as they were in position to upset Clemson last year before Kyle Bambard missed a 33-yard field goal at the end of regulation.
“I absolutely remember it, but it’s not last year,” NC State head coach Dave Doeren said. “Our guys who played in that game remember it well, and I’m sure their guys do, too.”
Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s ACC Atlantic clash between Clemson and NC State.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 4
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Venue: Carter-Finley Stadium
TV: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to Victory
It is quite evident that Bryant isn’t on the same level of yet of former Tiger great Watson, but he is just as important to the offense. Without the junior quarterback, Clemson struggled in the second half vs. Wake Forest and lost to Syracuse.
Bryant’s ability to get the ball down the field in the passing game to Deon Cain and company is what makes him different from backups Zerrick Cooper and Hunter Johnson. Also, he is just as dangerous with his legs, as evident by his team-leading 460 yards rushing this year and seven scores.
With Bryant at the controls, Clemson is able to work in any of its talented backs like Travis Etienne, Tavien Feaster, Adam Choice and C.J. Fuller.
NC State counters with a defense that was humiliated last week vs. the Fighting Irish, as Josh Adams ran for 202 yards and Notre Dame piled up 318 in all on the ground.
Bradley Chubb, a likely first-round NFL draft pick in the fall, will try to get his unit back on track. Prior to the game with the Irish, the Wolfpack had not allowed over 30 points since a season opening loss to South Carolina.
Chubb has 7.5 sacks and several more tackles for loss this year.
Prediction
A few years ago, this is the kind of game Clemson would lose. However, over the past two-plus seasons, head coach Dabo Swinney has changed the feeling around the program for the better, as the Tigers constantly come out on top when they need to.
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Last year, Clemson lost to Pittsburgh in November but was able to still reach the CFP semifinals before winning it all over Alabama. With the October slip to Syracuse already on the resume, there are no second-chances for these Tigers if they want a third meeting with the Crimson Tide in January.
Prediction: Clemson 27, NC State 12