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Clemson football must keep engine churning at Wake Forest

By Justin Heisey

CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence #16 hands off to running back Adam Choice #26 of the Clemson Tigers during the Tigers' football game against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Clemson Memorial Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence #16 hands off to running back Adam Choice #26 of the Clemson Tigers during the Tigers' football game against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Clemson Memorial Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /
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Clemson football takes to the road to take on ACC divisional foe Wake Forest to improve to 6-0 on the year. Can the Tigers keep churning?

Clemson had all of its worst nightmares come true last week against Syracuse. Trevor Lawrence went down shortly before halftime and Chase Brice was thrust into the spotlight and was forced to win them the game.

Brice ultimately found a way to make some key plays while true sophomore running back Travis Etienne became the first Clemson back since CJ Spiller torched Georgia Tech in 2009 to run for 200-plus yards and three touchdowns. Lawrence is expected to be full go this week but I’m sure limited running the ball to avoid any additional injuries in the future but at least he will have a grand opportunity to pass all over a weak Wake Forest secondary.

Wake Forest has looked incredible offensively considering whats happened in the quarterback room. Sam Hartman earned the starting job after Kendall Hinton faced a four-game suspension begin the year. Hartman has made a good case in the first half of the season to become the ACC Rookie of the Year.

While the offense has looked good, the defense has not. Wake’s defense as a whole is 110th nationally and they’re allowing 31.6 points per game which is 96th nationally. Can the Demon Deacons do anything to make this a competitive ball game?

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Venue: BB&T Field
TV: ESPN
LiveStream: WatchESPN or FuboTV

Players To Watch

Clemson

Wake Forest

Keys To Victory

For Clemson, you’re not aiming only to win. Clemson must make a statement against Wake Forest or risk falling in the rankings yet again. Let Trevor Lawrence go out there and throw downfield all game long and let him show the nation why he was the top quarterback prospect this offseason. Also, don’t forget to use Travis Etienne. Etienne is the most explosive back Clemson has had since Andre Ellington and proved that last weekend against Syracuse by running the ball for 200-plus yards.

Defensively, get after Sam Hartman and force him to look like a freshman. Make Hartman force passes, shut down the run, dominate the line of scrimmage. You must make a statement in this game, no more close calls.

Wake Forest, good luck. You can’t run on Clemson so Sam Hartman has to be accurate in the passing game. Avoid making turnovers and keep Etienne in check. Lawrence has the talent to beat any team in the FBS but wasn’t able to get it going against Texas A&M. The goal for Wake Forest is to focus on stopping the run and make Lawrence beat you.

Betting Odds

Courtesy of OddsShark

Line: Clemson -20
Over/Under: 61

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Prediction

Clemson goes into Wake Forest with a mindset to dominate. They start of the opening drive with a score on five plays or less and doesn’t let up for the span of the game. The Tigers win big before the bye week.

Final Score: Clemson 42, Wake Forest 20

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