Clemson Football: 3 bold predictions for NC State matchup in Week 8

Clemson football is hoping to keep the ball rolling as No. 16 NC State comes to town in Week 8. Will the Tigers take care of business?

For a national title contender, Clemson has been tested more by inferior opponents than it had expected heading into the season.

First it was Texas A&M giving the Tigers fits in College Station before Clemson came away with a two-point win thanks to a failed two-point conversion by the Aggies which would have tied things up. Then it was a comeback victory over Syracuse at home after newly-anointed starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence went down with an injury.

The Tigers are fresh off a bye which followed a 63-3 win over Wake Forest and they’ll look to keep the ball rolling against the No. 16 NC State Wolfpack on Saturday afternoon.

Can Clemson get back to its dominant ways?

3. Trevor Lawrence finally hits 300 yards

Taking the starting job from Kelly Bryant wasn’t exactly expected from former five-star quarterback Trevor Lawrence when the season began, though he did have a strong spring. There was plenty of talk about him pushing Bryant to be better, but he overtook the No. 1 job in the midst of the season and forced his predecessor to transfer.

This has worked out well for the Tigers as he clearly had the higher ceiling of the two quarterbacks, but he suffered a scary injury against Syracuse that didn’t prove to be costly.

Lawrence bounced back by leading the Tigers to a 63-3 win over Wake Forest but he has still yet to reach that elusive 300-yard passing mark for a single game. That will all change on Saturday as the Wolfpack allow about 230 yards per game through the air.

The freshman gunslinger will look the best he’s looked all year, completing 70 percent of his throws for 315 yards and two scores.