Fight, Tigers, Fight, Tigers, Fight, Fight, Fight

July 27, 2010

You might not be aware of this, but woohooing during Tiger Rag sounds awful. Stop it.

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I won't speculate on scores, but here's how I see Clemson's 2010 football campaign shaping up.

WINS: North Texas, PC, Miami, Maryland, Boston College, NC State, Wake Forest, UNC, Gimmick Tech, Soccer Liner

LOSSES: Auburn, Florida State

Experience tells me one or two of the games I have in the Win section will be losses. I just don't know which games Clemson won't show up for.


CLEMSON VS. NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN
Clemson cruises to victory on opening day.


CLEMSON VS. PRESBYTERIAN BLUE HOSE
The only thing Presbyterian wins on this day is Best Mascot Name. Tajh Boyd gets a lot of practice.


CLEMSON AT AUBURN TIGERS
Auburn has an extra two days to prepare for Clemson. Fortunately for Clemson, they don't have to show much of the playbook during its first two games.

Auburn lost to Kentucky at home last year, while Clemson beat Kentucky in the bowl game. Auburn signed a top-5 recruiting class this year, and Chizik has them rolling on offense, but Clemson's defense is legit.

In the end, Clemson can't handle a night game in the heart of SEC country against a prototypical SEC team.

Auburn wins.


CLEMSON VS. MIAMI HURRICANES
Miami comes to The Valley this year, bringing their back-to-back-to-back top 15 recruiting classes, while Clemson brings the noise. Seriously, just watch this video from the last time Miami was in The Valley.



That's what you call a three and out, right there.

The Hurricanes can't communicate, and Clemson wins a thriller.


CLEMSON AT UNC TARHEELS
The Heels have three first rounders on their defense, but there's nothing to fear on the other side of the ball. It's an ugly game, but the gap between Clemson's offense and UNC's defense is not greater than the gap between UNC's offense and Clemson's defense.

After Auburn at night, UNC's place will not rattle Clemson.

Something tells me UNC will win this one, but I'm going to say Clemson wins.


CLEMSON VS. MARYLAND TERPS
Swinney learned his lesson after whatever caused the debacle against Maryland last year. Clemson wins with no problem. However, this could be the annual lay-a-turd game that I've become accustomed to seeing.


CLEMSON VS. GIMMICK TECH YELLOW BEES
I can't begin to express how much I do not like Paul Johnson's system. I've never loathed the Gamecocks as much as I loathe Gimmick Tech's offense.

I hate His Royal Highness Paul Johnson's arrogant attitude towards his system.

I hate Kirk Herbstreit's inexplicable infatuation with Gimmick Tech's offense. With a straight face, the man actually said their offense is exciting. Go watch some high school games if you like to see less-talented linemen dive at other players' knees on every play instead of blocking straight up and actually out-playing the other guy.

I hate the general perception that Paul Johnson is some sort of brilliant play caller just because he doesn't hold a clipboard during games. I mean, you don't need a clipboard to point to your team and say, "You: dive at that guy's knees. You: run left."

I've always wondered whether or not it's a penalty to accidentally step on a guy's fingers with your cleats while he's down there trying to hurt your knee. Hey, if you don't want your fingers stepped on, then get up and man up.

Thomas (who will be a flop in the NFL, by the way, because he doesn't have any experience dealing with traditional defenses) won games for Gimmick Tech simply due to his size (you can't double team Gimmick Tech's receivers).

Nesbitt throwing ducks around Death Valley won't get it done.

Clemson wins.


CLEMSON AT BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES
Boston College hasn't shown me much since Matt Ryan left. Along with a good defense, Herzlich is back from cancer this year.

Clemson still wins.


CLEMSON VS. NC STATE WOLFPACK
I don't see where the Russell Wilson hype comes from; He hasn't beaten Clemson yet. NC State had a 2-6 record - in the ACC - last year.

Clemson wins.


CLEMSON AT FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
Like Russell Wilson, I don't get the hype around Christian Ponder. He was clobbered figuratively and literally against Clemson last year. Still, you don't just waltz into Doak and get a win any old time you please, unless you're Urban Meyer.

Florida State pulls this one out.


CLEMSON AT WAKE FOREST DEACS
Clemson cruises, but be on the lookout for a letdown after a hard game at Florida State and the Chickens looming next week.


CLEMSON VS. SOCCER LINER CHICKENS
I could analyze this matchup 'til the cows come home, but the truth is neither of these teams stand out in front of the other to me. That might change by the end of the season. For now, I will go with history -- Clemson hasn't lost two in a row to the chickens since the sixties.

Clemson wins.