Who should Clemson football be pulling for in NC State vs. Louisville?

CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 09: Dez Fitzpatrick
CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 09: Dez Fitzpatrick

A pivotal matchup in the ACC will take place and it doesn’t involve Clemson football. Who should Tiger fans be pulling for in NC State-Louisville?

I’ve been asked this question a lot over the past few days: Who should we pull for? NC State or Louisville?

It’s really a hate thing for Clemson football fans.

No Tiger fans like Louisville. Most Tiger fans don’t like NC State. So, when the Wolfpack and Cardinals match up on the field, it’s tough to pull for either one of them.

Most Clemson football fans will use the logic that “they hate Louisville much more than NC State.”

Normally, I’d agree with those thoughts.

In all normal circumstances, I would be pulling for the Wolfpack, despite the dislike I have for Dave Doeren.

Something to look at, however, is the ACC Atlantic Standings.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

  1. Clemson (3-0)
  2. NC State (2-0)
  3. Louisville (1-1)
  4. Florida State (1-1)
  5. Wake Forest (1-1)
  6. Syracuse (0-1)
  7. Boston College (0-2)

Right now, NC State is 2-0 in the conference. Louisville is already 1-1 with a loss to Clemson football.

A loss to NC State would all but knock out Louisville from contention. After all, the Cardinals still have to play Florida State, which could very well be a loss and Clemson already has the tiebreaker if the Tigers were to drop a game.

I’m of the opinion that the Seminoles will have two conference losses this week when they drop one to Miami this week, as well.

That leaves NC State.

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Now, some may argue that they want the Wolfpack to continue to win so that way Clemson football can have another tombstone victory.

I would like to see the Wolfpack lose, however, to create a little more space for the Tigers. If Clemson was to drop one to Florida State or Georgia Tech later this season, it wouldn’t hurt winning the division.

Of course, no matter what happens, the Atlantic Division is going to come down to Clemson vs. NC State.

Even if the Wolfpack have a loss, if they beat Clemson, they would hold the tiebreaker. I just don’t NC State losing two conference games with the schedule they have left (Pitt, Clemson, Boston College, Wake Forest, and UNC).

Clemson football will just need to take care of business and then everything else will fall into place.

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So, to answer your question, pull for whoever you dislike the least. In the end, Clemson football will need to beat the Wolfpack to win the Division, unless someone like Pitt can upset them along the way.

Who will you be pulling for tonight, Tiger fans? Comment below with your thoughts for this game!

Schedule

Schedule