The Clemson football team will host the NC State Wolfpack Saturday afternoon in Death Valley. Here’s our final prediction and analysis for the game.
After two full weeks, we finally have Clemson football again.
The Tigers defeated Wake Forest 63-3 back in early October before their bye week. Now, Clemson will host the NC State Wolfpack in a game that will most likely decide the ACC Atlantic Division.
It’s been a long week of talking and analyzing, but now it’s just about time to play the game.
Here is our final analysis and our scoring prediction for the match up Saturday afternoon in the friendly confines of Death Valley.
Analysis:
It really all comes down to two things for the Tigers:
- Stopping NC State’s pass rush on offense
- Creating havoc and stifling NC State’s passing attack on defense.
We all know the strategy for the Wolfpack heading into this one. They’re going to stack the box and try to make Trevor Lawrence beat them with his arm. They want to get pressure on him and create havoc in the backfield.
Obviously, they also want to take the run out of the equation for Travis Etienne and the Tigers.
Offensively, NC State will need to get a passing attack to score. They aren’t going to be able to run the ball on Clemson. But, stopping the pass still begins up front.
Ryan Finley will throw the ball up for grabs if he’s pressured. But, if he gets time to throw the ball, he’ll pick apart the defense. The defensive line needs to create pressure and take some of the load off of the secondary.
Prediction:
Clemson 42, NC State 24
I think this is a bit higher-scoring game. You’ll see both team score some points with Clemson buckling down on defense in the second half and taking a commanding lead into the fourth quarter. I think the Pack score late to make things a little closer, but the Tigers come away with the win.