247 Sports predicts the most likely upset for Clemson football
The 2020 Clemson football team enters the season as one of the favorites to win the National Championship.
The Tigers return a ton of talent, led by QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne, who will have them as heavy favorites in every game they play this season. As a matter of fact, Clemson football likely won’t play a game in the regular season in which they won’t enter being favored by at least double-digits.
Even though Clemson will be the favorite on-paper, it’s still College Football and anything can happen.
247 Sports released an article detailing College Football’s possible upsets during the 2020 season and noted Clemson’s away match-up against Florida State as a potential stumbling block for the Tigers.
"“As a double-digit favorite in every game this season, perhaps even the November road trip to Notre Dame, the likelihood of Clemson losing prior to the College Football Playoff is slim,” 247 Sports’ Brad Crawford said. “In fact, the Tigers haven’t suffered a setback to an opponent from the ACC since the 2017 season and have largely been on cruise control since. Clemson has beaten Florida State five consecutive years, the past two by a combined score of 73-24. What gives in this season’s matchup? There’s a chance Mike Norvell and the Seminoles come into this one 4-0 if they get off to a hot start in September. Imagine the hype for this home game if that’s the case?”"
The Clemson football team can’t afford an upset
In addition to the Clemson-Florida State game, here’s a look at the other games the publication noted as possible upsets:
- Louisville at Notre Dame
- Auburn at Ole Miss
- Indiana at Wisconsin
- Oklahoma at TCU
- Georgia at Missouri
There’s simply no room for error for the Tigers as they enter the 2020 season. It’s the same as last year.
The perspective surrounding the ACC is that the conference is ‘less-than’ compared to the rest of the Power-5 leagues. That means that a one-loss Clemson is going to be looked at less favorably than a one-loss team from any of the other leagues, maybe with the exception of the Pac-12.
Every team will give the Tigers their best shot, but the truth of the matter is that Clemson has to show up every week ready to go and prepared to give their best effort.
Weird things can happen in College Football, sure, but there’s no reason that the Tigers can’t finish the season undefeated and get back to the CFB Playoff.