Buy or sell? Clemson football predictions for 2020 season
The 2020 Clemson football season is just a couple of weeks away from the scheduled kickoff date and the Tigers are getting ready to make yet another run at the CFB Playoff.
The Clemson football team enters the 2020 season as the preseason No. 1 team in the nation according to the AP Poll and, despite this being such a crazy year, there is still plenty of excitement from Tigers about seeing Dabo Swinney at Co. take the field.
As we progress closer to the start of the season, here’s a look at 10 predictions for the 2020 Clemson football season and whether or not we’re ‘buying or selling’ them.
Prediction No. 1: Bryan Bresee plays starter-level snaps this fall
There, perhaps, isn’t a more intriguing freshman heading into this year than former No. 1 overall player in the country Bryan Bresee.
Bresee is one of the most-ready collegiate freshmen we’ve seen in quite a while, but he enters a defensive line room that possesses all kinds of depth.
Though I don’t think he’ll beat out Tyler Davis or Nyles Pinckney and be named a starter on the depth chart, Bresee is going to be rotated into the game early and often, earning him starter-level snaps, especially as the season progresses and he earns more trust.
Verdict: Buy
2. Trevor Lawrence wins the Heisman
Trevor Lawrence had one main competitor for the Heisman Trophy coming into this season and that was Ohio State QB Justin Fields.
With the Big Ten bowing out of the season, Lawrence is now all on his own when it comes to Heisman odds and there’s also one other big factor working into his favor: No one is more popular that Lawrence heading into this year.
In a popularity contest, Lawrence should do well with the Heisman voters and I predict he’ll come away with the Heisman Trophy when it’s all said and done, the first Clemson football player to ever do so.
Verdict: Buy
3. Taisun Phommachanh beats out D.J. Uiagalelei over the course of the season
Taisun Phommachanh is going to be the first QB off the bench once Trevor Lawrence comes out of the game- at least early on.
The question, however, is if he’ll maintain that status. The Clemson coaches have shown that they love to carry a backup QB competition over the course of a season, but it won’t be long- in my opinion- before DJ Uiagalelei wins out the job.
If Lawrence is injured or misses any time due to protocol, it’s my expectation that Uiagalelei will be the QB before it’s all said and done, so we’ll have to ‘sell’ this prediction.
Verdict: Sell
4. Clemson OL takes a step back after losing four starters
There’s going to be some new faces along that Tiger offensive line this season.
Clemson lost four starters from last year’s team and only returns LT Jackson Carman as the Tigers attempt to build a new unit.
Dabo Swinney has expressed concerns over the second-team offensive line and it’s clear there are some holes to be filled.
That being said, one could make the argument that the overall talent level of this offensive line- from top to bottom- is actually greater than before. Because of that, I think we see some inspired and clean offensive line play.
Verdict: Sell
5. Amari Rodgers is Clemson’s leader in receptions
One of the major concerns coming into this season has to do with the lack of experience and depth in the wide receiver core.
Clemson will be without its top two receivers- Justyn Ross (injury) and Tee Higgins (NFL Draft)- from a year ago and there are certainly questions to be had, especially when you consider that both Frank Ladson Jr. and Joseph Ngata were held out for the majority of fall camp due to protocol.
When looking at this group, it’s the safe prediction to assume that Amari Rodgers- especially as the Tigers attempt to open up the middle of the field more so than they’ve done in the past- leads the team in receptions.
Verdict: Buy
6. Derion Kendrick & Braden Galloway both finish the year as All-Americans
Clemson football fans know these names, but national analysts are still catching on.
I believe we’re going to see Derion Kendrick and Braden Galloway emerge as two of the breakout stars for the Tigers.
Kendrick is a shutdown corner who is only going to get better. Galloway opens up a whole different dimension of the offense.
Their performances won’t be ignored and we’re going to see both of these guys voted as All-Americans by season’s end.
Verdict: Buy
7. Mario Goodrich is the starter opposite-side of Kendrick
Clemson football fans have been waiting for the growth and maturity of Mario Goodrich- a former 4-star- to happen since he got on campus.
Goodrich will likely get the first crack at manning the starting position opposite-side of Derion Kendrick this year and it’s our expectation that he’ll do a great job.
That being said, the talent of Andrew Booth Jr. and even Sheridan Jones is going to be too much to notice. We’re going to see a very active rotation with defensive backs early on in the season, but it’s my belief we’ll begin to see Booth Jr. pull away from the pack as play unfolds on the field.
Verdict: Sell
8. Lyn-J Dixon is much-improved from last year
One player who has been lauded by Clemson football coaches during preseason camp is Lyn-J Dixon.
Tony Elliott said Dixon was much-improved and that he was hitting the hole with more explosiveness than what we’ve seen before.
Even in a crowded running back room, Dixon is going to get his carries and there’s no doubt he’ll be making an impact as the No. 2 RB for the Tigers.
Verdict: Buy
9. Notre Dame is the clear second-best team in the ACC
Notre Dame enters the ACC and the Fighting Irish are already considered the ‘lock’ to play Clemson in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte. Is that fair?
Well, while Notre Dame is certainly talented, there are a couple of other teams who will have something to say about the race for No. 2: The North Carolina Tar Heels and the Louisville Cardinals.
Notre Dame may very well be the second-best team, but the Irish aren’t far and away better than some of these other teams in the ACC- especially UNC and Louisville- and that’s going to be seen over the course of this season.
Verdict: Sell
10. Clemson wins every regular season game by double-digits
How much better is Clemson than everyone else in the ACC- including Notre Dame?
Well, the overall feeling right now is that the Tigers will be favored by double-digits in every single game this season, so the question is pretty simple: Is that deserved?
There are always those games where Clemson football comes out a little flat and the outcome is much closer than it should be- sometimes even a loss (Pittsburgh & Syracuse, for example).
That being said, I think you’re going to see Clemson dominate the majority of its schedule this season and take advantage of the fact that crowds won’t be able to affect how they’re playing on the road.
Verdict: Buy
What do you think, Tiger fans? Comment below with your predictions.