Five reasons Clemson football should dominate Miami Hurricanes on Saturday
The Clemson football team has a major opportunity to prove itself as the solidified premiere program in the nation with a win Saturday night against Miami.
The Tigers, who are currently ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation, will take on the Hurricanes- who are ranked No. 7- in a battle that will have the attention of the entire country on it.
Though Miami has looked good in its three games, Clemson football remains a heavy 15.5-point favorite. While on the surface that may seem high, here are five reasons the Tigers should dominate Miami.
5. Depth matters
Let’s go ahead and get this one out of the way first: Clemson is simply the more talented team on paper.
Yes, Miami looks good. Yes, the Hurricanes have some NFL-caliber talent. But it’s not as apparent nor as deep as what we see with Clemson football.
The Tigers have NFL talent at basically every single position. Clemson has guys in its second-string and even third-string at some positions that would start at other programs around the nation. That amount of depth and talent can’t be undersold and will certainly come into play Saturday.
4. This Miami team is unproven and has deficiencies
As good as Miami has looked in its first three games, let’s not pretend that the Hurricanes are back to the program they once were in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Miami has played three teams: UAB, Louisville and Florida State. The combined record of those three teams is 3-5, with two of those wins coming from UAB.
Though Louisville was ranked when Miami played them, the Cardinals haven’t won a game yet on the season (though that should change Friday).
We’re not doubting that Miami has talent, but we’re also not ready to say that ‘The U’ is back based simply off of wins over two below-average teams and one team that looks average at best.
In addition to being unproven, Miami also has some weaknesses- such as their wide receiving corp- heading into the game that could be exposed by Clemson.
3. The Tigers slept walk to get to this week
There are always a couple of times each year where it just seems like the Clemson football team is sleep walking through a game.
Last year, it was against North Carolina. In years past, you can point to games like NC State (2016), Syracuse (2018) and even losses to Pittsburgh and Syracuse, as well.
It looked as if that was the case Saturday night against a Virginia team that may very well be better than many of us thought coming into the season.
Whether or not Clemson had an eye turned to this week or not, one thing is for certain: Miami has the full attention of the Clemson Tigers.
2. Miami might not be ready for the moment
As confident of a vibe as Miami gives off, the light is going to be shining bright Saturday night in Death Valley and the stage will be much bigger than anything any of the Hurricanes players have ever set foot on before.
We’re talking about a matchup of top-7 teams that is being featured on ESPN College GameDay with early-season CFB Playoff implications in which the eyes of the nation will be rested upon.
That’s unlike anything any of these current Miami players- or really their staff, for that matter- have experienced. Clemson, on the other hand, has players who have played in multiple National Championship games, won ACC Titles and competed in the CFB Playoff.
One of these things is not like the other.
1. Clemson has the best two players on the field, and they have the experience
Ultimately, D’Eriq King is a special player who is going to likely be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft one day. He may very well even win the Heisman Trophy at some point in his career.
That being said, the best two players on the field Saturday evening belong to Clemson football.
Trevor Lawrence is the best quarterback in the nation and Travis Etienne is the most explosive playmaker in the nation.
These two have been a part of many big-time matchups and they’re both going to be major stars at the next level following this season.
They were built for games like this and I believe we’ll see them make a major impact Saturday when the Tigers and Hurricanes take the field.