Last year, the Clemson Tigers were the Figure 1A example of a \u201cfeast or famine\u201d team in college football. The Tigers started out a flawless 8-0 and ranked #6 in the AP poll, only to lose four of their last six. <\/p>\n
\nACC 2012-13 Football Previews: Clemson Tigers<\/strong>
\n Coach: Dabo Swinney<\/strong>
\n 2011 Record: 10-4<\/strong>
\n Clemson Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS:<\/strong>
\nClemson Team Page \u2013 Players Stats \u2013 Roster \u2013 2012\u00a0Schedule \u2013><\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe outstanding start still resulted in Clemson grabbing a double-digit win season, its first since 1990 \u2013 hard to believe, with all the talent that dons orange and purple, and touches Howard\u2019s Rock.<\/p>\n
Make no mistake, either: this year\u2019s Clemson squad is more talented than last season\u2019s 8-0 outfit. Tigers fans hope that a year of experience, especially for starting pivot Tajh Boyd, will translate to Clemson staying more calm and collected in the latter half of the campaign.<\/p>\n
The only other ACC team that can match Clemson tit-for-tat in the talent department is Florida State, and FSU could end up being the only hurdle to an undefeated season for the Tigers.<\/p>\n
It is safe to say that Clemson has the best offense in the conference, and one of the best in the nation. Boyd had a prolific 2011 campaign, passing for 3,828 yards and 33 TDs.<\/p>\n
He has one of the finest WR corps around to distribute the ball to, led by two bona fide playmakers in junior DeAndre Hopkins and sophomore Sammy Watkins. Watkins is a special weapon, finishing last season with 82 receptions for 1,219 yards and 12 majors. The dangerous then-frosh was averaging almost 15 yards per catch.<\/p>\n
When Boyd isn\u2019t chucking the ball, he has an elite RB to hand off to; senior Andre Ellington cracked the 1,000-yard and double-digit TD marks last year, bringing speed and power that belies his 190-lb frame.\u00a0[soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n
The offensive line must adapt to three new starters, but the group should be stabilized with the presence of senior C Dalton Freeman and junior LT Brandon Thomas. Another unheralded weapon is veteran TE Brandon Ford.<\/p>\n
Defensively, Clemson also has plenty of highly-regarded athletic talent. Defensive end Malliciah Goodman will lead the D-line, though Clemson\u2019s strength is its back seven. Stephone Anthony and Corico Hawkins lead the LB corps, while the secondary is spurred by starting safeties Rashard Hall and Xavier Brewer.<\/p>\n
Hall returns as 2011\u2019s leading tackler. The Tigers have speed to burn and also bring in dynamic freshman Travis Blanks, who was playing as the team\u2019s nickel-back in spring drills. The speed also does a world of good on the special teams units.<\/p>\n
Kicker Chandler Catanzaro is one of the conference\u2019s best, though the Tigers must break in a new punter in freshman Bradley Pinion.<\/p>\n
2012-13 Clemson Football Prediction: 12-2<\/h3>\n
Clemson has the talent to run the table in the ACC \u2013 including an upset of Florida State. I peg the Tigers to finish with two losses only because in the past, it\u2019s seemed like the Tigers are a weird combination of both snake-bitten and ill-equipped to handle the pressure situations. The Tigers\u2019 season-opener against Auburn in Atlanta will be a true test, but the Sept. 22 road game versus FSU in Tallahassee stands out as the pre-eminent challenge in 2012.<\/p>\n
Clemson is just one of those programs that pulls in a strong recruiting class year after year, and the proof is in the pudding on the roster now, with athletes at virtually every position on the field. I figure Clemson may pick up another loss either in the conference title game or the bowl game, only due to the team\u2019s track record of coming up short in the clutch.<\/p>\n
If the Tigers can shake off the weak finish of last year, they will be very dangerous; the FSU Seminoles better prepare for a tough game in late September.<\/p>\n
2012 Clemson Schedule<\/h3>\n
9\/1\/12\t 7:00 PM ET\t @AUB
\n9\/8\/12\t 12:30 PM ET\tBALST
\n9\/15\/12\t 3:00 PM ET\t FUR
\n9\/22\/12\t TBD\t @FSU
\n9\/29\/12\t TBD\t @BCOLL
\n10\/6\/12\t TBD\tGATCH
\n10\/20\/12\t TBD\tVATCH
\n10\/25\/12\t 7:30 PM ET\t @WFRST
\n11\/3\/12\t TBD\t @DUKE
\n11\/10\/12\t TBD\tMD
\n11\/17\/12\t TBD\tNCST
\n11\/24\/12\t TBD\tSOCAR<\/p>\nGRAB OUR BEST Expert CFB Picks for 2012 NCAA FOOTBALL Betting! \u2014\u2013><\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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