Westwood One’s coverage of college football continues from Tallahassee on Saturday as top-ranked Florida State hosts Clemson. Coverage begins at 7:30 PM Eastern on Westwood One and streaming right here at WestwoodOneSports.com.
For a preview of the game, we turn to our analyst Chris Doering.
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Clemson Scouting Report:
After playing a decent first half and a miserable second half against Georgia in Week 1 and enjoying a blowout victory against hapless South Carolina State in their second game of the season, the Clemson Tigers head to Tallahassee with more questions than answers about what this team is going to be in 2014. Gone is the dynamic duo of Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins along with five other starters from the 2013 offense. Head coach Dabo Swinney will fill the large shoes left by Boyd’s departure with senior Cole Stoudt. Talented freshman Deshaun Watson serves as a change-of-pace option.
The strength of the Clemson defense is their experienced front four, led by DE Vic Beasley. Beasley elected to return for his senior year despite being projected as a second-round selection had he chosen to enter the NFL draft. Beasley and company will have their hands full against an FSU offense that has averaged over 600 yards of offense against them the last two meetings. If the Tigers’ secondary is to play better than they did last year against the Noles when they gave up big passing play after big passing play, it will be because freshman Mackensie Alexander grows up quickly in a hostile environment.
Florida State Scouting Report:
A season ago, the Seminoles legitimized themselves with a huge road win at Clemson behind an explosive offense led by QB Jameis Winston. That game that put Winston in the Heisman conversation and his team in the running for the national championship. Fast forward to today and we find FSU entering into this year’s matchup with the Tigers with their superstar quarterback on the bench and many people doubting that this year’s team can live up to the pressure of being the defending national champion. The Seminole offense was choppy with Winston at the helm in a Week 1 win versus Oklahoma State and now must play this game against a talented Clemson defense with Winston on the sideline serving a school-imposed suspension. Sophomore quarterback Sean Maguire will depend on a talented backfield led by Karlos Williams, Dalvin Cook and Mario Pender to help take some of the pressure off.
Like Clemson, the Florida State defense is led by an extremely talented defensive line that includes juniors Derrick Mitchell, Jr., Nile Lawrence-Stemple and Mario Edwards, Jr. The Noles were tremendous against the pass in 2013, when they gave up an average of 156 yards per game, but have proven to be even better this year. Through two outings they have cut that number down to 137 yards per game.
The Tigers will win if…
They can score touchdowns in all three phases. This Clemson team is not nearly as talented as the 2013 edition that was destroyed on their home turf by the Seminoles and now must face the unenviable task of taking on the Noles at Doak Cambell Stadium at night. The Tiger offense will need to score touchdowns when it gets to the red zone and will need a pick-six or a scoop-and-score from its defense. Throw in a long kickoff return to the house or a blocked punt for a score and the Clemson Tigers may just have enough points to win this one.
The Seminoles win if…
They watch the film of how their former defensive coordinator held the Tiger offense to two yards per rushing attempt in a Week 1 win by Georgia. With the Clemson offense unable to run, the Tigers will have to depend on first-year starting quarterback Cole Stoudt to carry them to victory. Stoudt is not capable of consistently hitting his receivers down the field in a vertical passing game. Despite playing without Jameis Winston, the Seminoles can’t lose if their opponent can’t score.
Looking elsewhere:
As a University of Florida graduate, I will obviously have an interested eye on the game between the Gators and Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa – but not only because of my allegiance to Florida. This game will serve as a litmus test for Alabama in helping to determine if they are a legitimate national championship contender. The Tide has had to replace leaders on both sides of the ball and have shown some weakness running the football between the tackles and defending the pass in the secondary. Florida has the athletes and physicality to match up with Bama, but will the home-field advantage and Nick Saban factor be too much for the Gators?
– Chris Doering
Jason Benetti and Chris Doering will have the call from Tallahassee beginning at 7:30 PM ET. You can listen right here on WestwoodOneSports.com!