Project CFB Top Ten: #7 Clemson Tigers

Since the year 2000, Clemson has been in the Top 25 of the AP’s Preseason rankings six times. Out of those six times, they have finished the season in the AP Top 25 twice (#16 in 2000 and #11 in 2012). This season the contributors to ProjectCFB have predicted Clemson will not only be in the Top 25, but land in the Top Ten at #7. Will this be the year Clemson finally proves their preseason pick to be correct?

Clemson’s highest preseason rank in the past thirteen years has been at #9 in 2008. That proved to be a very tumultuous year for the Tigers. Six games into the season, their head coach Tommy Bowden resigned and Dabo Swinney, Clemson’s recruiting cordinator and wide receivers coach took over the helm. In Swinney’s tenure as head coach, Clemson has endured only one losing season. In 2012, the victory over the Top Ten ranked LSU Tigers led Clemson to a #9 finish in the final Coaches’ Poll and 11th in the final AP Poll of the season.

What will help Clemson with another great season? Preseason Heisman favorite Tahj Boyd at quarterback. In 2012 against NC State, Boyd broke the ACC record for most touchdowns in a game when he threw for five and ran for three more, totaling 529 all purpose yards. In the Chick-fil-a Bowl, Boyd won the MVP award with his 36 of 50 pass attempts with no interceptions and a game changing pass on 4th down that helped set up the game winning field goal. The challenge for Boyd besides the opposing defense will be working with a new center, sophomore Ryan Norton. Boyd will also be without running back Andre Ellington and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins who were both taken in the recent NFL Draft.

Another plus in Clemson’s favor for 2013 will be their schedule if they can survive it. Clemson has what most have claimed as the toughest non-conference schedule in the ACC. They start off the season at home with a last year’s SEC runner ups from Georgia and their last game is with their biggest rivals, South Carolina and their Heisman Candidate Jadeveon Clowney. Both of these opponents most likely will be in the Top 25 nationally this season. If Clemson can beat Georgia and South Carolina and do so impressively, then there’s little doubt they will be in the final Top Ten of the 2013 NCAA football season.

- Amy Norris
@amyjane72
amy.projectcfb@gmail.com

Who You See in the National Title Game?

Last week we asked you to chime in on who you think we will see play in this season's National Championship Game. We went over your responses and here are the ones we thought were the best.

Courtney from Florida

You can't overlook how awesome Alabama is. I definitely see them making it to the title game. I also see Georgia making it to the National Championship, although I think they will lose to 'Bama in the SEC Title game.

Mike from Ohio

I have 3 picks. First off Urban Meyer will lead the OSU Buckeyes to another undefeated season and on to the National Championship Game. The other pick is where the question lies. If Louisville  can go undefeated, I see them playing OSU in the title game. But if they stumble then Alabama will take on the Buckeyes in the most awaited game of the decade. 

Ben from Boston

I'm going to go with a couple of off the wall picks here. Tajh Boyd leads the Clemson Tigers to play Teddy Bridgewater and the Louisville Cardinals. Mark it down!

MonikaAndrews from Detroit

I see Michigan shocking the college football world, going undefeated and upsetting Alabama in the National Title Game.

CKW from Knoxville

As much as I would love to see my Vols go to the title game, I think the Texas Longhorns are going to surprise a lot of people and ein the National Championship,  beating Ohio State in the big game.

Thank you to everyone that participated in this topic. Stay tuned for more interactions in our upcoming articles

- Project CFB
@projectcfb
projectcfb@yahoo.com

#12 South Carolina Gamecocks at #11 Clemson Tigers Preview

This Saturday night at 7:00 PM, the #12 South Carolina Gamecocks take on the #11 Clemson Tigers. This will be the 110th meeting between the two rivals. Currently, Clemson leads the all-time rivalry record 65-40-4, however South Carolina has won three straight against the Tigers.

Connor Shaw looks to lead South Carolina past
rival Clemson this Saturday at 7:00 PM

South Carolina will be led by junior quarterback Connor Shaw. Shaw, who has been a pretty precise passer, has also shown his scrambling skills this season. He has proven that he is one tough quarterback, taking numerous hits in games, and still continuing on. He has thrown for over 1,700 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has three rushing touchdowns to his name.

South Carolina's passing offense is ranked 75th in the nation, averaging about 222 passing yards per game. However Clemson's defense has allowed an average of 24.7 points per game (ranking them 47th in the nation for points allowed).

The Gamecocks running game hasn't been the greatest this season, most likely because junior Heisman hopeful running back Marcus Lattimore was injured earlier in the season. Senior Kenny Miles has taken the running back spot and has a little over 300 yards to his credit. He has also punched in two rushing touchdowns.

Tajh Boyd has 3,367 yards, 33 TDs and 11 INTs this season.

Clemson is led by junior quarterback Tajh Boyd, who is 240/353, for 3,367 yards, 33 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions. He also has eight rushing touchdowns so far this season. Boyd looks to have a very good performance against South Carolina, and he definitely will need to with South Carolina's points allowed rank being 13th in the nation.

Boyd has two very reliable wide receivers in DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins. They have combined for over 1,700 yards receiving, and 18 touchdowns. Boyd also has tight end Brandon Ford as a nice target also. Ford has reeled in 8 receiving touchdowns this season.

Clemson is averaging 332 yards passing per game, which gains them the rank of 9th in the nation in passing yards. They are also ranked 4th in points scored, with an average of 44.6! That isn't only because of their passing game. Their running game isn't too bad either.

Clemson's running back, senior Andre Ellington has also had a pretty good season, rushing the ball 186 times for 959 yards and eight touchdowns.

Last year's game, South Carolina put a whooping on Clemson, winning 34-13. I see this game being a lot closer. Although Clemson is ranked a lot higher in passing yards and points scored per game, South Carolina's defense has been very good this season. With the addition of having Connor Shaw at the reigns as quarterback, you definitely can't count the Gamecocks out.

It's probably true in most games, but I'm going to say that the team with the most takeaways is going to win this game. Clemson is going to have to put pressure on Connor Shaw, making him one dimensional, and shut down the Gamecocks' backup running back. If they can successfully do that, they'll win this game. But if they let Connor Shaw have his time, and be able to throw or run when he needs to, he can shred this defense.

Should be a good one going down Saturday night at 7:00 PM ET. The game will be broadcast from Memorial Stadium on ESPN. You don't want to miss this one.

- Matt Lytle

@mattlytle