Clemson schedule custom-built for run at national title

By Chris Preston  |   Wednesday, July 09, 2008  |  Comments( 9 )

Clemson Tigers
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Look closely at Clemson’s 2008 schedule. I mean really sink your teeth into it – lord knows you’re already chomping at the bit for the college football season to finally commence. I realize this is an extremely dangerous exercise when you consider the Tommy Bowden Tigers’ knack for losing games they should win (going 8-8 in the last 16 in which they were favored, to be precise), but Clemson should still be favored in each of its 12 scheduled games this season. With eight of them coming at home and the absence of Virginia Tech on the slate, it is a schedule not only built for an ACC title but – dare we say it? – a national title.

Opening night against Alabama, a game that will be played in Atlanta, will be a tough early test; nevertheless, this ain’t your grandfather’s Crimson Tide. Even on a neutral site, it would be tough to envision the Tigers losing this game.

Meanwhile, the Citadels, South Carolina States and Dukes of the world are peppered throughout the home schedule. Maryland, North Carolina State and Georgia Tech are all potential roadblocks, but those are teams that combined to go 18-20 a year ago. At home, Clemson should be double-digit favorites against all three. The South Carolina game is no gimme because of the nature of the rivalry and the fact that Steve Spurrier still patrols the Gamecocks' sideline. But that too will be played on Clemson’s turf, and South Carolina is coming off a mediocre 6-6 season that featured a complete collapse in the second half.

So now let’s get into the road games. First off, Clemson doesn’t play one until the second week of October (Oct. 9), at Wake Forest. The Deacons return 14 starters, including quarterback Riley Skinner, from a solid 9-4 squad, and are tabbed by many preseason prognosticators as a Top-25 team. Winning at Wake will be a serious challenge for the Tigers, but as ACC fans know, Deacon Tower at BB&T Field doesn’t exactly strike fear into opponents the way Death Valley does. There will be plenty of orange-clad Clemson fans in attendance, which should all but neutralize what little homefield advantage the Deacons normally have.

The other three road opponents are Boston College, Florida State and Virginia. BC will struggle to replace quarterback Matt Ryan, the Cavaliers suffered mass attrition in the offseason, and Papa Bowden’s team is one the Tigers have owned since son Tommy took over. Though playing on the road is never easy, all three games will be exceedingly winnable for these Tigers.

Again, we’re all aware of the recent history here, and you Clemson fans certainly know better than to make such a bold prediction. So I’ll make it for you: Clemson will go undefeated in the regular season and will play in the ACC title game for the right to earn a spot in the BCS national championship. I shall stop short of saying the Tigers can actually win the ACC title game (against the Hokies, perhaps?), but like Mary Swanson in "Dumb and Dumber": “I’m telling you there’s a chance.”
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