Clemson’s most critical game comes Thursday

By Marc Hudgens  |   Wednesday, October 08, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Clemson Tigers
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Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden knows Thursday's game against Wake Forest is key.

"The most important game now is the sixth game,” he said during Monday’s press conference.

If Clemson loses to coach Jim Grobe’s Demon Deacons in Winston Salem, N.C., it will likely seal the deal that the Tigers are the most overrated, most disappointing team in all of college football this season.

Why is that? One only needs to look at the Tigers' loss to Maryland two Saturdays ago. The Tigers had the game in the bag with a 17-6 halftime lead, only to give it away to the Terrapins -- who ended up winning, 20-17, in Death Valley. What makes this loss particularly harsh is that Maryland, still drunk off the Clemson win, ended up folding like a cheap lounge chair against the ACC’s poorest team, Virginia, the next week. In fact, the Cavs crushed Maryland, 31-0. Of course, the Terps also lost to Middle Tennessee State earlier in the season.

Wake, meanwhile, has already dropped decisions to Duke and Navy this season. Obviously, then, it won't look good if the Tigers can't better the Demon Deacons.

What would another loss say about a talent-laden team that was pegged as the preseason ACC favorite and started out ranked ninth in the nation? This game is the proverbial corner. Clemson will either turn it or careen into a ditch.

“Regardless of what happens Thursday night, they are not going to call the rest of the season off," Bowden said.

If the Tigers crash and burn against Wake ... well, their ACC title hopes are likely over.
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He ...
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