TIME ‘2’ RESPOND
AFTER DROPPING IN POLLS, CLEMSON GETS CHANCE TO MAKE A STATEMENT VS. FSU
Keys for Florida State
Make Clemson play from behind: This was one of the secrets to North Carolina’s near upset of the Tigers two weeks ago. The Tar Heels scored first and answered Clemson every time it put points on the board. It kept the Tigers, who had trailed for only about three minutes in their previous four games, in unfamiliar territory most of the afternoon and gave UNC a chance to win at the end.
Produce big plays: Let’s be real. The only way Florida State has a chance of beating Clemson is by making some big, momentum-shifting plays. The Seminoles need Cam Akers to rip off a long run or two, and for their defense to force some turnovers to generate some confidence for themselves and tone down the boisterous crowd in Death Valley.
Keys for Clemson
Pressure FSU quarterbacks: The Tigers rank ninth nationally in getting to the quarterback, averaging 3.80 sacks per game. On the flip side, Florida State is among the worst in the country at protecting its quarterbacks, having surrendered 19 sacks in five games. FSU is expected to use both James Blackman and Alex Hornibrook at quarterback, but Blackman is coming off an ankle sprain that caused him to miss the N.C. State game.
Turn Trevor Loose: We all know sophomore Trevor Lawrence is a great quarterback. But Lawrence hasn’t exactly been his spectacular self through the first five games. He’s been picked off five times already, compared to just four in 15 games a year ago, and his completion percentage (61.9) and efficiency rating (143.7) are slightly lower than last year’s numbers.
Prediction
Clemson 45, Florida State 17. With Florida State registering back-to-back wins against Louisville and N.C. State, some have started to wonder if the Seminoles have turned a corner in their efforts to return to prominence. They are getting better, but still have too many weak spots to beat the Tigers, who have had a week off to contemplate their near-upset at UNC.