A crtitical ACC showdown is on the cards this coming Saturday as the Clemson Tigers host the North Carolina Tar Heels. After suffering a humiliating defeat against East Carolina, the Tar Heels will be looking to set their campaign on track against a Clemson side hoping to bounce back from their disappointing overtime loss to the Florida State Seminoles last time out.
Read on for a complete preview of this game and while you’re at it, check out our preview of Missouri vs. South Carolina.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Clemson Tigers Betting Preview
Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
When: Saturday, September 27, 2014, 7:00 PM ET
Line: North Carolina Tar Heels (+14) at Clemson Tigers (-14) – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the North Carolina Tar Heels
To say that the North Carolina Tar Heels had an off day last week would be a severe understatement. For the second-straight season, the Tar Heels were humiliated and embarrassed by the East Carolina Pirates as they were beaten 70-41 on Saturday.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]The Tar Heel defense simply had no answer for East Carolina quarterback Shane Carden. The 22-year-old had a field day, throwing for 438 yards on 30-of-48 passing with four touchdowns.
It was an afternoon to forget for head coach Larry Fedora and the rest of the UNC football program who had high aspirations entering the game following their 2-0 start.
What they got instead was a total beat down, as they were reminded that they still have a ways to go before they can seriously challenge for the conference title. In front of a record East Carolina crowd, the Tar Heels broke records for futility allowing the most points (70) and yards (789) in their 126-year college football history.
Entering the game, Fedora noted that one of the keys to the ballgame was limiting the number of ECU possessions and making stops on third down. They clearly failed in those objectives, especially the latter as they allowed the Pirates to convert on 12-of-17 third downs.
The defense will have to step it up a notch when they face their ACC rivals Clemson Tigers next. Prior to Saturday’s blowout, they were allowing just 28 points per game against their opponents. That kind of defensive performance is needed especially against the Tigers who are 42nd in the nation in points scored with an average of 37 points this season.
The Tar Heels are 6-4 ATS in their 10 meetings with Clemson.
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Betting on the Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers only had themselves to blame after squandering a fantastic opportunity to defeat the reigning NCAA college football champions Florida State.
Much of the headlines entering the game were centered on reigning Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston and his suspension for the game. With uncertainty surrounding the Florida State camp, the Tigers were able to quickly take advantage as they opened up a 10-3 lead at halftime.
The Tigers were relentless during that opening half, outgaining the Seminoles 249-84. Florida State, however, were able to get their bearings back in the second half as backup quarterback Sean Maguire connected with Rashad Greene for a 74-yard touchdown to tie the game at 17 and send it into overtime.
Clemson still had enough chances to grab the win in OT but Florida State’s experience clearly showed in the endgame as they pulled off the heart-stopping 23-17 win.
The Tigers suffered their second defeat in three games as they fell to 1-2, but there were still plenty of positives for the Tigers to take out from this game.
One of which was the stunning play of their freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson. With Winston watching on the sidelines, Watson showed that he might be the ACC’s next great quarterback as he completed 19-of-28 passes for a total of 266 yards.
Through the first two games, he has already thrown four touchdowns so it wasn’t a complete surprise when Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made the decision to replace starting QB Cole Stoudt with Watson mid-game.
Watson was not fazed one bit with the sudden change as he led the Tigers to the near-upset. His confidence will only grow from this experience and will already be licking his chops at the prospect of facing North Carolina in their next game.
The Tigers are 5-2 in their seven career meetings at home against the Tar Heels. Their last meeting at Memorial Stadium took place last October 22, 2011 wherein the Tigers dismantled the Tar Heels 59-38.
Writer’s Prediction
Clemson (-14) ease past North Carolina to even their slate to 2-2.
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