#4 Clemson vs Wake Forest: Preview and Prediction

NO. 4 CLEMSON (5-0, 2-0 ACC) at WAKE FOREST (3-2, 0-1 ACC) 
SATURDAY, OCT. 6 
 3:30 PM ET 
 BB&T FIELD (31,500) 
 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. 

TELEVISION: ESPN                       (Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht and Rocky Boiman) 
RADIO: Clemson Tigers Network .  (Don Munson, Rodney Williams, Tim Bourret, Reggie Merriweather) 
 **Sirius 133, XM 207, Internet 966**  

 

CLEMSON/WAKE FOREST SERIES HISTORY: 
– OVERALL: Clemson leads series, 65-17-1 –

HOME: Clemson leads series, 38-7
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ROAD: Clemson leads series, 24-10-1
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NEUTRAL: Clemson leads series, 3-0 
LAST MEETING: Oct. 7, 2017 (28-14, W) –

STREAK: Clemson, Won 9 

 

 

 

Winston Salem, NC 

Clemson comes into this weekend’s contest 5-0 and 2-0 inside the ACC. Clemson faces a very savvy and upstart Wake Forest team (3-2, 0-1 ACC) that has provided a lot of offensive spark and speed so far in the 2018 ACC Campaign.  The Deacons 2 losses came against Boston College and Notre Dame. Both defeats came at BB&T field in front of the hometown Deacons’ fans.  In both cases, the Deacons run game was shut down and the game was put into the hands of true Freshman Sam Hartman.  The Deacons quarterback was unable in both instances to win these contest on his arm talent.  Wake brings one of the most dynamic players in the league with them in the form of wide receiver Greg Dortch.  Dortch rates second nationally in total all-purpose yards per game at a 196/per game,  presents a threat in the passing game and as a punt and kickoff returner.

Clemson fans are looking to the return of freshman phenom Trevor Lawrence after last weeks big hit and strained neck injury took him out of the Syracuse game in the 2nd quarter.  Clemson fans’ also keeping an eye on the hottest running back in the ACC Travis Etienne who is now averaging 118 yards per game. Two very quick offenses that look to average between 80-100 plays per game.  

 

 

 

 

When Clemson has the Ball:

The Tigers come into the game with a blossoming ground game.  Tigers sophomore running back Travis Etienne is averaging 169/per game over the past three contest.   Clemson’s 2018 team has had to lean on its run game in the past few weeks as a quarterback battle played out.  Now as the Tigers get starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence back in the line up for Saturday’s game inside BB&T field.  Expect Clemson to utilize its pass game and start attacking a very suspect Demon Deacon defensive backfield. Lawrence should find time to attack the middle of the field and find wideouts and tight ends inside the seams of the defense.  Add to that the balance that Etienne and the running backs bring and the team in Orange should have a very productive afternoon. 

 

Key Stats: 

Clemson Rushing:  224.2 Yds/per game 
Clemson Yards: 7.0 per Play 

Wake Passing Defense:  271.6 yards/per game 
Wake yards per Play:        6.1 yards/ per play avg.

 

 

 

 

When Wake has the Ball:

Wake has been a very high paced offense and looks to get the ball snapped faster than any team in college football.  The Demon Deacons have spent the first five games of the year running to the line of scrimmage and snapping the ball without making personnel changes of any sort.  Thus forcing opposing defenses to stay on the field and not rotate on the line of scrimmage as to keep fresh “Legs” in the game.  Wake counts on teams to wear out and relent to this by not having the depth to keep up with this pace.  With Clemson just as the Deacons saw with Notre Dame the outlier will be the depth they look to take advantage of on a weekly basis.  

Clemson provides very quality depth in the 2-deep and also has proven to be one of the best-conditioned teams in the nation. Clemson’s conditioning and depth and the fact this team practices daily against a hurry-up offense and just faced Syracuse who employs the same attack.  Sam Hartman, Greg Dortch, and company will have their moments. You cannot contain a player of Dortch caliber over an entire 60 minutes and he will find space at times to make plays as Hartman finds him from time to time.  But it will be the lack of a running game that allows the Clemson defense to hone in on the Deacons pass game and press the receivers at the line of scrimmage and force Hartman to hold the ball longer than planned.  This allows the Clemson pass rush the time needed to affect issues that Hartman will not be able to overcome. 

 

Key Stats:

Clemson Pass Defense:        168.6 yards/per game 
Clemson Yards per play:           4.2 yards/ per play

Wake Pass Yards per comp:    12.0 Yards/per comp
Wake Run game:                          4.7 Yards/per rush 

 

 

How we see it :

We can see this one starting out with Wake trying to throw the ball laterally, trying its best to fatigue Clemson’s line by running them all over the field to cover screens and pop passes that are designed out of the “RPO” offense that Wake utilizes.  Clemson has the talent and conditioning to handle the early onslaught but Wake will hit on a big play or two and will at times in this game move the ball.  As with Syracuse look for the Tigers to force Hartman to win this game as Clemson will take the run away early.  Dortch will make his plays on this day.  But it won’t be enough as Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence has a “coming out party”… Travis Etienne, who will again surpass 100 yards,  will help the Tigers as they systematically over the next four quarters pound on a Wake defense that will not have any answers. 

 

 

Prediction:

Clemson 48 Wake Forest 21 

 

 

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