Season Prediction
OK, so it's that time again. Time to take a fair look at the road ahead and take an educated guess on how things will pan out. Generally, we have a very weak schedule, and the road to the ACC championship is wide open. Will we win it? No. Here's how it breaks down:
Sat, Aug 30 Alabama
Comments:
Alabama is coming off of a bad year. It was the worst first year for a high profile coach in recent history. However, Saban has a reputation for pulling off miracles in his second year. He's got a very bottom heavy talent pool (no NFL draft prospects, but lots of underclassmen with talent.) Are they going to step up and return Alabama to glory?
Upset Potential:
Clemson is heavily favored but what hasn't been taken into account is coaching ability. Saban is a very good coach, so it wouldn't surprise me to see Clemson get beat on the X's and O's.
Result: WIN
First game of the year, Alabama has a ton of youth. If this game was in November, I'd give the edge to Alabama.
Sat, Sep 6 Citadel
Comments:
FCS opponent, nothing to say here, except that they shouldn't be on the schedule.
Upset Potential:
None
Result: WIN
Sat, Sep 13 North Carolina State
Comments:
Some people say NC State will have a surprisingly good year. Maybe so, but they have a lot of work to do. They still have an uncertain QB situation, and while Tom O. might be a great coach, he really doesn't have much to work with.
Upset Potential:
I'll be rooting for the Wolfpack to pull the upset in their season opener vs SC, but there's little hope for them against the Tigers.
Result: WIN
Sat, Sep 20 South Carolina State
Comments: Who? SC State? Really?
Upset Potential:
None
Result: (meaningless) WIN
Sat, Sep 27 Maryland
Comments:
Maryland starts the year with a pretty easy schedule, with the exception of California, so they'll probably be coming into this game at 3-1 and a pretty good comfort level with running their offense without the Fridge calling the plays. This is a team that usually gives us trouble and they'll have the same formula for success this year with a veteran offensive line, a speedy running back, and a good receiving corps. The one area where they lack stability is quarterback, but that will be shored up by the time they play us.
Upset Potential:
Even when outmatched in talent level, the Fridge finds ways to win games. This year he's definitely going to face problems with our speed and agility at the skill positions, but he'll have plenty of gaps to work with in the passing game with our inexperienced linebackers. If they can get that west coast offense going against us, it might be a long day in Tiger Town.
Result: WIN
It's in the valley, and while they have a good coaching staff they just don't have the talent to beat us this year. Tommy could screw this one up of course, but it's unlikely.
Thu, Oct 9 at Wake Forest
Comments:
Ah, Wake Forest. The last time we played them in their house, it took a miracle play by a beast of a defensive end to snap the Tigers out of a Tommy Bowden pregame induced coma to come back and take the game. The time before that... well... let's just not talk about that. This year the Deacs have 15 returning starters but they have some big questions at Wide Receiver, which will really hurt them when it comes to keeping defenses honest against their run-heavy attack. Yet again we blatantly out-talent this team, but the coaching edge definitely goes to Grobe.
Upset Potential:
It's at Wake, it's on Thursday night ESPN, and we'll be undefeated with a huge target on our backs and lots of expectations... not a good formula for success under Tommy Bowden
Result: LOSS
Yep, they did it again.
Sat, Oct 18 Georgia Tech
Comments:
Georgia Tech landed the best coach in College Football today, Paul Johnson. They should be fun to watch this year. However, even though he's done more with less, he simply doesn't have the talent to compete with Clemson this year. Additionally, his offense is going to be a tremendous change from Chan Gailey, so look for them to have some rough times.
Upset Potential:
The gnats usually give us problems. For a long stretch we had every game decided by 3 points or less. Not this year though.
Result: WIN
Too many changes in the offensive playbook for GTU, and not enough talent.
Sat, Nov 1 at (10) Boston College
Comments:
The Eagles. The damned Eagles. The team that never should have been brought into the ACC yet Clemson hasn't been able to beat. The first time we met they had Tom O'Brien, last year they had Matt Ryan, this year they have neither. However, they have a 5th year senior to take his place and a supporting cast of unspectacular yet fundamentally solid players. This will be a challenging road game.
Upset Potential:
BC has our number, we've yet to beat them in ACC play. This game is on the road and is quite a trip from Clemson, so the players might be groggy.
Result: LOSS
This will be a great game. It'll be a close game that won't be viewed on any television sets above the Mason-Dixon line, but we won't win it.
Sat, Nov 8 at Florida State
Comments:
This is going to be the toughest game of our regular season. FSU in Tallahassee is never an easy game, but this year it's going to be even harder because the Seminoles might actually have their swagger back. The talk of the town this year has been that they are a team unified and ready to re-establish their name as the ACC's best. For now it's just talk, but as we all know, FSU can make it happen.
Upset Potential:
Daddy Bowden has dominated Tommy Bowden with the exception of the past few years. This year it's likely that the father will remind the son who's the boss.
Result: LOSS
This is the year that FSU awakens from their slumber.
Sat, Nov 15 Duke
Comments:
It's Duke
Upset Potential:
Little to none.
Result: WIN
Sat, Nov 22 at Virginia
Comments:
Virginia is a team that we haven't played in a while and has had a ton of trouble off of the field during the past off season. While they rebounded to 9 wins last year they have lost a lot of players and are only bringing back 10 starters this year. They have a good coach in Groh but that's about the only positive to mention at this point.
Upset Potential:
Groh has been able to beat us when he shouldn't have. Plus, they have a pergola.
Result: WIN
This will be a close one but Virginia just doesn't have many good things going on this year.
Sat, Nov 29 South Carolina
Comments:
This will be the year that South Carolina demonstrates to the whole world that they are the NCAA's coaching graveyard. Steve Spurrier, I hope playing Augusta National was worth ruining your coaching career. Couldn't have happened to a better guy.
Upset Potential:
It's the biggest game of the year, plain and simple. There's always a chance the cocks can pull out a miracle.
Result: WIN
Bye Steve!
Conclusion: 9-3
So there you have it: 9-3 with no wins against teams that finish in the top 25, no ACC championship, and no BCS bowl. I wonder how much of a raise and how many more years Tommy will get after that?
Sat, Aug 30 Alabama
Comments:
Alabama is coming off of a bad year. It was the worst first year for a high profile coach in recent history. However, Saban has a reputation for pulling off miracles in his second year. He's got a very bottom heavy talent pool (no NFL draft prospects, but lots of underclassmen with talent.) Are they going to step up and return Alabama to glory?
Upset Potential:
Clemson is heavily favored but what hasn't been taken into account is coaching ability. Saban is a very good coach, so it wouldn't surprise me to see Clemson get beat on the X's and O's.
Result: WIN
First game of the year, Alabama has a ton of youth. If this game was in November, I'd give the edge to Alabama.
Sat, Sep 6 Citadel
Comments:
FCS opponent, nothing to say here, except that they shouldn't be on the schedule.
Upset Potential:
None
Result: WIN
Sat, Sep 13 North Carolina State
Comments:
Some people say NC State will have a surprisingly good year. Maybe so, but they have a lot of work to do. They still have an uncertain QB situation, and while Tom O. might be a great coach, he really doesn't have much to work with.
Upset Potential:
I'll be rooting for the Wolfpack to pull the upset in their season opener vs SC, but there's little hope for them against the Tigers.
Result: WIN
Sat, Sep 20 South Carolina State
Comments: Who? SC State? Really?
Upset Potential:
None
Result: (meaningless) WIN
Sat, Sep 27 Maryland
Comments:
Maryland starts the year with a pretty easy schedule, with the exception of California, so they'll probably be coming into this game at 3-1 and a pretty good comfort level with running their offense without the Fridge calling the plays. This is a team that usually gives us trouble and they'll have the same formula for success this year with a veteran offensive line, a speedy running back, and a good receiving corps. The one area where they lack stability is quarterback, but that will be shored up by the time they play us.
Upset Potential:
Even when outmatched in talent level, the Fridge finds ways to win games. This year he's definitely going to face problems with our speed and agility at the skill positions, but he'll have plenty of gaps to work with in the passing game with our inexperienced linebackers. If they can get that west coast offense going against us, it might be a long day in Tiger Town.
Result: WIN
It's in the valley, and while they have a good coaching staff they just don't have the talent to beat us this year. Tommy could screw this one up of course, but it's unlikely.
Thu, Oct 9 at Wake Forest
Comments:
Ah, Wake Forest. The last time we played them in their house, it took a miracle play by a beast of a defensive end to snap the Tigers out of a Tommy Bowden pregame induced coma to come back and take the game. The time before that... well... let's just not talk about that. This year the Deacs have 15 returning starters but they have some big questions at Wide Receiver, which will really hurt them when it comes to keeping defenses honest against their run-heavy attack. Yet again we blatantly out-talent this team, but the coaching edge definitely goes to Grobe.
Upset Potential:
It's at Wake, it's on Thursday night ESPN, and we'll be undefeated with a huge target on our backs and lots of expectations... not a good formula for success under Tommy Bowden
Result: LOSS
Yep, they did it again.
Sat, Oct 18 Georgia Tech
Comments:
Georgia Tech landed the best coach in College Football today, Paul Johnson. They should be fun to watch this year. However, even though he's done more with less, he simply doesn't have the talent to compete with Clemson this year. Additionally, his offense is going to be a tremendous change from Chan Gailey, so look for them to have some rough times.
Upset Potential:
The gnats usually give us problems. For a long stretch we had every game decided by 3 points or less. Not this year though.
Result: WIN
Too many changes in the offensive playbook for GTU, and not enough talent.
Sat, Nov 1 at (10) Boston College
Comments:
The Eagles. The damned Eagles. The team that never should have been brought into the ACC yet Clemson hasn't been able to beat. The first time we met they had Tom O'Brien, last year they had Matt Ryan, this year they have neither. However, they have a 5th year senior to take his place and a supporting cast of unspectacular yet fundamentally solid players. This will be a challenging road game.
Upset Potential:
BC has our number, we've yet to beat them in ACC play. This game is on the road and is quite a trip from Clemson, so the players might be groggy.
Result: LOSS
This will be a great game. It'll be a close game that won't be viewed on any television sets above the Mason-Dixon line, but we won't win it.
Sat, Nov 8 at Florida State
Comments:
This is going to be the toughest game of our regular season. FSU in Tallahassee is never an easy game, but this year it's going to be even harder because the Seminoles might actually have their swagger back. The talk of the town this year has been that they are a team unified and ready to re-establish their name as the ACC's best. For now it's just talk, but as we all know, FSU can make it happen.
Upset Potential:
Daddy Bowden has dominated Tommy Bowden with the exception of the past few years. This year it's likely that the father will remind the son who's the boss.
Result: LOSS
This is the year that FSU awakens from their slumber.
Sat, Nov 15 Duke
Comments:
It's Duke
Upset Potential:
Little to none.
Result: WIN
Sat, Nov 22 at Virginia
Comments:
Virginia is a team that we haven't played in a while and has had a ton of trouble off of the field during the past off season. While they rebounded to 9 wins last year they have lost a lot of players and are only bringing back 10 starters this year. They have a good coach in Groh but that's about the only positive to mention at this point.
Upset Potential:
Groh has been able to beat us when he shouldn't have. Plus, they have a pergola.
Result: WIN
This will be a close one but Virginia just doesn't have many good things going on this year.
Sat, Nov 29 South Carolina
Comments:
This will be the year that South Carolina demonstrates to the whole world that they are the NCAA's coaching graveyard. Steve Spurrier, I hope playing Augusta National was worth ruining your coaching career. Couldn't have happened to a better guy.
Upset Potential:
It's the biggest game of the year, plain and simple. There's always a chance the cocks can pull out a miracle.
Result: WIN
Bye Steve!
Conclusion: 9-3
So there you have it: 9-3 with no wins against teams that finish in the top 25, no ACC championship, and no BCS bowl. I wonder how much of a raise and how many more years Tommy will get after that?
+newsvine
+digg
+del.icio.us
+reddit
Still think it will be a miracle? Carolina is going to stomp Clemson's ass into a mudhole and you know it. Bye Tommy! Jackass.
Posted by
Anonymous |
9/2/08 3:44 AM
wow another drunk carolina guy with hopeful dreams. I dont care how bad Clemson is. We will still beat USuCk, always. What is our recored now, I dont even know its gotten too rediculously scewed in our favor. Nice anonymous post you drunk Carolina fan, Carolina's finest everyone!
Posted by
Joe |
9/3/08 1:54 PM