Clemson football notes: Tigers may have difficulty repeating as ACC champs; Swinney updates injuries

CLEMSON - Some in the analytical community project Clemson will have a difficult time repeating as ACC champions.

The average projection from FootballOutsiders.com —- a Web site devoted to statistical analysis — has Clemson winning 8.1 games in 2012.

Football Outsiders give Clemson a 27 percent chance of going 8-4, a 23 percent chance of going 9-3, a 20 percent chance of going 7-5, a 13 percent chance of going 10-2 and a 4 percent chance of going 11-1 in the regular season.

Football Outsiders bases its projection on its efficiency ratings for each program. The full prediction is also found in the most recent ESPN the Magazine.

One bit of good news for Clemson is Football Outsiders gives the Tigers a 54.8 percent chance of beating South Carolina this season.

The 8.1 wins projection falls near oddsmaker Bovada.com’s over/under win total of 8.5 for Clemson.

Timothy’s surgery deemed a success
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said the surgery to repair right tackle Gifford Timothy’s damaged meniscus was a success last week and Swinney hopes Timothy can return to practice in two weeks.

“I hope he can take some reps by then and at least have a chance to have a game week of preparation under his belt (for Auburn),” Swinney said. “It’s going to be about pain tolerance and how he responds to the rehab.”

Timothy is projected as the team’s starting right tackle.

Other injuries
Linebacker Justin Parker still has not practiced this camp and will have surgery on his groin Wednesday in Charleston. Parker will likely redshirt this season.

Defensive end Corey Crawford practiced Monday after injuring his ankle on Saturday.

Defensive back Martin Jenkins has not practiced since Wednesday with a hip flexor.

Reserve wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez injured his shoulder in Saturday’s scrimmage and will miss at least one week.

Dabo said it
“We are right on schedule,” Swinney said following Monday’s practice. “We got the first scrimmage behind us and after watching the film, I was really encouraged. I was way more encouraged than discouraged.”