Clemson fans can breathe a sigh of relief; As Arkansas rebuilds, USC gets an easy W

Sneak Peek 08: Clemson, South Carolina Football

CLEMSON — Seems like every fall at Clemson there's a sky-is-falling period of despair.

In 2003, coach Tommy Bowden was as good as gone after a 45-17 shellacking at the hands of Wake Forest. Clemson won its last four games by a combined score of 156-48 and finished 9-4.

A year later, the Tigers started 1-4 and a losing season seemed likely. They responded with five wins in their last six games, including a shocking upset at Miami and a home pummeling of South Carolina.

Clemson was on a three-game losing streak after a close loss at Wake Forest in 2005, and Tigers fans were on suicide watch. Six wins in the last seven games took them off the ledge.

And finally, disarray seemed to reign last year after ugly performances in back-to-back losses to Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. Five victories in the last seven games produced a 9-4 record and set the stage for the high hopes of 2008.

So there's no reason for Bowden to do anything drastic this year after back-to-back road losses to Boston College and Florida State. The Tigers are still very much alive for their first trip to the ACC championship game, and a 10-win season is still within their grasp.

The message boards and talk-radio waves are ablaze after the two upset losses. But with games remaining against Duke (home), Virginia (away) and South Carolina (home), there's no reason for Tigers fans to slit their wrists.

Not yet, anyway.

The breakdown

Duke offense vs. Clemson defense

Hard to believe Duke has lost 25 straight ACC games.

Actually, it's not so hard to believe.

The Blue Devils' last conference victory? A 2004 win over Clemson on a last-second field goal in Durham, N.C.

Abysmal offense is the biggest contributor to that long and agonizing skid. And that's primarily why Ted Roof was cut loose and David Cutcliffe hired from Tennessee — to add spark and imagination to a moribund offense.

Duke averaged 271.1 yards per game last year, ranking 12th in the ACC. The next-highest team? Miami at 315 yards a game. The Blue Devils rushed for a pathetic 64 yards a contest, ranking 117th nationally. Clemson held them to 28 yards on 30 carries in a 47-10 Tigers victory in Durham last season.

Cutcliffe is bent on changing that, and he actually has some pieces in place. Junior Thaddeus Lewis is one of the better quarterbacks in the ACC after completing 55.3 percent of his passes last year with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Receiver Eron Riley is first-team all-conference material, and senior Re'quan Boyette has shown flashes at tailback.

Now for the bad part: None of this will matter if the Blue Devils' offensive line doesn't improve dramatically.

The line lost two starters from 2007 but still has some experience, led by senior tackle Cameron Goldberg.

Clemson offense vs. Duke defense

The Blue Devils return 10 starters from last year, but that might not be such a good thing given that Duke ranked last in the ACC in total defense (424 ypg) and scoring defense (33.2 ppg).

The defensive front has some talent left over from Roof, led by tackle Vince Oghobaase and end Ayanga Okpokowuruk. Those two, plus nose tackle Clifford Respress, were actually coveted by some decorated college programs.

Linebacker Vincent Rey is back after leading the team in tackles last season with 111. Middle linebacker Michael Tauiliili was close behind at 108 and also returns.

The crystal ball

Clemson fans have actually approached this game with trepidation the past few meetings, and the back-to-back losses to Boston College and Florida State will have some folks uneasy heading into this one.

But while Cutcliffe might orchestrate some improvement this year, his team just won't have the talent to hang with the Tigers. Clemson has too much speed at the skill positions on offense for this to be a close game.

Prediction

Clemson 41, Duke 14

Previous predictions

Clemson 27, Alabama 20

Clemson 45, The Citadel 17

Clemson 31, N.C. State 13

Clemson 40, S.C. State 6

Clemson 31, Maryland 23

Clemson 24, Wake Forest 19

Clemson 27, Ga. Tech 21

Boston College 17, Clemson 16

Florida State 27, Clemson 23

Saturday

Clemson at Virginia

Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the new Clemson blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks/>

As Arkansas rebuilds, USC gets an easy W

COLUMBIA — As Steve Spurrier so eloquently put it Thursday, South Carolina "kind of pooped out" at the end of the 2007 season.

The first such deflating moment, really, came on a November evening in the Ozark Mountains. You might remember it as the night when Arkansas' Darren McFadden almost won the Heisman.

McFadden's 321-yard rushing performance sent him to New York. And the Gamecocks tailspinning toward their five straight losses.

The best news? McFadden is gone.

And so is Felix Jones, who was over 100 yards in the first half last year. And so is fullback Peyton Hillis, who was dangerous as a runner, receiver and blocker.

And so is coach Houston Nutt, who moved on to Mississippi after essentially being run out of town.

Things will be different with Bobby Petrino running things, that's for sure. And it'll probably work out in the long run for the Razorbacks. But not in 2008.

There's just too much to replace on the offensive side of the ball.

The breakdown

Arkansas offense vs. South Carolina defense

With the spring game as the only (sort of) evidence so far, we're told quarterback Casey Dick is a new man. He threw for 404 yards and a couple of scores in the scrimmage — stats that USC's quarterback suitors would've certainly lined up for.

That had to make Hogs fans feel better about losing the most talented backfield in school history. But, eh, only so much better.

C'mon, McFadden and Jones rushed for very close to 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns — last season.

But, as you know, Petrino is a pass-oriented coach, so he'll be able to tailor the personnel to his system. But in time.

Dick, hanging in there until transfer Ryan Mallett is eligible, will have to break in some new receivers, seeing as how the top returning pass-catcher had 12 receptions last year. (Hillis actually led the team with 49.)

The unknowns will not be settled even by November. Arkansas will struggle on the road at hostile Williams-Brice Stadium.

This will be a chance for USC's defense to make amends for allowing an absurd 651 total yards.

South Carolina offense vs. Arkansas defense

The losses weren't as punishing, but the Razorbacks still have questions on the defensive side of the ball.

They have no proven entities at linebacker. It might be USC that finds running room this year — OK, well, maybe not 542 yards' worth.

Arkansas' defense will wind up being better than most think, just because the Hogs return the bulk of their defensive line and secondary.

They're banged up at corner entering the fall, but that won't be the case late in the season. Dallas Washington will be a star at safety.

Lost in what happened last year in Fayetteville is that it might have been one of USC's best offensive games of the season.

The Gamecocks scored 36 points and got 364 passing yards from Blake Mitchell.

With that in mind, Steve Spurrier's offense should — key word being should — be more situated by this year's Arkansas game.

Smelley will be efficient in the victory, managing the game and not making big mistakes.

The crystal ball

For the second straight week, the defense gets the job done. But, let's face it, it's a much simpler task this time than Tennessee.

Arkansas won't present much of a challenge in Petrino's first year. But it will soon. South Carolina had better enjoy playing the Razorbacks before he gets his system and personnel in place.

The victory gives USC eight regular season wins for the first time in Spurrier's tenure, moving the Gamecocks to 8-2 and 5-2 in the SEC.

Good luck getting to No. 9. Road battles at Florida and Clemson — both likely to be top 10 teams, even in late November — await.

Prediction

USC 31, Arkansas 13

Past predictions

USC 18, N.C. State 10

USC 23, Vanderbilt 9

Georgia 27, USC 17

USC 37, Wofford 14

USC 41, UAB 10

USC 31, Ole Miss 27

USC 31, Kentucky 17

LSU 27, USC 23

USC 24, Tennessee 13

Saturday

South Carolina at Florida

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the new South Carolina blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/gamecocks/>

Share this story:

---

Notice about comments:
The Post and Courier is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. The Post and Courier does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our Web site.
Full terms and conditions can be read here.

---

Comments

This article has  10 comment(s)