Clemson Tigers @ Auburn Tigers Football Preview

The Clemson Tigers have started their season with North Texas and Presbyterian. Now they tackle a real team from the SEC.

The Tigers of the ACC have not only a gifted athlete under center, but a quarterback who has shown that he can overcome adversity and lead a band of brothers to a meaningful achievement. It was last year that Kyle Parker endured a humiliating loss to lowly Maryland (a team that would finish its 2009 season with a 2-10 record) and stumbled through a so-so September, only to pick himself off the mat and lead Clemson to its first-ever ACC Atlantic Division championship. Clemson’s offense then excelled in the ACC Championship Game against Georgia Tech, as Parker distributed the ball to a stable of considerably gifted athletes. Yes, elite speedster C.J. Spiller is now collecting an NFL paycheck with the Buffalo Bills, but Clemson is still a very solid team that should contend for a repeat Atlantic title. Parker is a proven leader and a guy who can make the proper read.

The other big reason to think Clemson can do some damage in this game is that Auburn’s offense was so demonstrably shaky in its 17-14 win over Mississippi State on Sept. 9. Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton was indeed an imposing force as a runner, but he constantly threw poor passes and made bad reads against Mississippi State’s defense. A wide receiver screen pass into the left flat should have been turned into a pick-six, but an MSU defender saw the ball squirt through his hands. Unless Newton rapidly improves and solves a lot of his passing woes, Clemson’s defense should be able to contain the Auburn attack and get a few game-changing turnovers from Auburn’s struggling signal caller.

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Here, on the other hand, is the case for Auburn: As good the Auburn offense was in 2009, it may be even better in 2010 as seven starters return. It didn’t function smoothly at Mississippi State last week, but against a non-SEC defense which is unfamiliar with its schemes, Auburn’s offense might be ready to get back on the beam. The biggest offseason addition was quarterback Cameron Newton. He’s the strong-armed and mobile weapon who can make coordinator Gus Malzahn’s offense hum at a high level. If Auburn’s offense can reach the ceiling of its capabilities, this team could flourish against Clemson and pull away in the second half. Newton proved to be a battering ram against Mississippi State; much like former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, he’s virtually impossible to stop in third-and-short or fourth-and-short situations. That could be Auburn’s biggest asset in a matchup with the team that won the ACC Atlantic Division last season.

Clemson should struggle on the road after playing softies in its first two games, but then again, Auburn’s quarterback situation is not as good as many experts initially thought. Auburn probably has the better team, but also the greater possibility of committing multiple turnovers. Clemson’s Kyle Parker needs to outplay Cam Newton and lead the ACC team over the SEC team in this two-Tiger tilt. If Parker brings his best to Jordan-Hare Stadium, the ACC could get one of the wins it so desperately needs in non-conference competition.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer