Clemson Tigers vs Florida State Seminoles Football Preview

In September, the fate of the ACC's Atlantic Division is likely to be decided. It's all because the Clemson Tigers managed to rise above their reputation in one big game and earn the chance to make an even bigger mark in another Saturday showdown.

This weekend at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, the most snake-bitten program in the ACC, the one that has not claimed a conference crown since 1991, will have a chance to put preseason favorite Florida State in a hole. Both of these teams are coming off major nonconference collisions, but the team that won its five-star throwdown might surprise you.

Clemson is the program that always finds a way to slip on the banana peel, to become Charlie Brown to someone else's Lucy. Clemson sniffs victory but typically can't claim the prize. A bad placekick here, a dropped fourth-quarter touchdown pass there, a red-zone fumble over there - something regularly managed to scuttle the Tigers' plans, leaving them dumbfounded and defeated. A full two decades without a conference title is a long time for a program that owns more ACC crowns (13) than any other school. Interestingly enough, the Florida State Seminoles have 12 ACC titles, but they've been in the league for only two decades. Indeed, the Noles joined the ACC only when Clemson won that 1991 league championship; Florida State was not eligible for the '91 title, but beginning in 1992, FSU was able to carry the ACC banner into a premier bowl game. The Noles, under legendary coach Bobby Bowden, immediately started hauling in ACC hardware, and Clemson hasn't been the same since. How utterly fascinating it is, then, that these two teams meet with a division title hanging in the balance... and that Clemson is the team riding high, not FSU.

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Clemson knocked off the defending national champions from Auburn this past Saturday, 38-24. Clemson was down by a 21-7 score midway through the second quarter, and at that point in time, it appeared to all the world that the Tigers of the ACC would once again be humbled... this time, by some other Tigers from the SEC. However, just when it seemed all was lost for Clemson, coach Dabo Swinney's charges came alive. Quarterback Tahj Boyd, who was a mess late last season, couldn't miss a pass, especially on third down. Boyd found a reliable target, receiver Sammy Watkins, to repeatedly terrorize Auburn's defense. When it was all over, Boyd went 30 for 42 as a passer for 386 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Watkins, a freshman sensation, grabbed 10 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Clemson's playmaking, which usually stubs its toe when it really counts, flourished in the spotlight and erased a 14-point deficit against an Auburn team that hadn't lost since the day after Thanksgiving in 2009 (the day Tiger Woods' car was smashed and ran off the driveway in his Orlando home).

Entering this contest, it's Florida State which must answer the bell and quiet growing doubts. While Clemson basks in the glow of victory over the defending champs, Florida State has to heal and regroup rather quickly after getting beaten by Oklahoma, 23-13, in a close and compelling clash in Tallahassee. FSU competed hard and long and well, but OU's strength in the trenches was too much. FSU quarterback E.J. Manuel suffered an injury and is uncertain for this game, but backup signal caller Clint Trickett gained valuable playing time against OU, throwing a tying touchdown pass and proving his worth to his teammates. If Trickett is asked to perform this Saturday, he doesn't have to light up the scoreboard; he just needs to make the handful of key plays that will enable his defense to do the heavy lifting.  

The featured matchup in this game is clearly Clemson's high-powered offense against a Florida State defense that contained Oklahoma's attack. Whichever side gains more leverage and shines in the fourth quarter will likely carry the day. Now, all that's left is to tee it up. The ACC Atlantic is waiting to be won.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer