(Photo: WLTX)

Campus Clash 

(18) South Carolina Gamecocks at (17) Clemson Tigers

South Carolina: In an SEC with the Texas Longhorns, Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, and Tennessee Volunteers, I’ve been impressed with this group and I say that because they’ve held their ground in one of the toughest conferences in the nation. They gave Alabama a run for their money and even upset the Texas A&M Aggies on November 2nd in Columbia. My first time watching this team this year was when I had the chance to preview their game on this site against the LSU Tigers in week three. In the first half of that game, everything was rolling positively in the direction of the South Carolina Gamecocks. Then came the second half and it fell apart. I can say if LaNorris Sellers didn’t get injured, they pull the upset, but we can’t always lean upon the “what if” game. Speaking of Sellers, that was my first time watching him play and he reminds me a lot of David Garrard, the former Jacksonville Jaguars Quarterback, but just more mobile. One thing I can say is Shane Beamer is a good football coach and this offense has over 2,000 yards rushing and 2,000 yards passing which means one thing, they play with balance. They have won their last five games and two of those wins have come against two top-25 opponents (Texas A&M and Missouri). This Saturday afternoon, they face their in-state rivals.

Clemson: The last time I saw them play, it was a conference showdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers and they had to earn all of that matchup. A playmaker can put the team on his back and make a game-changing play and that’s exactly what Cade Klubnik did a few weekends ago when he ran a touchdown for 75 yards to put his group ahead. They leave Pittsburgh with a 24-20 victory. This past weekend, they faced The Citadel and handled their business in a dominant win. Yes, they won the game by 37 points and hung 50 on them, but they still gave up a ton of yards to the Bulldogs and this has been an issue for the Clemson Tigers all year long which is why they haven’t been taken as seriously this year as they have been in years past. I’ve often found myself saying this isn’t those Clemson teams that were running away with the ACC, they were a lock not only to make the conference championship game, but win it and they were one of the two teams penciled to win the National Championship. Currently, they are 9-2 and continue to keep their hopes alive of playing in their conference title game. In the ACC, SMU is still atop the conference and the Miami Hurricanes are right behind them at number two with Dabo’s group sitting at three. They need another Miami loss and the Tigers winning to have that chance. On Saturday, they welcome a rival to Death Valley.

South Carolina X-Factor: Joshua Simon– This South Carolina offense has been successful because they can attack a defense either on the ground with the rushing attack or in the air. Meet Joshua Simon, a 6’4 possession Tight End who always finds a way to free himself and he’s wide open. He uses his body as a shield as if he were going to block, then he’s open and Sellers finds him the football. Joshua is a chain mover and this is who the Quarterback will find for that first down, or to get close to the marker.

Clemson X-Factor: Antonio Williams– The number one receiving option for the Tigers and Cade’s top target. Clemson has had many solid Wide Receivers in their program over the years and Antonio has become one of them. First, they use him in so many ways to get him the ball as he can make plays in the flat and he’s so shifty after catching the ball on a screen pass. Antonio also makes those contested catches over the middle in traffic. South Carolina must know where he is at all times.

Final Thoughts: This is being labeled as the most important rivalry game between the two ever. The winner will see their chances of making the now 12-team College Football Playoff become a bit more of a reality. These are two very evenly matched football teams and the stage is set for a big showdown in Death Valley. A loss for either team will eliminate them from any chance of making the postseason. There are two keys for both teams in this game and the first is pressure. These are two Quarterbacks in Sellers and Klubnik who can each move in and out of the pocket and make plays with their feet. Whichever team can contain and limit the other Quarterback will come out on top in this one. The second key in this game is Quarterback play. Both of these passers are strong and the reason why either team will advance and go far. When Sellers is on, he’s remarkable and he has picked apart defenses who blitz him. In the last five games, he’s 40 of 56 with 725 yards passing and nine passing touchdowns. Klubnik has played like a top-ten Quarterback this year and has impressed me with his play this year. He will be facing a South Carolina pass rush that’s very formidable and ranks amongst the best in several categories. This will be a close game throughout! I expect this to come down to the fourth quarter. I’m taking South Carolina in this game.

Prediction: South Carolina 26, Clemson 24.