Game of The Week: Clemson vs. Boston College

Story posted November 7, 2018 in CommRadio, Sports by David Saggio

Our game of the week moves far up north to the great sports city of Boston as the No. 2 Clemson Tigers visit the No. 17 Boston College Eagles in a clash of ACC foes.

Clemson sits comfortably at 9-0 on the season with its only real test on the year being a fiery thirteenth-ranked Syracuse team that has surprised many this year. The Tigers come into this game fresh off an absolute 77-16 walloping of Louisville.

Led by true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Clemson boasts one of the nation’s most balanced and formidable offenses. Lawrence is completing 65.4 percent of his passes for 1,549 yards, 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Meanwhile, in the ground game, Travis Etienne has made quite a name for himself with 998 yards and 15 touchdowns on 8.6 yards per rush this year.

The real strength for Clemson though lies in its monstrous defensive front. Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant are a lethal edge pass rusher duo, and Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence are incredible against the run in the middle. All four have a chance to be first-round NFL Draft picks

Enter Boston College with a 7-2 record on the year. The Eagles are right behind Clemson at second place in the ACC Atlantic with loses to Purdue and NC State. The Eagles possess a very balanced offense with quarterback Anthony Brown completing 57.9 percent of his passes for 1,567 yards, 16 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions.

Running back AJ Dillon has also produced a top rushing campaign as well with 897 yards and eight touchdowns rushing.

Boston College’s defense is led by defensive end Wyatt Ray who has nine sacks on the season so far and will no doubt look to be a wrecking ball against Clemson’s offensive line. Meanwhile, in the secondary for the Eagles is one of the best ball hawks in all of college football in cornerback Hamp Cheevers, who has picked off five passes this season including one returned for a touchdown.

The Eagles are playing some of their best football in a longtime this season and with College Gameday officially announcing their visit to Boston College, this matchup couldn’t come at a better time for BC.

Clemson has yet to be truly challenged on the road this season and Lawrence is only a true freshman at quarterback, so the road environment and noise factor should definitely play a major role in his performance. Meanwhile, Boston College's offense will be tested heavily by this Clemson defense, particularly in blocking for the offensive line.

Giving Brown time to throw and Dillon room to run will be essential if the Eagles want to pull off the upset. BC head coach Steve Addazio has really turned this program around since his arrival in 2013 and a marquee win over the Tigers would further add to what he has accomplished in Boston. Knocking off one of the best in the business in Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney will be no easy task though.

With all the hype coming into this matchup and a College Gameday appearance, the Eagles will pull off the bigtime upset over Clemson, winning narrowly by a score of 28-21.

 

 

David Saggio is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him email davesag12@gmail.com.