After Saturday’s victory over the Heels, we haven’t really said much about the game. What stands out the most to me, is that I was able to go through the entire game without being nervous. There was no heart attack special. Cardiologists all over the Southeast have extra time for golf this week.

Clemson systematically ran its offense while systematically keeping North Carolina from moving the ball anywhere but backwards. We’ve had many big wins in the last 8 years, but I cannot remember a single more thorough dismantling of a football team by another. That last line says enough about the game to keep me from having to be specific in any way.

If the coaches and team find a way to continue to play at that level for the next 8 games, a trip to Jacksonville is definitely in the cards.

Courtesy of ESPN.com. I’m in Missouri but this is what I came back to the room to find. I’m sure Agent will have plenty of details.

Stats:

Teams
1st Downs	8	30
Total Yards	150	504
Passing	96	180
Rushing	54	324
Penalties	9-65	5-40
3rd Down Conversions	1-10	6-12
4th Down Conversions	1-2	1-2
Turnovers	2	1
Possession	21:43	38:17

(Appologies for the crumby table, I’m not enjoying our change over just yet. I’m gnome on a short bus for a reason.)

Davis – 4 TD’s and 96 yrds. Team tallied 7 on the ground overall with the wealth being spread to Spiller (2) and Merriweather (1).

2nd string in most if not all of the second half.

Oh, and supposedly AC/DC was back on the speakers. I’m guessing it was pretty much over before it started if that’s the case.

I never pay attention to anything other than the spreads when it comes to betting on college football.  Except this week.

For the first time, I ran across covers.com.  There’s a lot of information to drive you crazy, or maybe convince you which way to bet.

For example:

• Tar Heels are 3-0 ATS in their last 3 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game.
• Tar Heels are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 450 total yards in their previous game.

Pick your poison.  The current Clemson-UNC spreads have Clemson favored by 16 to 17.

Personally, I think we both should and are capable of winning by 20.  However, I’m predicting a final score of 34-20.

Time to check the Ego at the door Tigers. You got your big win, now don’t go an screw up and continue the tradition of following it up with a loss to an opponent that you have a rather large spread on.

As Tommy is saying this week: “Remember Duke“

We’re now three games into the season and we are not totally devastated. The FAU game went as planned. The trip to Boston was heartbreaking. But Saturday’s triumph over Florida State provides solid footing for optimism. Of course extrapolation is a dangerous tool, especially as you move further away from your source data. Projecting 4 games into the future based on 3 games in the past falls in the ‘danger’ category. However, I just can’t help myself. Right now the glass is half 2/3rds full.

If there is a time for a letdown game, this is the time for it. Everyone remembers the Miami/Duke win/loss combo of 2004. There is no reason, however, why the FSU/UNC win/loss combo of 2006 should come into play. And let’s face it, the next 4 games are nothing compared to the last two. There’s no good reason why we shouldn’t be 6-1 when Georgia Tech comes to town. Why do I say that? There are four reasons: UNC, Louisiana Tech, Wake Forest, and Temple.

Certainly there is reason for concern. I won’t get into that here. Instead, this is just a brief reminder that these 4 teams just aren’t that good — or at least that’s how it looks right now.

UNC has played three home games, dropping two of them to Rutgers and Virginia Tech, and almost dropping the third to DI-AA Furman. Maybe their strength is playing on the road? Their offense isn’t statistically bad, but their rushing defense appears to be suspect.

La. Tech has only played two games: first getting killed by Nebraska then winning by 10 over DI-AA Nicholls State (who did only marginally worse against Nebraska). Like UNC, they have mediocre offensive stats, but their rushing defense is even worse, ranked at 106th nationally. They may be able to play A&M close next week, but that’s only because it is almost impossible to have confidence in Coach Fran’s team. Either way, they played patsy to Nebraska, then had to come from behind against patsy Nicholl’s State.

Wake Forest has stumbled along to a 3-0 start. Their rush defense may be good, but their offense lacks firepower. The near-loss to Duke has me questioning the team. What’s worse, is that their next two games look completely winnable as well. Despite the fawning man-love by the media for Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron, his team just doesn’t look good — they even got beat by Kentucky! After them, the Deacs face off against DI-AA Liberty. Wake is likely the toughest game on Liberty’s schedule this year. Still it is hard to gauge Wake since they don’t really play anyone.

Then there’s Temple. The Owls are averaging a DI-A worst 1 point per game. They’re also giving up more than 44 points per game, with each of the last two teams putting up 62.

We should win all these games by at least 20 points.
If we want to be considered among the best in the nation, we need to dominate the next four games.

The Hokies beat UNC in Chapel Hill by 25. La. Tech fell by 39 to Nebraska. Wake Forest almost lost to Duke who put up goose eggs against Richmond and Virginia Tech. Temple is just sad.

The early line against UNC has us favored by 16. Furman put up 42 against them. La. Tech and Temple have cupcake written all over them. And Wake? Well it’s time for us to smack the smirk off their faces.

Individually, none of the games looms very large. Collectively, they are 1/3 of our season and every bit as important as the games against Techs or South Carolina. This is the part of the season where we get to stretch our legs. And we’d better damn well do it.

The Clemson Mens Soccer team continued their romp through the ACC and the nation with their WIN over 5th ranked UNC this past Friday.  Danny Poe scored the winning goal for the second game in a row and once again, the gnomes seemingly favorite Tiger, Dane Richards, was in on the play with an assist.  It must also be noted that the Tigers fanbase is increasing by the game.  If they keep this up, they will have fans in both stands and in the parking lot.  As noted, the Tigers stay undefeated and may be repeating history heading towards an 11 win start.

Go Tigers!  Keep up the good work!

As mentioned previously, the Tigers have been moving toward the head of the class in men’s soccer. After beating the #1 ranked Maryland team last Friday, the Tigers walloped Wofford 6-0 at Historic Riggs field on Tuesday night. Tonight brings another home game against another top-5 team, North Carolina.

And here’s more about that Maryland game from ESPNSoccerNet:

No. 2 Clemson (6-0-0), off to its best start in 23 years, could just as easily be No. 1. Last weekend, the Tigers beat top-ranked, defending national champs Maryland in both teams’ ACC opener (in front of an overflow Historic Riggs Field crowd of 6,821, the largest since Clemson won the 1987 national championship on its home turf). What’s more is they did it playing with 10 men for most of the second half.

Now if someone can get the memo to the football team, this could shape up to be a pretty good fall.

I picked one of the two games yesterday. I would have preferred the pics worked out the other way however. Ga Tech was sent home early in the day, giving up a 5-4 lead with two outs in the 9th to Cal St. Fullerton. The night cap was reminiscent of many recent Clemson games. Faris did an excellent job keeping the Tarheel bats at bay. A running error on a double in the gap prevented the 3rd inning from being worse than it was, although that was all UNC would end up needing. Woodard, the UNC pitcher went a full 9 innings against the Tiger bats. His velocity wasn’t impressive but the herky-jerky motion, 3/4 release point, and an expanded strike zone kept the Tiger bats from ever putting together a solid inning. He was hitting his spots, painting the corners, and mixing up his stuff, making the offense look silly at times. The squad was only able to put together 3 hits and was never able to capatilize with runners in scoring position, being held without a run for the first time in a 130+ games, dating back to February of last season. Quite frankly, just a tough game. I thought the key was going to be getting into their bullpen though it is typically pretty good, after their extended game Friday. As it stood both pitchers went the distance but the Tarheels held on. Clemson plays Cal St. Fullerton tomorrow (Tuesday) in an elimination game. The winner of that game moves on for a UNC rematch where they will have to win an additional two in a row to move into the Championship series, otherwise the Tarheels will be playing for it all.

Update: Make that 75%. Rice cooled Miami’s jets by pitching their closer for 5 and 2/3rds. The Hurricanes never got their bats going and Rice did everything they could to give the game away and still won. UGA was never able to put a full inning together and lsot 5-3. The loss ends the SEC’s streak of winning at least one game in the CWS since the ’95 season. The ACC remains alive and well, with two teams in the elimination brackets and UNC, with a first round draft pick pitcher on plenty of rest, sitting high and mighty at 2-0. As for the state of Georgia, well Ray Charles, it’s not looking so sweet right now. Both teams need to give Delta a call, maybe they can share a flight. Honestly, I can’t say this bothers me too much. As previsouly noted, keep an eye on the Cal St. Team.