Walker’s Season Prediction
A note from Broken Gnome: Over the the next several days, each of the contributors to the site will post their individual game-by-game, prognostications. Afterward, we’ll each address some on-going questions about the state of the program and the upcoming season.
Walker’s prediction
It’s that time of year again. A time in which we are all give the chance to prove our knowledge and ability to tell the future. Will Clemson finish undefeated or downtrodden? Will we be able to sit back and read our prediction with pride at the end of the season? Only time will tell. Let’s just get to it.
Clemson vs Alabama
This long awaited game has been on everyone’s mind since the whispers and rumors of the match up started to leak out of Clemson near 18 months ago. After all of the media hype and all of the online bantering it’s time for Clemson put up or shut up. Alabama will find themselves within the average category of the greatest conference in the nation. Historically speaking they are a down team. Last year struggling to finish the season with seven wins, their 7-6 season could have easily just of been 5-7, defeating Mississippi and Arkansas by a field goal. This team also fell to FSU on a neutral field (14-21) and LaMo at home (14-21). Both teams Clemson faced in the same 2007 and defeated (FSU 24-18 at FSU and LaMo 49-26 in The Valley). Both teams find themselves with a 50% win percentage on neutral fields in the last eight seasons. This one will be close, but when you compare a down Clemson team which lost to Auburn in overtime, I feel Clemson will come out on top in the one but not beat the spread. Prediction: Clemson 24-Alabama 17
Clemson vs Citadel
The O-line will have just been tested and have now taken their lumps. After winning a close game the week previous it’s now time for the offensive line to go to school. They open up the holes and start to read opposing D-lines much more effectively. This game will be exactly what it should be, enough said. Prediction: Clemson 52-Citadel 10 (Side note: Citadel’s 10 points will come in the 4th quarter)
Clemson vs NC State
A few of my gnome friends disagree with me on this one, I think they are crazy. NC State has always been a great opponent and the game from what I can remember have been thrilling for the most part: not this year. NC State is an example of a down ACC team rebuilding to bring the conference back. State is returning only 4 starters from their defense and simply will not be able to handle one of the best offensive juggernauts in the country. Clemson just has too many weapons for this team to counter right now. Prediction: Clemson 41-State 17
Clemson vs SC State
The first game in history these two in state teams have faced each other, and when all is said and done the Bulldogs will never come back. Prediction: Clemson 58 – SC State 7
Clemson vs Maryland
As Clemson enters the meat of its schedule a lot of answers will begin to make themselves clear. Harper will appear to be better than last season, Davis and Spiller will be on their way to a 1,000-yard season and ESPN will begin Heisman talk. There is Maryland to deal with though. They should be a good team this year could possible make it the number two spot this year in the Atlantic division. Maryland is returning 8 on offense, which includes a legitimate nationally recognized weapon, WR-Darrius Heyward-Bey. This will be a close game, at least the second closest of the season, but with Maryland’s lack of any real running threat this will be a very one sided team. Clemson’s passing defense, with Hamlin in the backfield will take Maryland down with what I think will be an interception buffet. Prediction: Clemson 38-Maryland 17
Clemson vs Wake
Nationally televised Thursday night game in HD, how sweet it is. Two years ago I went to this game and hated every minute of it, at least the first 42 minutes. This place is cursed. About this time Clemson should be ranked in the top five and possibly looking at a #2-in-the-nation slot. Wake will want to eat our lunch and take us down. They are hungry to be recognized and they can get that by upsetting on the Tigers. Wake will be a great team this year; I hope not better than us. Returning nine starters on defense, this team will be ready to rock and roll on Thursday night. I will say it now, if our O-Line is not ready for a real team by now this will be a low scoring slugfest and Clemson Nation will hate every second of this game. Riley Skinner is back and is what I think to be one of the most underrated QBs in the nation. This will be a tough game and I hope we come out on top. This is a toss up for me but I am going with my gut. Due to stupid mistakes and an offense which will never kick it into gear Clemson will go down in this one. Prediction: Wake 17 Clemson 13
Clemson vs GT
Coming off a loss Clemson is ready for redemption. The polls were not friendly and every AP writer waiting for Clemson to slip has gotten their wish. Clemson has gone from 3rd in the nation to 15th in one week, they are ready for blood. GT is adjusting to a new fun and gun option, which will have actually been tested by VT and BC by they arrive in Death Valley. Their defense is young and it will not be as close a game as in the past. This game will resemble much like the 2006 season. GT is in a down year and will struggle to reach bowl eligibility. Prediction: Clemson 41 GT 14
Clemson vs BC
I’m sick of losing to these guys as is every Clemson fan. BC has possibly taken the biggest hit of any NCAA team since last year. Their coach, Jag, is untested and this will, as I see it, be his first real exam at coaching BC. Last year he managed not to screw it all up with a world class QB, this year BC will be way down and this game will be the evidence. Don’t let BC’s record coming into this game fool you. They will be 6-1 as Clemson steps on the field yet they will be lucky to finish the season 6-6. Clemson will finally get over the awful mountain that has been a perfect losing record against the Eagles. Prediction: Clemson 31 BC 21
Clemson VS FSU
Bowden Bowl X, my how time flys! I bet you feel a little old now don’t you. It’s tough to keep this record going against FSU. This is a key game that we must win to make it to the ACCCG. This is where the entire season will come down to being a success or another “almost” year. FSU is finally getting out of the rebuilding funk they have been in for years now. The team consists of 14 returning starters and Weatherford should have his best year ever with the ‘Noles. This will be a low scoring game that resembles the Wake Forest game. FSU’s defensive line will be much better than last year, so if CU’s O-line is not jiving and ready for another big game we may get a bit abused by a veteran unit. Prediction: FSU 17 Clemson 14
Clemson vs Duke
Let’s take out some frustration. To give the Blue Devils some respect they will be a much improved team over the 2007 team. They will not finish last in the division and look for them to have three or four wins by seasons end. Prediction: Clemson 45 Duke 9
Clemson vs Virginia
I get to witness this one in person with the rest of the Gnomes. The 2007 season for the Cavs will be a memory and the rebuilding will continue. The lines on both sides of the ball are weak and their returning rushers from last season, which didn’t look that great, will be average at best this season. With issues at QB they will be also lacking a passing game. This should be nasty as we look to tighten up questions in the media as we head into the USC game. Prediction: Clemson 40 Virginia 10
Clemson vs USC
Continuing question marks plague the Gamecocks year after year. This year it’s QBs, D and O lines, and whether their rushing defense will be up to the task of a grueling season. Clemson should be able to own USC on the field this year with Spiller and Davis. This game will be won primarily on the ground this year and it will not be as close as the final score will indicate due to a USC score in the final minutes by a desperate Darth Visor fun and gun offense. Prediction: Clemson 28 USC 21
Wrap Up
The good news, Clemson will go 10-2. The bad news, Wake Forest has a weak ACC schedule and will not lose three ACC games. Clemson can only afford to drop one ACC game this year if that game is to Wake. Lose to Wake and Clemson better play lights out all season. If my prediction was to come true, Clemson would not be going to the ACCCG. Yet more good news, we would be a virtual lock for a Chic-fil-a Bowl bid which I feel, no matter what SEC we are matched up with, we would win. Look for Clemson to finish the season 11-2 and in the top 10. The season is not lost, recruiting will be stellar and the season will be an accomplishment for a team which has had an ACC championship drought for many, many years.
I think it’s too early to call some of the games in the latter part of the season given the personnel situations that might come up then, but I will say this – I am just as scared of Wake as Walker is but I think GTech will score more than 14. Our LB corps is inexperienced and that will allow GTech to literally run riot. That said, they will grow up pretty quick after that experience which will carry forward (hopefully) for the rest of the season.
Dunno about the FSU game until I see the ‘Noles play some though.
Just my two cents…
By the way, love that pic. Mind if I make a print?
Thanks for the read. GT is actually no better than a guess. With the new offense no one can really know how they are going to operate. We’ll just have to wait and see. I went with the low points simpy because I think our D is really going to be that good. I hope we end up a top 5 defense at the end of the year. The pic is all yours. I took it at the end of the FSU game two years ago. I managed to stich 4 pictures together in photshop from a series I tok from our seats. Enjoy!
I never thought I’d look at an 11-2 season and be sad . . . that’s why I think you’re right. We shit the bed on the conference championship while still improving to a better record. It just seems like something that would happen to us. I hate you, Walker.
Granted, last season’s predictions were much more depressing.
I pretty much agree with those picks, only I’d swap the Wake loss with a loss to BC, hopefully giving us a tiebreaker in a 2 way tie with Wake at two ACC losses a piece. Somehow I just think an underrated BC team and a cold night in Boston is bad news for us and a two game skid would seem about right for Clemson.