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Clemson Eyes Second Consecutive ACC Title in Charlotte Matchup
SportsGrid
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12/7/2024
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00:00
The ACC championship game tonight in Charlotte, where a
00:04
newcomer in the conference is looking for its second
00:07
consecutive conference title in an undefeated year in a league
00:12
from the American Athletic Conference to the Atlantic
00:16
Coast Conference, SMU booked as a favorites have won a ton of
00:21
ACC titles in the last decade. In fact, make it seven. SMU
00:26
Lacey Guy, first year in the ACC from the AAC, a two and a
00:30
half point favorite tonight in Charlotte against Clemson. How
00:33
do you start to break down this matchup between the Tigers and
00:36
the State? Well, we think defense, right? Automatically,
00:38
you go to Clemson and Davos, Sweeney, but it's been the SMU
00:42
defense that is more superior and the better unit heading
00:45
into this matchup. They're holding opposing offenses less
00:47
than 100 yards per game, 2.7 yards per rush have allowed
00:52
seven teams, eight teams under 100 yards rushing. So, they're
00:56
dominant in terms of run support and 31% in terms of third down
01:00
defense. Kevin Jennings, one of the most athletic quarterbacks
01:03
in FPS, 19 touchdowns, seven interceptions. I think they're
01:06
going to be in this ballgame from start to finish. I think
01:09
they're going to come into this matchup with a chip on their
01:11
shoulder. They haven't been outclassed or out game plan in
01:14
any game. The one loss came to BYU, which we talked about
01:18
earlier in the year was an undefeated team and they lost
01:21
that home by three. Here's the matchup for me. Inconsistent
01:24
from Cade Klobnik in that offense. The other factor as
01:27
well is that Clemson's allowing 150 rushing yards per game. The
01:31
last two games against the Citadel, that was a blowout, but
01:34
against Lenore Sellers in South Carolina, they got beat up in
01:38
the interior. Gave up 267 rushing yards per game. If SMU
01:42
can run it and they're averaging 177 on the ground, Ben, I think
01:46
they win this matchup. I think it's an under, but I'm pulling
01:49
for the Mustangs. SMU, man. This whole thing's been very
01:53
interesting to watch play out, but SMU, I don't know what
01:59
happened along the way where we decided to tell tales. The
02:03
Mustangs are not here because, oh, what a scrappy underdogs.
02:08
They are here because they've played nobody. Like, I don't
02:12
actually, I think that you, who had to hear it on Indiana all
02:16
season long, should throw SMU in people's faces a little more
02:21
often. Now, you probably don't because consistency. Like, you
02:25
didn't have as much beef with IU, so why would you? I get it,
02:27
but SMU's current strength of schedule is 75th. 10 spots worse
02:34
than that of Indiana's. SMU, again, I am not saying that if
02:38
the season ended today, they don't deserve to be there. They
02:41
have one loss within a powered conference league and there's
02:43
12 teams that get in. I understand that, right? But of
02:47
the above 500 teams that in conference play in the ACC, who
02:52
did they actually go up against? Duke, they beat by one in
02:56
overtime. Louisville, the rite of passage. Everybody beat the
03:00
Cardinals this year with the pulse. Didn't play Tech, didn't
03:03
play Cuse, didn't play this Clemson team, didn't play Miami.
03:06
Like, it's not hard to figure out. So, as much as I look at
03:10
Clemson, who's lost all their step-up spots and Louisville is
03:14
one of those, I think Georgia would destroy SMU and I think
03:19
South Carolina would beat them as well. So, that is why I
03:23
can't get to a side here because I don't like either of
03:26
these teams that much. The one thing I thought was worth
03:29
playing was Cade Klubnick over the one and a half passing
03:32
touchdowns. SMU, of their 30 touchdowns allowed this year,
03:36
20 have been passing. Klubnick still been very good putting a
03:40
lot of touchdowns on the board. In Cade's number on the rise,
03:43
it was 249 and a half earlier this week. It is now north of
03:47
260 because SMU is one of nine FBS defenses that allows fewer
03:52
than 100 yards per game on the ground. Clemson's rushing
03:55
offense has become inept. I don't know what has happened to
03:58
Phil Moffa in the last few weeks but SMU does allow some
04:03
yardage through the air. In fact, against some of those
04:05
competent teams they have played above 500. Josh Hoover
04:09
of TCU, 396. Tyler Shuck of Louisville, 329 against the
04:14
Stangs. Malik Murphy of the Blue Devils, 298 yards. It has
04:19
thrown for at least 280 in the last two games for the Tigers
04:23
against FBS foes. But Lisa, you mentioned the total in this
04:26
game. There is a thought that SMU against those teams north
04:30
of 500, they've allowed at least 25 points in all five of
04:34
those over in all five. The thing that keeps me under as
04:38
well is the Tigers. Clemson has played four games against
04:41
teams above 500. They're averaging just 15 and a half
04:44
points per game. And I think they play it like a playoff
04:46
game. You win, you're in, right? So, it's a very
04:49
defensive-minded approach. I told you. I think this total
04:52
looks like last week in South Carolina. 17-14, 14-10. Don't be
04:57
shocked if it's a dead under and that's why I like SMU in the
04:59
under in the South Carolina. Great up front as well. Clemson
05:02
trying to play big. Steeler, SMU trying to punch a ticket to
05:06
the college football playoff.
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