UNC Game Preview

UNC (1 - 2, 0 - 1 ACC) @ Clemson (2 -1, 1 - 1 ACC), Saturday, September 23rd, 12:10PM, ESPNU, Lincoln Financial Sports

The Stats:
Line: Clemson by 16.5
Clemson leads the all-time series 33 - 18 - 1. Clemson leads the home series 16 - 7. Clemson comes off an upset victory over FSU who was ranked ninth in the AP Poll at them time.

Edge goes to:

Offense: Clemson

Defense: Clemson

Special Teams: Clemson, pending they sort their lives out and show up.

Sense of Urgency: UNC

Frattiest Color Scheme: UNC

Second Wind Defense

Last week the story was how banged up Clemson's defense was. This week, the story is how much the young guys on the Clemson defense have stepped up and filled the truck wide holes that were left due to injuries. In addition, it is obvious that the seniors have stepped up and pulled some slack for the injuries as well. Senior Defensive End Gaines Adams and Senior Cornerback Duane Coleman both made ACC Player of the Week. Gaines had two sacks and a total of seven tackles. Duane had a team high ten tackles and a fumble recovery.

Our panel of DFIG "experts" say:

Willy Mac: All I can say is that I expect a game that resembles the Clemson/FAU game. Plan on having a long halftime at your tailgate because the game will be in hand by the end of the first half. Also expect to see a lot of numbers you saw during the FAU game. Tommy Bowden will probably use this game as a fine tuning game with concentration on special teams. Don't be surprised to see him play it conservatively. He's going to put our field goal team on the field as much as possible, unless the game gets out of hand and UNC actually gives us a challenge. Not to knock on Furman, but UNC almost lost to a D1-AA team last week. I don't see them giving us too much of a fit. Yet again, if Ron Cherry is scheduled to officiate, we could be in trouble. And I'm not talking about the Swofford/ACC Ref theory that many Clemson homers believe in, I'm simply saying that I hate Ron Cherry and how he became a head referee in the ACC is a mystery. The man can't even speak proper english.

Clemson 37, UNC 9

I Can't Stand It I Know You Planned It
But I'm Gonna Set It Straight, This Watergate
I Can't Stand Rocking When I'm In Here
Because Your Crystal Ball Ain't So Crystal Clear
So While You Sit Backand Wonder Why
I Got This Fucking Thorn In My Side
Oh My, It's A Mirage
I'm Tellin' Y'all It's a Sabotage

Chili: I am a little upset that the spread is relatively low for this game. I suppose Vegas is taking into consideration the possibility of a Clemson letdown or the possibility of Clemson giving a lot of second stringers some extra playing time if we get a big lead on UNC. I really want to thump Ol' Wilford Brimley face and his blue band of underachieving athletes. I expect our team to be fired up for this game, as the 1981 National Championship team will be in attendance for their 25th anniversary recognition and may have some inspiring words of wisdom for our team. I look for this to be a high scoring game, at least for us, but I'm not forgetting that UNC does have some decent offensive weapons.
Clemson 42, UNC 17

Bunting is watching. Bunting is plotting.