Thursday, 14 September 2006

CLEMSON @ FLORIDA STATE PREVIEW

Clemson (1-1, 0-1 ACC) @ Florida State (2-0, 1-0 ACC), Saturday September 16, 7:45 PM ET, ESPN, ESPNHD


The Stats
Line: FSU by 4.5
Florida State leads the all time series 15-4 since 1970. The average score in Tallahassee has been 43-9 in favor of the 'Noles. Clemson is averaging 43.5 points per game this season versus Florida State's 18.5.
Edge Goes To:

Offense: Clemson

Defense: FSU

Special Teams: Push

Sense of Urgency (or intangibles, if you will): Clemson

Cowgirl Cumbuckets: FSU


Ailing Defenses
Clemson hasn't won in Tallahassee since 1989 and their defense limps into this meeting in worse shape than the also ailing FSU D. Starting linebackers Anthony Waters and Tramaine Billie, starting safety Michael Hamlin, and starting cornerback C.J. Gaddis are all out for the game. Gaines Adams is questionable with a partially separated shoulder.
Ol' Bobby may have been playing a little misdirection by earlier stating that FSU linebacker Derek Nicholson would miss the Clemson game, but reports as of yesterday say that Nicholson will be ready to play on Saturday. FSU starting noseguard Paul Griffin and 2nd string noseguard Emmanuel Dunbar are out, however.

Our panel of DFIG "experts" say:

Willy Mac: Clemson is way to banged up on defense to pull this one out. I know FSU is too, but some of the guys they have listed as Questionable are really Probable because ol Bobby is a sly bastard. This is going to be an ugly, low scoring game that drones on for hours without giving us a clear cut winner. I think FSU needs to find that Sexton kid that went nuts and got "Lyme's Disease" (Cough, cough, bad acid trip from Bonnaroo, cough, cough) to replace Weatherford. I can't even believe that people said he was a dark horse Heisman in the preseason. Tommy plays it ultra conservative and tries to get us to overtime, where we lose, again. Noles win it 17 - 14. I can only pray that Ron Cherry is not officiating this game, but my good judgement leads me to believe that the man will be there with a raging hard on to stab Clemson with. "Fah yawd penawteh, repee furs down"

Ron Cherry's daily midafternoon stroll


Chili: Clemson's strengths and weaknesses match up fairly well with those of FSU. Look, I gotta be honest. I'm phoning this post in. I'm leaving for FSU in about 2 hours and all I can think about is drinking and fighting in Tallahassee and maybe running one up the middle on The Sturge. Okay that last joke was really obvious and tired and I have no shot but hey when you think of FSU you think of fake boobed real tanned slutbags. Back to my thoughts on the game... FSU's offense will make some noise, probably break some long passes on us, take advantage of their athleticism. Booker may have a decent day since our D has decided that the bend until you break D is the best way to go. Our offense, I honestly think, won't have a problem versus FSU's D. We can take advantage of their injuries as they will ours, but our offense is much more potent than Miami's or Troy's. On special teams I would like to think we would improve but you might still see a blocked kick or long return. I have to think that, despite all the injuries, Clemson will rise to the challenge of getting back in the Atlantic Division race and will beat the Noles.

Clemson 24, FSU 16.

MY HOUSE IS BUILT OF CATBRICKS AND WINNING.

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