ESPN Gameday analysts picked Clemson over the Miami football team unanimously with former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud projecting the Hurricanes as the celebrity guest picker. The consensus from Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard was that the Clemson defense would make the difference in the game.
Clemson is first in the ACC allowing 261.8 yards per game, 86.33 rushing yards per game, third allowing 175.5 passing yards per game and fourth with opponents averaging 19.3 points per game. The Miami football team leads the ACC averaging 501.8 total yards per game and is second averaging 37.7 PPG.
Miami has struggled at times offensively in the last two games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina. After beginning the season 4-0, including a win over Texas A&M, Miami has not been as efficient in ACC play. Miami had nine turnovers in the losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina.
Miami has also struggled with penalties. The Hurricanes are 13th in the ACC averaging 70.5 penalty yards per game on 7.2 penalties per game. Miami has too often hindered itself in the losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina. Howard spoke first about his projections for Clemson at Miami.
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"Desmond Howard-My question with Miami is can you protect the ball. Miami has turned the ball over at an alarming rate. Right now I don’t have the confidence in Cade Klubnik, but I do have the confidence that Clemson will beat Miami because Miami just doesn’t value the ball enough.Pat McAfee-To your point about turnovers Van Dyke has five interceptions over the past two losses against Georgia Tech and North Carolina. The defense is going to continue with this Clemson defense is going to do its thing. Clemson is favored over Miami for a reason, I like the Tigers.C.J. Stroud-I’m going with Miami man. I like Van Dyke, I think as a quarterback, once you get those early jitters out, I know he’s coming back from some tough games. That’s when you become that great QB everyone is looking for and I think Cristobal is going to put some things in his place he can handle better.So I am going to go with Miami.Lee Corso-Everything is well said. You’re wrong though. I’m going to make it five in a row.Kirk Herbstreit– I am going to go with Clemson I think it has everything to do with the Clemson defense. Remember TIgers coming off a bye. This is a team in the last four years that has beaten Miami by an average of 37 points, last four times they’ve matched up.I’m going with that defense of Clemson to get it done on the road.”"
If the Miami football team can eliminate turnovers, reduce penalties and be more efficient in the Red Zone, they can defeat Clemson. Tyler Van Dyke thrived against Texas A&M who has the 10th ranked defense nationally. Wide receivers Jacolby George and Xavier Restrepo had big games versus the Aggies.
The key on Saturday could be which team has more success running. Clemson has the top run defense in the ACC and Miami is second. Miami will be without freshman RB Mark Fletcher. Don Chaney Jr. and Henry Parrish who have one fumble each in the last two games need to hold onto the football.