Clemson Tigers (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS)
College Football Week 3
Date and Time: Thursday, September 19, 2013 7:30 pm EST
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh NC
TV: ESPN
by Tim, Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: Clem -14.5/NCSt. +14.5
Over/Under Total: 66
Clemson comes into this matchup ranked #3 in the Nation and deservedly so. The Tigers beat a very good Georgia Bulldog team in week 1 (38-35) and rolled SC State last weekend 52-13 while Part-Timing the Starters for most of the game. NC State is also undefeated and very capable of beating the Tigers with a little help from Clemson turnovers. Clemson and NC State both have veteran teams and this intense rivalry and Clemson has won 8 of the last 10 meetings between the 2 schools. The line for this game has moved 1 points after opening with Clemson a -13 favorite to currently Clemson a -14 Away Fav! Thats a pretty big move! Lets take a look inside the numbers to pick a winner.
The QB position is the most important position on the field. With NC State, the QB position is the key to their success or failure. Junior transfer QB Peter Thomas is vital to the success or failure of this NC State 2013 football team. Thomas is a transfer from Colorado State sitting out 2012 per the NCAA stipulations for transfer students. Thomas underwhelmed most Colorado State fans during his 2 years (throwing 18 TDs and 21 Picks) at the school leading CSU to an overall 6-15 record which ultimately got his coach and CSU Alum Steve Fairchild fired after the 2012 season. QB Thomas was a highly regarded recruit out of California but, mysteriously, only a handful of D1 schools even took a peak at the 66 California State Champion?? Perhaps they knew Thomas was a head-case and shied away as appears to be the case 3 years later. Thomas was recruited by Arizona State and gave his commitment to go to Tempe until the Offensive Coordinator was replaced at ASU. When that happened, Thomas reneged on his commitment and enrolled at CSU. When Fairchild was fired at CSU after Thomas unimpressive sophomore year, CSU hired former Bama OC Jim McElwain. McElwain is a No-Nonsense guy and had a nice sit-down with Thomas. 2 weeks later, Thomas transfers to NC State and Here we go. Also, one must calculate the Wolfpacks chances with 1st year Head Coach Dave Doeren. Dueren spent 2 yrs. at Northern Illinois before cashing-in with the Wolfpack job. Dueren has yet to prove anything other than He can win with an already proven offense and someone elses players. The QB and the Head Coach; 2 peas in a pod. With the chips on the moneyline, it is doubtful they both wont run away and hide like theyve both done in the past. Combine those 2 key NC State Personnel with replacing 7 starters on offense, 7 starters on defense, and playing 11 true freshmen, the Wolfpack have some ground to make up on the Tigers. Lets take a look at Clemson for insights.
Clemson is big, bold, brassy, classy, and incredibly talented football team in 2013! Behind QB Tajh Boyd, RB Roderick McDowell, and WR Sammy Watkins the Tigers have yet to explode for the 63 points like they did last year against the Wolfpack but theyve come close; 52 against SC State with RB McDowell sitting much of the game out with a potential concussion. McDowell is surprisingly the key in this game. If McDowell goes off for over a hungee on the ground, the electric bill at Carter-Finley Stadium will have to placed on a budget plan! Head Coach Dabo Swinney is a fantastic coach and knows how to make certain each of his horses get to parade in front of the Grandstands. Look for Swinney to really open the offense up against the Wolfpack and—barring a Clemson turnover denacle—dance through the streets all the way to the airport/bus terminal. Clemson is tough and led by a proven Class Act in Swinney and Tajh Boyd. If you cant sense the feeling yet for a winner, lets take a quick look at who might come out on top in this pretty good rivalry!
This game is called The Textile Bowl only because the Creative Writing and Advertising Departments at both schools were not consulted. Textile Bowl; as in: Vandelay Industries of Seinfeld lore? Shoot, when I think of Clemson and NC State I think ofwell, I dont think of textiles! Anyhoo, the 1st meeting between these schools happened in 1899 with Clemson winning 24-0. The series is dominated by Clemson 52-28-1 and the game was christened The Textile Bowl in 1981 by some idiot in accounting. NC State last won this game in 2011 by a score of 37-13. This year: Clemson ROLLS!
Tims Pick to Cover the Point Spread: Clemson Tigers -14.5
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