Posted by NoleCC

It’s time for the first Gut Reaction Prediction in a while, so here it goes…

For the Clemson Tigers:

• C.J. Spiller is well rested for the Tigers.
• Jacoby Ford is not-so-bad himself. I believe the term is “World Class Speed.”
• Kyle Parker can manage the game for the Tigers, but he doesn’t impress me. Then again the FSU D makes average QBs look like Super Bowl MVPs.
• Clemson has a secret weapon. Willy Korn is the most EXTREME backup QB EVERRRRRR.
• The Clemson defense is pretty darn good.
• Head Coach Dabo Swinney is ALL IN ALL THE TIME WOOOOO YEAH TIGERS! Or something. I like Dabo’s enthusiasm, but that guy loves a gimmick more than any other coach out there.

For the Florida State Seminoles:

• How hurt is Christian Ponder? I mean he sported those… interesting new FSU Seminoles Nike Pro Combat uniforms yesterday and looked healthy, but who knows until game time?
• Running back by committee seems to work well for FSU. Jermaine Thomas is yet again the hot hand, if he’s not, someone else will step up.
• Dustin Hopkins has been much better the last few games, although some of the XPs have still been scary.
• There aren’t a lot of bright spots on defense. If Parker isn’t pressured, he’ll pick apart the FSU secondary. C.J. Spiller is liable to have a career night.
• The Noles have lost their last 3 at Death Valley.

Prediction:

I just don’t see FSU coming out of Death Valley with a win. The Noles have played far too many shootouts, and it’s far too much to continue to ask the offense to score on every drive. If the FSU defense has some sort of epiphany and plays better on Saturday night, the Noles can prevail. However, I’ve watched too much of the 2009 Seminoles and I don’t see any big changes for Saturday night. I also thing Ponder’s injury will hamper the offense a bit, and while he’ll have a good night, it won’t be perfect. Perfection is needed for the victory. This one won’t be as close as the last couple, or as close as the Georgia Tech game. I think the only thing Clemson has to worry about is C.J. Spiller being gassed in the 4th quarter from all of the yards he’s going to rack up.

Tigers 47 Noles 31