No. 24 Clemson at South Carolina Preview, Prediction

CLEMSON — One of the nation’s oldest rivalries will be renewed Saturday night when No. 24 Clemson travels to Columbia to take on South Carolina.

This will be the 120 meeting between the Tigers and the Gamecocks, tied for the 11 oldest rivalry in college football. Last year, South Carolina snapped Clemson’s seven-year win streak in the series with a 31-30 come-from-behind-victory.

“Obviously, it was a tough loss. Right afterwards, you know it. The coaches know it, everybody knows it,” Clemson center Will Putnam said. “I will say for us, it is just really a big game for our fans, for this state, for the whole community.

“Whether we win or we lose, you definitely know who won the last one, right? The record does not matter or who won the most in the series or anything. It all depends on who won that last game. We lost the last one. That is very well known. They made it known from just how that whole game went down. That is why we are looking forward to this opportunity to kind of set the record straight.”

No. 24 Clemson (7-4) at South Carolina (5-6)

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 25, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.

TV: SEC Network

Spread: Clemson -7.5

Over/Under: 49.5

Series: Clemson leads 72-43-4

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Annual bragging rights are at stake for what is one of the more intense rivalries in college football. There is also postseason play at stake for the Gamecocks, as they come into the annual battle with Clemson needing a win to become bowl eligible. The Tigers are already bowling. However, their postseason plans weigh heavily on the outcome of this game. A win could land Clemson in the Gator Bowl or Holiday Bowl.

KEY MATCHUP

Clemson’s defense vs. South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler. Last year, Rattler led the Gamecocks to a 31-30 come-from-behind victory in Clemson, snapping the Tigers’ 40-game home winning streak. He threw for 360 yards and two touchdowns, while completing 25 of 39 passes. Rattler ranks fourth in the SEC in passing yards per game (279.5). He has thrown for 3,074 yards this season, while completing 70.6 percent of his passes. He has thrown 19 touchdowns to seven interceptions.

In its last three games, the Clemson defense has held Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman, Georgia Tech’s Haynes King and North Carolina’s Drake Maye to a combined 484 yards, while completing 42 of 97 passes (43.2 percent). The Tigers have allowed just 4.98 yards per attempt and have seven interceptions to three touchdowns. On the season, Clemson is tied for third nationally in yards per attempt allowed (5.4), fifth in completion percentage defense (52.8), eighth in passing yards allowed (1,834), eighth in passing yards allowed per game (166.7), tied for 11 in touchdown passes allowed (11) and tied for 11 in interceptions (13).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The Tigers have to contain a wide receiver that will likely play in the NFL. Xavier Legette ranks second in the SEC in yards per game (107.9). He has hauled in 65 catches for 1,187 yards and scored seven touchdowns. He is averaging 18.3 yards per reception.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has started four games on the road this season, as well as started last year’s Orange Bowl vs. Tennessee. However, none of those starts will compare to the welcome he will receive in Columbia on Saturday night. This will be without a doubt the most hostile road environment he has played in during his young career. Klubnik has not played well on the road this season, completing just 61.6 percent of his passes for an average of 262.3 yards per game with five touchdowns and four interceptions.

THIS AND THAT

Clemson’s 53 current road wins at South Carolina are nearly double its most all-time road wins against any other opponent, as Clemson’s second-most road wins against an opponent are 27 at Wake Forest. The Tigers have more road wins against the Gamecocks in Columbia (53) than they have total wins against all but three programs (South Carolina, 72; Wake Forest, 71; and NC State, 60).

FINAL ANALYSIS

The outcome of this game comes down to one key – Cade Klubnik. The Gamecocks will key on Clemson running backs Phil Mafah and Will Shipley and force the Tigers to throw the football, especially early in the game. They want to put Clemson behind the sticks and get the Tigers off schedule so they can come after Klubnik on second-and-long and third-and-long situations. The Clemson quarterback has not been very good when pressured. However, Klubnik is not playing Duke’s, Miami’s or NC State’s defense – all top 40 units that he faced on the road. Instead, he is going against a South Carolina defense that ranks 13 in the SEC against the pass, allowing 259.5 yards per game.

PREDICTION

Clemson 31, South Carolina 20

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