Game Preview: Boston College Eagles at No. 1 Clemson Tigers
By Bryan Bruwer
This Saturday, the Boston College Eagles (4-2, 3-2 ACC) travel down to South Carolina for a clash with the mighty Clemson Tigers (6-0, 5-0 ACC). The Eagles have not beaten Clemson in their annual matchup in a decade, with their last victory coming on October 30th, 2010 on the Heights. BC will look to buck that trend and pull off a gargantuan upset in Death Valley.
Keys to Victory
Damage Control
Referring to the Clemson offense as high-powered would be an understatement. The Tigers’ potent attack is spearheaded by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who many consider to be one of the best quarterback prospects the game has seen. Standing 6’6” with a rocket arm and plus mobility, Lawrence checks all of the boxes and his performance this season has proved it.
However, Lawrence is far from the only dynamic talent BC’s defense will need to worry about. Travis Etienne, Clemson’s all-time leading rusher and arguably the best running back in college football, has run wild again this season.
Lawrence and Etienne are flanked by an impressive array of weapons at receiver (highlighted by the dynamic Amari Rodgers) coupled with an outstanding offensive line. The key for the Eagles in this game will be simply weathering the storm and limiting the amount of damage Clemson’s offense can inflict. The Tigers will get their pound of flesh and move the ball, but the Eagle’s red zone defense and ability to get key stops on third down will dictate the result of this game. If the Eagles D can’t get off the field and hold Clemson to some field goals, things may get out of hand quickly.
Get in a Groove Offensively
If you added up BC’s point totals from their last six games against Clemson, they would only win last year’s matchup by two points (61-59). That’s an absurd statistic that shows just how good BC’s offense is going to need to be relative to the past to emerge from Death Valley with a victory.
A fast start is going to be imperative. Getting Phil Jurkovec comfortable early on and getting David Bailey and the ground game going would go a long way towards getting the Eagles offense rolling. Additionally, the Eagles must look to get Zay Flowers involved early and often. As the Eagles’ best playmaker, the ball has to be in his hands for the Eagles to have a puncher’s chance at a monumental upset.
Control the Trenches
Perhaps the most important thing the Eagles can do to have a shot on Saturday is keep Jurkovec upright. Despite being a strength of the team on paper, the Eagles’ offensive line has struggled at times this year. Protecting Jurkovec will be a tall task against the imposing Clemson defense, but it is imperative if the Eagles want to leave Death Valley with a W.
It will also be equally important to control the line of scrimmage on defense. Slowing Etienne down and forcing Clemson into obvious passing situations will make the Eagles’ lives a bit easier on the defensive end. BC needs to hope that Lawrence has an off-day, because he certainly has the talent to pick apart any secondary regardless of the situation.
Prediction: Although this a good BC team that will likely be playing in a Bowl Game, Clemson is just on a different level. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if the Tigers ran the table and won the College Football Playoff, and I think they dispatch of the Eagles with relative ease on Saturday
Final Score: Clemson: 52 BC: 10