Textile Bowl Preview: NC State/Clemson

On Saturday Death Valley will welcome NC State for the 33rd annual  Textile Bowl at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

Clemson (2-2) led by head coach Dabo Swinney will face a (4-1) NC State Wolfpack team still smarting from the one that got away.  Leading     24-7  last week over #1 ranked Florida State, NC State lost its lead and composure down the stretch as the they let the Seminoles slip out  of Raleigh with a victory.

Clemson on the other hand is coming off a trouncing of rival North Carolina 50-35 at home.  The Tigers are 2-0 at home and look to send a second North Carolina team packing in consecutive weeks.

To do so Clemson will have to stop NC State quarterback Jacoby Brissett who  has been on   fire lately.  Actually  the entire  offense has been putting up some lofty numbers averaging 40 points and 505 yards per game offensively including a conference leading 231 yards per game on the ground.  The Pack’s air attack has been pretty good also averaging 251 per game.

Brissett has thrown 13 touchdown passes, one interception and has garnered 1363 yards on the season.  The three headed attack of  Shadrack Thornton, Tony Creecy and Matt Dayes has produced a balanced rushing game that the Wolfpack has not enjoyed in many years.  Not including the mobile ground game of Brissett, the trio has rushed for over 800 yards in 5 games.   Look for the rushing success to  continue this week.

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Clemson is averaging 40 points per game also and is riding the wave of an impressive outing by freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson.  Watson passed for a school record six touchdowns and 435 yards passing in last weeks whippng of UNC.

Sep 27, 2014; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws the ball during the third quarter against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe the Pack can do what Carolina could not in exploit the freshman QB and force him to make mistakes.    Clemson’s rushing attack is not what it has been in past years.  The Tigers’ leading rusher C. J. Davidson who has 133 yards in 4 games.  The team averages only 137 yards on the ground so  the stakes are high on  Watson to continue his other worldly  performances  for the Tigers to be successful.  I’m  betting NC State will contain the youngster in only his second career start.   Sooner or later the freshman will have to come back to earth.

Prediction:   NC State in an upset    38-28