NC State Wolfpack hosts #3 Clemson Tigers
This weekend there is no better opportunity to break into the ACC and national spotlight than to beat your rival on Homecoming Day at Carter-Finley Stadium on national television. On Saturday, NC State (5-2, 1-2) will host Clemson (7-0, 4-0) in the 34th annual Textile Bowl in an important Atlantic Division conference game.
As Wolfpack coach do you pump your kids up by reminding them of the 41-0 shellacking in Clemson last October? Or do you focus their attention on the impressive Tiger statement game of the 58-0 beat down of the Miami Hurricanes in Miami?
One thing is certain: The Clemson Tigers (and fanbase) are brimming with confidence. Depending upon your thinking, this could be very, very bad or a good thing. If you believe in teams reading their own press clippings and looking ahead to bigger games, the Wolfpack could catch the Tigers off guard.
However, most likely Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is too smart for that. He will warn his #3 ranked Tigers of the dangers of over confidence. But will they listen?
Why this game was schedule as Homecoming is beyond me, but maybe the Pack can take advantage with the added home crowd enthusiasm. In 2011, NC State did just that as they upset then 7th ranked Clemson 37-13 on you guessed it….homecoming. The next year in 2012, the Wolfpack struck gold again when they upset #3 ranked Florida State 17-16 in Raleigh. So there is precedent.
Oh yeah…and then there is also the added Halloween effect.
After a 205 rushing performance against Wake Forest last week, junior Matt Dayes has 793 yards entering Saturday’s game. They will need Dayes and plenty additional help for the Pack to overcome a stingy Tiger defense that is allowing only 105 yards rushing and 14.3 points per game. Interestingly enough, statistically the Wolfpack is better defensively giving up 251 yards versus Clemson’s 262 in seven games. The difference is that Clemson has done it against stiffer competition in Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and Miami.
More from North Carolina State Wolfpack
- NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
- Four North Carolina players selected in first round of MLB Draft
- N.C. State basketball announces staff changes
- N.C. State Football: Wolfpack lands Top 10 quarterback in 2021
- Should N.C. State fans be mad at Doeren over Will Shipley?
Offensively, redshirt senior Jacoby Brissett, who rebounded last week after several subpar games, will need a similar performance (2 touchdowns, 227yards) if NC State is to upset the visiting Tigers. Brissett, a superb leader who at times has taken the team on his shoulders, needs to elevate his game again and do what he does best: ball control and no turnovers. Thus far this season Brissett has thrown for 10 TD’s and only 1 interception.
If the Pack can stay composed, execute the gameplan, Dave Doeren who is in his 3rd season at NC State (16-16) may get his first win against Clemson.
When: Saturday, October 31, 2015
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
When: 3:30pm