SPORTS GROUCH - WHAT'S GOING ON?

Posted 10/16/19

Is it possible the Clemson Tigers are a bunch of under-achievers this season?

Or that South Carolina suddenly awakened and became over-achievers?

Based on Clemson’s 1-point win over North …

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SPORTS GROUCH - WHAT'S GOING ON?

Posted

Is it possible the Clemson Tigers are a bunch of under-achievers this season?
Or that South Carolina suddenly awakened and became over-achievers?
Based on Clemson’s 1-point win over North Carolina, the Tigers were either playing far below their ability or the Tar Heels were playing far above theirs as they did against the Gamecocks.
And based on the Gamecocks’ miserable performance this season, that they bounced back after a week off and upset #3 Georgia at Athens takes the old Sports Grouch’s breath away.
Over-rated?
Clemson may be defending national champions with college football’s longest current winning streak at 20 consecutive wins. But their near loss to unranked North Carolina has exposed what may be the Tigers’ biggest weakness – their easy game schedule against inferiror ACC teams.
They only beat the Tar Heels by breaking up a 2-point conversion with 1:17 remaining. That cost Clemson in the polls, dropping them to No. 2 behind Alabama in the AP poll. 
Pointless victories
Clemson rides a knife edge margin for error if it is to repeat as national champions. Just winning the ACC will not be enough to get them into the College Football Playoff. 
Despite thrashing Florida State Saturday, Clemson could finish the season having beaten 10 straight unranked opponents.
Because the talent gap between the Tigers and everyone else in the ACC is so wide, even wins hurt Clemson if they’re not achieved by wide margins.
“I know we’re supposed to destroy everybody, like nobody else has scholarships, nobody else has coaches,” coach Dabo Swinney said. “It doesn’t work that way.”
Even Clemson starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence admitted his team is not playing up to its ability.
Game crushers
Powerful teams often go weeks between games against ranked foes, but Clemson’s schedule is worst.
The Tigers not only can’t afford to lose to any of their 4 remaining conference opponents, they must show they are worthy of being considered for the playoffs.
That means the Tigers must crush the opposition in a weak conference. According to some odds makers, Clemson has only a 73% chance of making the playoffs. That’s far ahead of Ohio State’s 50% shot. 
A rocky season
USC faces the opposite problem. They are 2-2 in the SEC, losing to Alabama and MIssouri and beating Kentucky and Georgia.
Up next are Florida, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M. Win 3 of the 4 and they have a chance at a 7-5 season, better than the 6-6 forecast before the season.

  The Sports Grouch welcomes emails at ChronicleSports@yahoo.com

Clemson, football, South Carolina

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