Auburn Football 2010: Clemson Visits the Plains With ESPN College GameDay

By

Kevin McGrady

(Auburn Featured Columnist) on September 12, 2010

4 likes

1,377 reads

46 comments

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

For College Football Fans

• Latest Heisman Trophy Rankings
• What We Learned In Week 2
• Week 2 Rankings, Highs and Lows

College Football Game Day is moving south for next Saturday. They will be at Auburn for the Clemson game. This is great news for the Tigers and will bring even more national attention to the number 15 ranked program.

Clemson comes into this game with a 2-0 record and having won both games convincingly. This is certain to be a very entertaining game for all football fans.

This is a game that Coach Gene Chizik and the recruiting staff have emphasized for recruiting purposes. There are many highly regarded recruits expected to be in the stands for this game.

The Auburn team is an early work in progress after game two. They have played well in every aspect of the game at some point in the first two games, but have not put them all together at once.

Clemson has looked solid in every aspect as they overpowered their first two opponents. They will come in and attempt to make Auburn their third victim of the season.

Let’s take a look at the statistics for both teams thus far in the season.

All statistics are per game averages in yards and points unless otherwise specified.

Statistic	Auburn	Clemson
Rushing Offense	278.5	229
National Rank	9th	24th
Passing Offense	199.5	189
National Rank	69th	79th
Pass Efficiency	191.97	175.23
National Rank	4th	10th
Total Offense	478	418
National Rank	20th	47th
Scoring Offense	34.5	46.5
National Rank	37th	12th
Kick Returns	24.38	20.17
National Rank	32nd	79th
Punt Returns	8.29	15.71
National Rank	60th	17th
Sacks Allowed	1.5	.5
National Rank	46th	10th
Rushing Defense	80	166.5
National Rank	17th	85th
Pass Defense	226	204
National Rank	73rd	63rd
Pass Efficiency Defense	105.05	115.17
National Rank	35th	56th
Total Defense	306	370.5
National Rank	44th	76th
Scoring Defense	20	15.5
National Rank	56th	33rd
Sacks	3.5	4
National Rank	10th	5th
Tackles For Loss	8.5	9.5
National Rank	14th	8th
Turnover Margin	-1	1.5
National Rank	84th	15th

This looks like a very close matchup on paper. Clemson has beaten Presbyterian and North Texas this season. Both games were wins by more than 25 points. Auburn comes in after a 17-14 slug-fest in Starkville Mississippi where the game was decided in the final seconds.

Auburn is 32-11 against Clemson with the last loss coming in 1951. The average score over the last five meetings is 34.8-10. The last two meetings were decided by less than one touchdown.

What Fans Can Expect

The Auburn defensive line will apply pressure immediately and often on the Clemson Quarterback. This will disrupt the offensive flow for Clemson. Auburn will increase their sack count in this game.

What team wins in this ESPN Game Day match?

Clemson wins the upset.

29.3%

It is to close to call.

11.7%

Auburn wins big at home.

59.0%

Total votes: 290

Clemson is a rushing team that usually has a speed advantage over their opponents. This will not be the case in this game. They will have to attempt to run more north and south to have any success.

With Nick Fairley and Antoine Carter both in the top twenty players with multiple

tackles for a loss and sacks, it will be difficult for Clemson in the backfield. Clemson is 21 of 41 with a 20 yard per completion average in passing.

Clemson has shown some weakness defending the rush. Auburn will give them plenty of opportunity to get better in this particular area. Auburn will run both inside and outside and draw this safety oriented defense up toward the line. They will then challenge the Clemson corners one on one with their stable of dependable receivers.

Prediction

The Auburn defense will prove to be challenging to the Clemson offense and the Clemson defense will be overwhelmed by the Auburn offense. This will be a difficult game for Clemson to find a way to win.