Clemson Opponents Review: Week 8

(9) Georgia Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC)

Defeated Arkansas 45-32, mostly on the strength of a 31-point second quarter and four Razorbacks turnovers. Despite being out-gained offensively and outscored 26-7 in the second half, the Bulldogs' rushing attack - Nick Chubb again, not Todd Gurley - was stout enough to see them to victory. Of course, Arkansas' turnovers didn't help, as they ran out of time to complete their comeback in the second half. Georgia isn't a team you want to give extra possessions, you know.

South Carolina State Bulldogs (4-3, 2-1 MEAC)

If you were curious, MEAC teams do in fact have bye weeks. Here's one now!

(2) Florida State Seminoles (7-0, 4-0 ACC)

Defeated Notre Dame 31-27 in a very close game that nobody will remember because of what happened on the final play. Whatever you might think about the call, don't forget that FSU allowed 470 total yards of offense, including 313 passing yards. Had Everett Golson not been responsible for all the Notre Dame turnovers again, this might have ended up differently. One thing is clear, however: the Seminoles' defense is not their strongest component anymore.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-2, 2-2) at North Carolina Tar Heels (3-4, 1-2 ACC)

North Carolina won 48-43, thanks to a timely Georgia Tech penalty very late in the fourth that kept the Tar Heels drive going. With that out of the way, enjoy some extremely stupid numbers: 390 UNC passing yards, 376 GT rushing yards, 1,190 total yards of offense and only one turnover per squad. It seems each team was good at one thing the other wasn't capable of defending, and we ended up with a shootout that Georgia Tech lost by shooting themselves in the foot, or thorax, or whatever bees have. This leaves... is it Duke? I think it's Duke in the Coastal lead now, but that will probably only last for five minutes.

N.C. State Wolfpack (4-4, 0-4 ACC) at Louisville Cardinals (6-2, 4-2 ACC)

Louisville won 30-18, dropping the Wolfpack to 0-4 in ACC play and making me wonder if Wake Forest really is the worst team in the conference. Louisville gained 166 official rushing yards while holding NC State to 128 in a crisp game with relatively few penalties. It was also a close contest for most of the way, until Michael Dyer rushed for a touchdown with 44 seconds left to put the game out of reach. This week's Cardinal QB of choice was Will Gardner for... I don't know, you tell me.

Syracuse Orange (3-4, 1-2 ACC) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-5, 0-3 ACC)

You might think the Orange's 30-7 win was a product of defense, and I'm sure that's partly true. I think we can also give a large chunk of the credit to Wake's "offense," which should not be watched without a grief counselor nearby and five cases of beer in the fridge. John Wolford was knocked out in the second; his replacement Tyler Cameron was benched in the fourth. Wake gained 170 total yards against a defense I wouldn't call "stout" or "mansome" for anything but a large bribe. On the other side of the ball, Syracuse gained 370 yards.

Georgia State Panthers (1-6, 0-4 Sun Belt)

Lost to South Alabama 30-27 despite 311 passing yards. Like the GT-UNC game above, each team had something it was really good at; for USA it was rushing, and for the Panthers it was passing. South Alabama scored the game-winning touchdown with four minutes left and held on for dear life to send Georgia State to another tough loss in a season loaded with them.

South Carolina Gamecocks (4-3, 2-3 SEC)

I don't know how Furman ended up on the schedule here in October, but they were defeated 41-10. Nothing like an FCS team to right your ship and get things moving in the-oh, you say South Carolina gave up 211 rushing yards to that FCS team? Well then. Combine this with two turnovers and I guess you can chalk up the win to sheer athletic superiority. At least things won't get that much harder next week. Of course I'm lying, because they're going to Auburn and it will be hilarious.