Clemson Opponents Review: Week 11

(16) Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 5-2 SEC)

Vaporized Kentucky, 63-31. For once, Hutson Mason looked like more than a mere decoration, passing for 174 yards and four touchdowns, but don't think Georgia didn't run. Oh no, they ran - Nick Chubb racked up 170 yards on the ground, part of a 305 yard rushing effort for the Bulldogs. No offense to Kentucky - for a while, they hung around, and eventually will be decent in the SEC East/Coastal - but the Bulldogs were too balanced to be stopped this week. Which makes me wonder what it is Jacksonville does to football.

South Carolina State Bulldogs (7-3, 5-1 MEAC)

Squished Florida A&M 34-17. Following these guys has given me a new perspective - the Mini-Bulldogs are a good team in their own little stratosphere, but when they pop up to get killed by Clemson or whoever it's easy to think they suck all the time. They held the Rattlers to 46 rushing yards while giving up 284 through the air, somehow. Both teams had three turnovers. Okay, maybe I'm giving the MEAC a little too much credit. Still, SC State has a great chance to win its conference.

(2) Florida State Seminoles (9-0, 6-0 ACC)

Screwed around and beat Virginia, 34-20. Look, the Cavaliers aren't the best offense in the world, but FSU held them to 37 yards on the ground, which counts for something. Winston threw two more picks to go with his touchdown and 261 yards, and the Seminoles kind of muddled around until Virginia finally shot themselves in the foot enough to bleed out. The last bullet was a failed conversion on fourth and seven in the red zone. Again, both teams had three turnovers. That's not going to cut it against teams with actual offenses, like - dare I dream? - Duke.

North Carolina Tar Heels (4-5, 2-3 ACC)

Didn't play this week. Still not sure why they're being allowed to play anything ever again.

(24) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-2, 5-2 ACC) at N.C. State Wolfpack (5-5, 1-5 ACC)

Yes, Georgia Tech won 56-23, and in the process continued to proclaim the glory of NC State's utter football fraud to the world, but they did it with defensive touchdowns. Since when does Georgia Tech do anything with defense? Granted, the Wolfpack's three turnovers - lots of teams with three turnovers this week - are par for the course, considering their season thus far, but still. The bees are the most complete team left on the Clemson schedule, and I'm really starting to worry about the trip to Bobby Dodd. They're not supposed to be good on both sides of the ball.

Louisville Cardinals (7-3, 5-3 ACC) at Boston College Eagles (6-4, 3-3 ACC)

Sure is birds in here, but the Cardinals won 38-19. Here's something weird in the box score: both teams rushed for 166 yards. BC even passed for 166 yards. They also turned it over four times, three of which were interceptions by Louisville S Gerod Holliman. This is simply further proof that the Eagles should not be throwing, they should be running. Both Reggie Bonnafon and Will Gardner saw action - the latter threw for 188, while the former had two touchdowns. I guess Petrino is using a two-QB system? Whatever he's plotting, it seems to work. Most of the time.

Syracuse Orange (3-7, 1-5 ACC)

Got Duked, 27-10. They're in the same boat as Clemson, really: mansome defense, virtually non-existent offense. Except they don't even have the luxury of Cole Stoudt. When that defense stays on the field too long, things like 17-point fourth quarters happen. The Blue Devils broke it open with a punt return TD and never looked back. Syracuse turned it over twice, as did Duke once - three turnovers again - and barely got 100 yards passing and rushing. Then again, Duke struggled too... just less.

Georgia State Panthers (1-9, 0-7 Sun Belt)

Run over by Troy, 45-21, in what's probably become the most depressing part of this article. One day, we will look back on 2014 when Georgia State goes undefeated, somehow wins the Sugar Bowl, and gets invited by the SEC. We will smile. Until then, we will frown as the Panthers lose three turnovers (again with the threes!) and give up 324 yards of rushing to a team that's 2-8. A team that also only managed to pass for 114 against a defense little better than tissue paper. Man, I need a hug.

South Carolina Gamecocks (4-5, 2-5 SEC)

Didn't play this week either. Just to keep with the theme, I'll pencil them in for three turnovers during their sure-to-be-hilarious loss to Florida next Saturday.