Geoff JohnsonThe Clemson Tigers are ranked third on most polls around the nation, which is crazy considering they are from the ACC, and they will try to stay in the top as they visit Carter-Finley Stadium to face the NC State Wolfpack, this Thursday at 7:30 PM ET.
Both teams are 2-0, but only the Tigers are ranked inside the top 25. Clemson upset Georgia in week one, and then smashed South Carolina State in week 2.
Ten months ago quarterback Tajh Boyd set a conference record with eight total touchdowns against NC State; half of that will be great for Clemson this Thursday.
“First thing you’ve got to do is not give up big plays,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said. “You have to contend routes and tackle well in space. We’ve got to shed blocks and get more people to the ball. But they are going to make plays. … To win the football game, they can’t be explosive plays that lead to points.”
Boyd is an early Heisman candidate after he put 312 yards and 5 TDs over Georgia in week one.
NC State beat Louisiana Tech and barely made alive against Richmond. They failed to impress against the Spiders and will probably take a beating from Clemson on national television.
The Tigers are 14 point favorites for Thursday, despite playing away from home.
“It’s a very difficult place to play,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Our last experience up there was not good (2011). We played one of our worst games of the year that year, and we won the league. It was a very disappointing night”.
