Here is a look at the top matchups for tonight’s No. 9 Clemson at Louisville game, which is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. This is the ACC opener for both schools. The Tigers are 2-0 and Louisville is 0-2.
Clemson’s offensive line vs. Louisville’s defensive front: Last year, Clemson averaged less than two yards per carry against a Louisville defense that was one of the best in the country. And though the stats don’t prove it right now, from a talent standpoint, the Cardinals are still one of the best, especially on the defensive line. Led by defensive end Sheldon Rankins (6-2, 303) and defensive tackle DeAngelo Brown (6-0, 308), it is hard to move the pile. The Cardinals like to play a 3-4 Okey front defense that wants to stand the offensive linemen up and then funnel the ball carrier either to them or to the linebackers that should be sitting in the hole. Clemson had a veteran offensive line last year, and could not truly adjust to Louisville’s front seven. This year, the Tigers are inexperienced and guys like freshman Mitch Hyatt at left tackle will be making his first start on the road. Considering Clemson struggled to run the football against App. State last Saturday, don’t expect the Tigers to win too many of these battles tonight. Advantage: Louisville
Clemson’s defensive front vs. Louisville’s offensive line: Like Clemson’s O-line, the Cardinals are young as well. Louisville’s offensive line has already issued six sacks this year and the running game is averaging just 4.2 yards per carry. Clemson’s first-team defensive line has been crazy good. Defensive end Shaq Lawson already has 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack to go with 11 tackles, while freshman Christian Wilkins has 14 tackles and two tackles for loss. Already, the Tigers have 21 tackles for loss this season. Defensive end Kevin Dodd has 10 tackles, while defensive tackle Scott Pagano has 11 tackles. Defensive tackle Carlos Watkins has seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception return for a touchdown. Advantage: Clemson
Clemson’s receivers vs. Louisville’s secondary: This should be the best matchup of the night because Louisville is talented on the back end and Clemson’s wide receivers, even without Mike Williams, are the best collection of wide receivers in the ACC. Louisville has four interceptions this year, with safety Josh Harvey-Clemmons leading the way with two. But, there were plenty of blown coverages in the Houston game where defenders, including Harvey-Clemmons, looked confused at times. Houston’s Greg Ward carved them up for 236 yards and three touchdowns. So far, the secondary is allowing 60.7 percent of opponents’ passes to be completed for 373 yards and four touchdowns. Charone Peake has replaced Williams at the boundary side position and in his first game there, he totaled four catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns. But Peake is still trying to adjust so look for Clemson to come to Artavis Scott’s side a lot more. The Tigers leading receiver from last year is once again off to a great start with 12 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns, including a 41-yard bomb from Deshaun Watson for a touchdown last week. Freshman Ray Ray McLoud has nine catches for 84 yards, while look to see Germone Hopper and tight end Jordan Leggett play more into the passing game tonight than they have in the first two games. Advantage: Clemson
Brent Venables vs. Bobby Petrino: Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables says this game is not about him vs. Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino, but he is wrong. Yes, the players play the game, but these are the two best in the country at what they do. No defensive coordinator is more in tune with his players than Brent Venables and the way he calls a game because of it is unlike anyone else on his side of the ball. Petrino may not be as in tune with his players as Venables is but few in the game can call a game the way he can as he keeps a defense off-balance with the way he runs short passes to set up his running game. These two had a great chess match last year, especially in the final drive, which Venables upped him by catching a play Petrino ran as the head coach at Western Kentucky. But Clemson has the advantage here. Why? I think overall Venables has the better players to coach. Advantage: Clemson
Bottom line: This will be an emotional game for Louisville. The students and fans have already declared this a blackout game and Louisville has gotten into the act by saying it will wear all black uniforms. Considering the fact they are 0-2, the Cardinals will come out playing with a lot of emotion and will want to stick it to Clemson early. The Tigers just have to handle the early charge of the Cardinals and their fans in the first quarter and not fall too far behind. If they survive that, and I imagine they will, then Clemson will settle into the game and let its talent take over. The key tonight will be to let Louisville make mistakes and Clemson try to avoid them on their side. If the game is tight, I believe the Cardinals will turn the ball over in a critical situation, which will turn the game in Clemson’s favor and allow the Tigers to pull away late. It will not be a pretty win for Clemson, but it will be a win nonetheless. Prediction: Clemson 31, Louisville 17