CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Clemson and North Carolina will met for the first time as ranked foes since a No. 13 Clemson team beat No. 18 North Carolina, 16-13, in 1982. The Tigers are 3-0 all-time against North Carolina when both teams are ranked.
The ACC Championship Game, however, is the biggest in the rivalry since No. 2 Clemson beat No. 8 North Carolina, 10-0 in 1981. The game will be televised by ABC and will kickoff at 8:14 p.m.
Clemson’s defensive line vs. North Carolina’s offensive line: Clemson’s defense has averaged 8.7 tackles for loss this year, which ranks fourth in the country. UNC’s offensive line has allowed just 4.3 tackles for loss, which ranks seventh nationally. The Tigers are ninth in the country with 36 sacks, while the Tar Heels have allowed just 12 sacks, which ranks eighth in the country. Clemson opponents averaged 3.6 yards per carry, while the Tar Heels averaged six yards per carry. North Carolina had three All-ACC players on the O-line, led by guard Landon Turner, who earned first-team honors. Clemson’s front seven has four All-ACC players, including two on the first team in defensive end Shaq Lawson and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins. Advantage: Clemson
Clemson’s Shaq Lawson vs. UNC left tackle Bentley Spain: Lawson without a doubt will be Spain’s biggest challenge since facing Pitt’s Ejuan Price on Oct. 29. But Spain held Price to just one tackle for loss. Price finished the year with 19.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks for Pitt. Lawson leads the country in tackles for loss with 20.5 and has 8.5 sacks. Advantage: North Carolina
UNC quarterback Marquise Williams vs. Clemson’s defense: Williams has had a great season. He is third in the ACC in total offense (282.6) and second in passing efficiency (155.6). He leads the ACC in yards per attempt (9.0) and ranks seventh nationally. Williams is a duel treat quarterback who can run the ball as well. He quietly has rushed for 786 yards and 10 touchdowns this year. But Clemson’s defense is no slouch, either. The Tigers rank seventh nationally in total defense, and the pass defense is first in the country in completion percentage defense, fourth in passing yards allowed, fourth in pass efficiency defense and is 11th in yards per attempt. Clemson is also ninth in sacks with 36. Advantage: Clemson
Deshaun Watson vs. UNC’s defense: Watson is the only player in the country to run for at least 750 yards and throw for more than 3,000 yards. He is third in the nation completion percentage. He has averaged 414 yards of total offense per game in the last four games, which breaks down to 321 yards passing and 93 yards running. He has 36 combined touchdowns (27 passing and 9 rushing). Watson is completing 74 percent of his passes on the road. Watson is allowing 8.7 yards per attempt and leads the ACC in passing yards (3,223), TDs (27) and in total offense (3,979). UNC’s defense is allowing opponents to complete 53.6 percent of their passes, but it ranks 19th in the country yielding just 189.7 yards per game. The Tar Heels are giving up 6.0 yards per attempt, which ranks 15th nationally. However, the Tar Heels get little pressure on the quarterback. They had just 23 sacks this season. Advantage: Clemson
Clemson’s turnover margin vs. UNC’s turnover margin: The Tigers are a dismal minus-3 in the turnover margin, including 10 turnovers in the last three games. However, Clemson is 6-0 win losing the turnover battle. UNC is plus-9 in turnover margin, which is 16th in the country. But the Tar Heels have lost the turnover battle the last two games combined, including 3-1 at NC State last week. They fumbled the ball six times and lost three of them at Virginia Tech. Advantage: North Carolina
Bottom line: The key to this whole game will come down to turnovers and special teams. If Clemson can even those two categories out, the Tigers are better on offense, though slightly, and are much better on defense. This game will be won by whose defense plays the best, and though they have looked tired and out of sorts somewhat the last three weeks, Clemson clearly has more talent on defense, and in the end the defense will win Clemson another ACC Championship.
Prediction: Clemson 48, North Carolina 24