Saturday, September 20, 2014

Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Clemson (1-1) started their 2014 season off on a sour note losing a 21-45 battle with Georgia in Athens but a reversal of fortune can come only three weeks later with a win in Tallahassee in the Saturday night primetime game of the week. The defending national champions have been workmanlike as Florida State has stormed out to a 2-0 start in games that might be considered closer than expected. Still, FSU has had September 20th circled on their calendar as the first real test of the year.

Clemson bounced back nicely after the week 1 loss to the Bulldogs as they trounced the outgunned South Carolina State 73-7 two weeks ago. The game was nothing more than a stats compiler for the Tigers and a paycheck collector for South Carolina State but that's what you get with early season matchups. Clemson enjoyed a bye last weekend and should be rested and gameplanned for the prize fight with the Seminoles. Clemson aims for this matchup with a Heisman candidate to go better than the first one did as UGA's Todd Gurley had 293 all-purpose yards including 198 and 3 TD's on the ground in only 15 carries.

FSU has put up 37 points in each of their wins thus far in 2014, a 37-31 win over Oklahoma State in the opener followed by a balanced 37-12 victory over Citadel on September 6th. The win over Citadel saw some new players emerge as 10 different 'Noles caught balls even though the defense struggled with the Bulldogs' triple option offense in allowing 250 rushing yards. FSU also lost 3 defensive linemen in that game but the off week in between games will allow at least starting DT Eddie Golman to return while Nile Lawrence-Stample and Justin Shanks are questionable.

Despite FSU's unimpressive start, they're considered big favorites to beat Clemson Saturday night. Part of that bias could stem from the 51-14 beating the Seminoles delivered last year in Clemson. Jameis Winston padded his 2013 Heisman march in that game, passing for 444 yards and 3 TD while running for another one.

Clemson Tigers Betting Trends

Clemson Tigers are 1-1-0 Against the Spread

Clemson Tigers are 1-0-0 against the Over/Under

Florida State Seminoles Betting Trends

Florida State Seminoles are 0-2-0 Against the Spread

Florida State Seminoles are 1-0-0 against the Over/Under

Injuries to Watch

Clemson Tigers

09/14/14 DB Martin Jenkins Ankle "?" Saturday vs. Florida State
09/04/14 WR Kyrin Priester Dismissed has been dismissed
08/28/14 OL Oliver Jones Knee out for season
08/25/14 RB Tyshon Dye Achilles out indefinitely
08/20/14 RB Zac Brooks Foot out for season

Florida State Seminoles

09/14/14 DT Eddie Goldman Leg "?" Saturday vs. Clemson
09/14/14 DL Justin Shanks Leg "?" Saturday vs. Clemson
09/14/14 DL Nile Lawrence-Stample Leg "?" Saturday vs. Clemson
09/14/14 CB P.J. Williams Hamstring "?" Saturday vs. Clemson
09/11/14 LB Ukeme Eligwe Foot is upgraded to probable vs. Clemson
09/05/14 LB Matthew Thomas Suspension out indefinitely
08/28/14 LB Delvin Purifoy Leg out for season
08/16/14 WR Isaiah Jones Academics out for season

Tony's Pick: Take Florida State

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