South Carolina-Clemson prediction: Can the Gamecocks somehow stay competitive?
It is hard to see how this game is competitive for a half, forget four quarters.
Clemson has continued to get better and better as the season has gone along and appears to be peaking at the perfect time.
The Gamecocks have been heading in the opposite direction, losing four of their past five after upsetting Georgia in October.
Clemson has scored at least 45 points in six consecutive games and has not allowed an opponent to reach 300 yards of offense yet this season. With the way USC’s offense has played lately, it’s hard to see South Carolina becoming the first team to reach that mark.
Of course the last time a South Carolina team with a losing record played an undefeated Clemson squad was in 2015 and the game was surprisingly close. Deshaun Watson and the Tigers held on for a 37-32 victory after USC rallied from down 28-10 to cut Clemson’s lead to 28-25 early in the fourth quarter.
South Carolina will be playing with nothing to lose and should empty the playbook in its final game of the season.
Will Muschamp is a defensive coach and with an extra week to prepare should have a solid plan to try to at least slow down the Tigers. But the talent gap is too much, and Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross and company will have no problem outscoring a South Carolina offense that has struggled for most of the year with freshman quarterback Ryan Hilinski.
Don’t be surprised if USC covers the 27-point spread, though. Clemson winning by more than four touchdowns seems far too obvious, and it’s never that easy with Vegas.
The pick: Clemson 42, South Carolina 17
