5 things to watch for as Clemson hosts The Citadel ... and a score prediction
No. 1 Clemson will host The Citadel on Saturday at 4 p.m. in its home opener for the 2020 season. Clemson is a 44.5-point favorite for the matchup, which will be televised on the ACC Network. Here is what we will be watching for during the game, as well as a score prediction:
1. How will D.J. Uiagalelei look in his first extended playing time?
Clemson’s backup QB threw only three passes last week against Wake Forest. Uiagalelei has been praised since arriving on campus, and we should get an opportunity to see what all of the hype is about Saturday against The Citadel. The Tigers are big favorites, and it is unlikely Trevor Lawrence plays much more than a quarter if Clemson is able to establish a big lead early. That means we will get our first extended look at the true freshman Uiagalelei.
2. Is Lyn-J Dixon healthy?
Clemson’s backup running back has been working his way back from a knee injury and did not play last week against Wake Forest. Dixon suited up but Clemson wanted to give him an extra week of rest. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said this week that Dixon should be back against The Citadel. Dixon had a great preseason camp when healthy, by all accounts, and he could combine with Travis Etienne to form a dynamic 1-2 punch throughout the 2020 season if he can stay healthy.
3. Will The Citadel give Clemson’s young defense any trouble?
The Tigers have played the option well in recent years, dominating Georgia Tech the final few seasons under Paul Johnson and excelling against FCS opponents who run a similar system. Still, this is a Clemson defense with nine players who made their first starts last week. Clemson also has several young defensive linemen who will get their first exposure to a college program running the option on Saturday.
4. Can Clemson’s receivers bounce back?
The Tigers struggled with drops in Week 1, and Clemson is still looking for a go-to receiver to replace its top two targets from last year in Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross. Clemson should be able to do whatever it wants on offense against The Citadel, and that should include Lawrence creating chemistry with his top targets.
5. What will the environment be like?
Clemson will have fans on hand, but it won’t feel like a normal game day. Stadium capacity for Saturday is capped at 19,000, and the students will be in the upper deck. There will be no pregame “Tiger Walk” and no postgame “Meet at the Paw.” The environment will be different for sure, but how different will it feel from a normal game day?
Clemson, Citadel score prediction
The Citadel will likely try to slow the game down and limit Clemson’s possession, and it may work early on as Clemson’s new starters adjust to the unconventional offense. But the Bulldogs have no shot of slowing down Lawrence and company and Clemson should roll.
The Pick: Clemson 55, The Citadel 3
