Cruise control: Clemson set up for an undefeated season

Clemson’s 23-13 win over Florida State last Saturday didn’t feel like a double-digit victory for the No. 1 team in the land.

A game that clinched the Atlantic Division for the Tigers wasn’t decided until the fourth quarter. Clemson trailed by four points at the half in a game it was favored to win by 12 points.

That went against the national narrative that the Tigers were going to blow out the Seminoles. As hard as that is to believe — and it was the first time ever FSU was a double-digit underdog in an ACC game — it speaks volumes about the perception of both teams and where they stand on paper.

“We know for us, we’re going to get everybody’s best game,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “That’s just the way it is, so that’s why it’s important that we continue to try to prepare and play to the standard that we talk about.”

FSU didn’t want to relinquish its ACC reign, and last Saturday was the first time Clemson had ever played a game as the top-ranked team, much less won. That test was passed.

It’s not expected to be as challenging this week at Syracuse, which hosts Clemson at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in a game televised on ABC. The Tigers return home next week for a 3:30 p.m. contest against Wake Forest on Senior Day. Then the regular season wraps up at South Carolina before the ACC Championship game on Dec. 5.

The last three regular-season opponents combined have won as many games as 9-0 Clemson. Syracuse and Wake have just one conference victory each. That could — should — spell some blowouts and an undefeated regular season for the Tigers, who will likely face No. 23 North Carolina (8-1) in Charlotte.

“I’ve got all kinds of reasons why we can be beat these next four games, easy,” said Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables, who coached on the undefeated 2000 Oklahoma team. “There are plenty of reasons if we’re not at the top of our game. The great teams, the really good teams, to have a chance to compete for a championship, you get better. You don’t regress.”

Coaches (and players) have to think like that, but Clemson, which will most likely be in the College Football Playoff if it goes 13-0, shouldn’t do anything but win the next three weeks. The Tigers are a nearly 4-touchdown favorite over Syracuse, which has lost six consecutive games since starting the season 3-0.

Sorry, Wake fans, but the Demon Deacons don’t stand much of a chance in Death Valley next week. Clemson’s beaten this program 98-20 the last two seasons combined.

That leaves the Tigers to wrap up the regular season with the rivalry game in Columbia. That might not be quite as easy as the other two. Give USC interim coach Shawn Elliott credit; he has the Gamecocks playing much harder than retired coach Steve Spurrier did in the first half of the season.

However, this program doesn’t have the same talent level as the teams that won five consecutive games recently in this series. In fact, there’s a chance that Clemson, as the road team, will be favored by double digits against the Gamecocks for the first time since 1999.

An ACC title game against North Carolina is a different story. The Tar Heels are one of the hottest teams in the country and are formidable on both sides of the ball — and they have a QB in Marquise Williams who can beat teams with his legs and arm. Until then, anything less than smooth sailing the next three weeks would be a huge surprise.

Just don’t expect anybody in Tiger Town to say that.