Worst case scenario for Clemson football in 2016

On paper, Clemson appears to be as good a bet as anyone to win the national title in 2016. Unfortunately for the Tigers, that doesn’t mean a thing once the season begins.

Clemson’s schedule doesn’t appear to be challenging at first glance. The Tigers should be favored by a touchdown or more in every game but one – at Florida State on Oct. 29. Still, there are plenty of opportunities for Clemson to trip up, beginning in Week 1.

Clemson opens the season at Auburn, one of the toughest places to play in the country. Brent Venables’ unit must replace seven starters on defense, and Auburn’s offense will certainly test the young group early. Gus Malzahn is an imaginative offensive coach who’ll try everything he can to keep Clemson off balance.

A few weeks later, Clemson travels to Georgia Tech, a place the Tigers haven’t won at since 2003, for a Thursday night contest in Atlanta. For whatever reason, Clemson always seems to struggle when facing the Yellow Jackets on the road, and Paul Johnson’s option offense isn’t the easiest for a young defense to prepare for.

The Tigers have a tough game against Louisville the following week before traveling to Florida State at the end of October. You can make an argument the Seminoles have more talent than Clemson, and if they can get consistent quarterback play, watch out.

Clemson has tough games on its schedule without even mentioning the injury factor.

Deshaun Watson was fully healthy last year, but struggled through injuries early in his career, and if he goes down or is less than 100 percent for a couple of weeks, there is a huge dropoff , whether it be Kelly Bryant or Nick Schuessler.

Here is the worst case scenario for Clemson in 2016:

1. Not ready for Auburn

Clemson’s young defense isn’t ready to handle Auburn’s fast-paced offense, and Clemson loses a shootout in the battle of the Tigers to open the season. Dreams of a national title aren’t gone, but any margin of error is.

2. The Tech jinx

Clemson’s struggles at Georgia Tech continue and the Tigers drop the Thursday night tilt, losing their sixth straight game against the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta. Georgia Tech’s option offense gives the Tigers fits, and the more-talented Tigers lose a fluky game to fall to 2-2 on the year.

3. Injury bug

Watson isn’t able to stay healthy all season, despite adding weight in the offseason, and Clemson’s offense isn’t the same without the Heisman Trophy candidate playing at 100 percent. The Tigers fall to Louisville and Florida State before finishing the year strong.

4. Belk Bowl?

Clemson ends up in the Russell Athletic Bowl or Belk Bowl, which isn’t a horrible cap to the year, but is terribly disappointing based on preseason expectations.

5. See you later

After the bowl game, Watson announces he is turning pro, ending the run of the best quarterback in Clemson history. Despite the successful era under Watson, the Tigers are left wondering what could’ve been and are faced with the reality they wasted a huge opportunity to win a national title with one of the all-time great college quarterbacks.