Season predictions for Clemson’s 12 regular-season games

Breaking down the Tigers’ 2016 regular season, week by week:

Clemson at Auburn, Sept. 3

For better, or likely worse, Auburn carries plenty of mystery into the opener on The Plains. With running back Jovon Robinson’s pre-camp dismissal, the SEC Tigers return nobody notable on offense. Add in a quarterback battle that appears will be won by who screws up the least, and it’s not a great recipe meeting a team as confident and talented as Clemson. The Auburn defense should be improved, but not enough to pose a serious threat and help the SEC team hang around.

Prediction: Clemson 31, Auburn 17

Troy at Clemson, Sept. 10

The home opener shouldn’t be a tough test. Troy won four games last season, and none of those were against teams with winning records. The Trojans don’t have enough talent to hang with top teams – they lost all three of their games against Power 5 teams last year by at least 25 points. This should be the first of multiple home games this season in which Clemson’s backups see most of the second half playing time.

Prediction: Clemson 52, Troy 10

S.C. State at Clemson, Sept. 17

The last time these teams met, Clemson won 73-7. So if you’re coming to see Deshaun Watson and the first-team offense, don’t be late. The Bulldogs, picked to finish fourth in the MEAC, are Clemson’s lone FBS vs. FCS showdown of the season. Kelly Bryant and/or Nick Schuessler should see their most snaps behind center all season. This game might shed some light on which young players are redshirting. The outcome won’t be in doubt.

Prediction: Clemson 63, S.C. State 10

Clemson at Georgia Tech, Sept. 22

Injury luck wasn’t on Georgia Tech’s side in 2015 and with a veteran quarterback returning in Justin Thomas, there’s a good chance it improves from a 3-9 record. How much that helps against Clemson will be up to a rebuilding defense. The ghosts of five losses in a row at Bobby Dodd Stadium aren’t likely to affect Watson and the Tiger offense, where Clemson averaged only 12 points per game in the span. The Tigers’ interior D-line should pose a problem for the Yellow Jackets.

Prediction: Clemson 41, Georgia Tech 20

Louisville at Clemson, Oct. 1

In an otherwise unintimidating home schedule for the Tigers, Louisville’s the one team with a shot to score an upset in Death Valley. Louisville has taken Clemson to the wire each of the past two years, and it has a dynamic playmaker at quarterback in Lamar Jackson. The Cardinals also have one of the strongest defenses Clemson will face all year. More overall talent and home-field advantage should lead to a Clemson win, but the Tigers can’t afford many mistakes.

Prediction: Clemson 27, Louisville 24

Clemson at Boston College, Oct. 7

Last year, Boston College had the top-ranked defense in the country when it played Clemson, but the Tigers shredded it for 510 yards in a 34-17 victory. This year, the Tigers could be even better when they head to Chestnut Hill. BC, though, should have a much better quarterback situation, whether it’s Darius Wade or Kentucky transfer Patrick Towles. The Eagles could make this a competitive game, but Clemson shouldn’t be in position to get upset.

Prediction: Clemson 38, Boston College 24

N.C. State at Clemson, Oct. 15

The last time the Wolfpack entered Death Valley, they lost 41-0. By midseason, N.C. State will have to hope a new, more up-tempo offense under Eliah Drinkwitz has more in store. He’s navigating a QB competition, but can build around the run game with veteran Matt Dayes (6.5 yards per carry/12 touchdowns last season). N.C. State has as strong a D-line as any in the ACC, but they allowed Clemson to reach its high-water mark for yards gained in a game last season (623). The Tigers shouldn’t have much trouble.

Prediction: Clemson 48, N.C. State 20

Clemson at Florida State, Oct. 29

The trip to Tallahassee is the toughest roadblock in the Tigers’ path to the playoff. Clemson has lost its past four games at Florida State, and has won there just three times in series history. While Clemson will have a clear talent advantage over its other regular-season opponents, the Seminoles have stars on both sides of the ball, including Dalvin Cook and Derwin James. But the one area where Clemson has a clear advantage over FSU is at quarterback, and that could make the difference. In a game that will be close, do the Seminoles have a signal-caller who can make the key play? We don’t know, but Clemson does.

Prediction: Clemson 34, Florida State 28

Syracuse at Clemson, Nov. 5

Dino Babers is a nice upgrade from Scott Shafer, who was out-coached and outclassed by Clemson, which outscored the Orange 102-47 the past three years. Syracuse, which gave the Tigers some trouble last year in the Carrier Dome, might have the right coach and look like a better product in 2016, but the talent isn’t good enough to contend on the road. With the Death Valley crowd behind it, the Tigers won’t suffer a letdown the week after a tough game at FSU.

Prediction: Clemson 49, Syracuse 21

Pittsburgh at Clemson, Nov. 12

Pitt should be the toughest one of Clemson’s cross-divisional games. The offense boasts a veteran quarterback in Nathan Peterman and a pair of 1,000-yard rushers – including 2014 ACC player of the year James Conner, who’s completing his comeback from cancer treatment. On defense, there’s top returners in several key areas from a top-40 unit last year. If the Panthers can improve on big plays, they might have the offense to stick around for a while.

Prediction: Clemson 38, Pitt 24

Clemson at Wake Forest, Nov. 19

Clemson has defeated Wake Forest by double digits for four seasons in a row, and there’s no reason to think this year’s game will be any different. While Clemson could be the best team in the ACC, Wake Forest projects as one of the worst. The Demon Deacons have few players who could start for Clemson, and simply don’t have the offensive weapons to keep pace with the Tigers.

Prediction: Clemson 38, Wake Forest 13

South Carolina at Clemson, Nov. 26

Like 2015, the stakes of this game will be much higher for Clemson, which could be setting its sights on a playoff bid heading into Thanksgiving. The Gamecocks, who won three games last year, but stayed within five points of Clemson, are tough to judge under new coach Will Muschamp. This could be a game that determines the postseason for USC, or it could be for bragging rights only. Regardless, Watson will make it a perfect 3-0 against USC in his “Senior Day.”

Prediction: Clemson 31, South Carolina 17