Dan Scott Preview & Prediction

Seeing how I'm semi-employed by this particular Clemson website, it's hard to say that predicting the Tigers' loss at FSU last Saturday was a good week.

So how about a correct week?

Whatever you call it, the Ol' Magic Helmet is 7-2 on the season and is officially bowl eligible. Now it's onto this week's Duke at Clemson matchup...

CLEMSON OFFENSE VS. DUKE DEFENSE
Left tackle Chris Hairston got a full day of work in on Wednesday and should be good to go Saturday, which will be a big boost to an offensive line which got whipped up front last week in Tallahassee. And despite the one bad pass returned for a TD, quarterback Cullen Harper played very well in the face of tremendous pressure all afternoon. If the Tigers can block, they'll score points vs. the Blue Devils' defense. Get the ball to Spiller.

ADVANTAGE - CLEMSON

DUKE OFFENSE VS. CLEMSON DEFENSE
Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis leads the ACC in total offense, thanks to both his legs and his arm. When he throws his favorite target is Eron Riley, a talented - if not super-athletic - receiver. The Blue Devils aren't physically superior to the Tigers, but head coach David Cutcliffe has brought a different attitude to the Duke program. Even at 4-5, his team will come into Death Valley expecting to win, and Lewis will be the focus of that offense. But Clemson's defense, which was embarrassed last week, should be chewing nails Saturday afternoon.

ADVANTAGE - CLEMSON

SPECIAL TEAMS
Statistically, the teams are close when you look category by category. It seems as if Clemson is giving up a bit more yardage on kickoff returns in recent games, though last week it seemed as if they were kicking short to FSU by design. The Tigers get the edge because of their skill at the return positions and also because of kicker Mark Buchholz, who continues to have an excellent season.

ADVANTAGE - CLEMSON

COACHING/INTANGIBLES
As Dabo Swinney has said this week, this ain't yer granddaddy's Duke team. Cutcliffe has them believing in themselves and, it would seem, on the road to being a respectable program. But this is Clemson's homecoming. And certainly that, plus the knowledge that all three remaining games are must-wins in order to become bowl eligible, should be enough motivation.

ADVANTAGE - CLEMSON

BOTTOM LINE
Duke hasn't won at Clemson since 1980. Nothing is certain with these Tigers, as we know, but still we see Clemson coming out on top in this one.

THE PICK: Clemson 31 Duke 17