PREVIEW
-Clemson and South Carolina will meet for the 120th time in history when the Tigers close their 2023 regular season on the road against the Gamecocks on Saturday, Nov. 25. Kickoff at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
-Clemson will look to reassume annual in-state bragging rights after South Carolina snapped Clemson’s series-record-tying seven-game win streak in the rivalry with a one-point win a season ago. Clemson holds a 72-43-4 record in the rivalry and has held the series lead since 1898.
-Two years ago, incredulity was a common reaction both nationally and in some Clemson fan circles when Dabo Swinney tabbed then-analyst Wes Goodwin as Clemson’s new defensive coordinator in the wake of Brent Venables’ ascension to Oklahoma’s head coaching job. In his second season leading Clemson’s defensive unit in 2023, Goodwin has displayed why Swinney entrusted him with the role.
CLEMSON (7-4, 4-4 ACC) VS. SOUTH CAROLINA (5-6, 3-5 SEC)
- Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC.
- 5 p.m.: Tiger Tailgate Show presented by Upcountry Fiber, Live from Camperdown Plaza in downtown Greenville.
- 7:30 p.m.: Kickoff
- WATCH on SECN
- Live Stats
WHAT TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK
– Clemson is attempting to win eight games in a season for the 41st time in school history. It would be Clemson’s 13th consecutive eight-win season and its 14th overall in Dabo Swinney’s 15 full seasons as head coach.
– Clemson (149-28) seeking its 150th win since the start of the 2011 season. Clemson would join Alabama (161) as the only program to win 150 games since 2011.
– By kickoff time against South Carolina, Clemson entering the game having led the all-time series with the Gamecocks for 45,663 consecutive days (125 years, 8 days). South Carolina won the series opener in 1896 before Clemson evened the series in 1897. Clemson won the third game in the series on Nov. 17, 1898 to take a 2-1 series lead, a lead Clemson hasn’t relinquished.
Predictions:
Zach: It’s rivalry week and that means throw the record out, or does it. Actually the team with the better record has owned this game, because, well as obvious as it sounds, the team with the better record is generally the better team. The Tigers have found their groove offensively and their defense is playing at an incredible level. The only way this game is close is if the Tigers score for the Gamecocks—which they have been very effective at doing at times this season. I think these are two teams on two different paths—the Tigers are ranked again, playing solid football, playing to bowl in Jacksonville and playing for revenge. The Gamecocks are playing for their bowl lives, and that’s about the extent of what they have going for them. Simply put, Gamecock head coach will have all offseason to figure out why the students don’t stay after halftime…Tiger win.
Clemson 34, South Carolina 17
Jason: Yes, it is hard to put a whole lot of trust in this Clemson offense away from Death Valley. For the most part, they just haven't been very good on the road this season. Nothing comes easy and they have even been known to flat out score for the opposing team from time to time. However, this offense seems to have finally found its indentity over the past three weeks, which inlcudes wins over two ranked teams. They aren't blowing teams out, but they are doing enough, and they've been doing it by leaning heavily on the rediscovered running game. And South Carolina has not been very good when it comes to stopping the run. Where Clemson really has the advantage, though, is on the defensive side of the ball. The Tigers have forced 10 turnovers during the current three game winning streak, and have won the margin in all three games. They will win it again this week, and that will be the difference.
Clemson 21, South Carolina 17
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