CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson aims to tie the school record with its 21st consecutive home victory when the third-ranked Tigers host in-state foe Wofford on Saturday. The Tigers have won a program-record 23 straight overall and 20 in a row in Death Valley.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: Clemson -47.5
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The Tigers rolled to a 59-7 win over Boston College last week, continuing an utterly dominant three-game stretch coming out of their bye week. Clemson has outscored its last three opponents - all ACC foes - 149-31 and have averaged 361.3 more total yards than the opposition over that stretch. The Terriers take a five-game winning streak up the road to Clemson, but it’s a big jump from the Southern Conference to the defending national champs. Clemson is 34-0 against FCS opponents, including a 49-10 victory over Wofford in the most recent meeting in 2015.
ABOUT WOFFORD (5-2)
The No. 20 team in the FCS Coaches poll, the Terriers boast one of the best rushing attacks in the FCS - averaging 361.7 yards per game on the ground. But quarterback Joe Newman (108.6 rushing yards per game, 11 TDs) and running back Blake Morgan (60.4 yards, 5 TDs) might not find much running room against a Clemson team that ranks fourth in the nation in total defense. Newman has thrown just 76 passes and owns five TDs along with four interceptions through the air.
ABOUT CLEMSON (8-0)
The Tigers have scored at least 45 points and gained at least 500 total yards in three straight games, and they’ve had at least 275 rushing yards in all three contests. Travis Etienne (111.3 yards per game, nine TDs) leads that powerful ground game, helping mask some minor struggles from quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who averages 226.1 passing yards per game with 17 touchdowns and a concerning eight interceptions. The Tigers rank fourth nationally in total defense, and while defending the run is their relative weakness, they haven’t allowed more than 157 rushing yards this season.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Clemson is trying to become the third team since 2000 to hold its first nine opponents to fewer than 300 total yards.
2. Etienne (46) needs one rushing touchdown to tie or two to surpass James Davis as the school’s career recordholder.
3. Since 2010, Wofford is 46-20 when attempting 10 or fewer passes and 31-20 when throwing the ball more than 10 times.
PREDICTION: Clemson 52, Wofford 7