Fla St. / Clemson Info

[Raji]

Two ACC schools off disappointing seasons will face off trying to start fast in 2007. “Bowden Bowl” publicity is much like Lindsey Lohan, a tired act, and venerable Bobby Bowden turned his coaching staff upside down to shake up lethargy. Most importantly enter offensive coordiantor Jimbo Fisher who will have talent, just not like he had to LSU. Clemson will also feature a new look and return to its roots this season with inexperienced quarterback coupled with four new offensive linemen and two quality running backs that can carry the load. This is a game frankly neither Bowden coach likes and it will set the tone for both teams being a featured prime time telecast.

Drew Weatherford will be Florida State's starting quarterback in its season opener at Clemson. Fisher talked about why he choose Weatherford over Xavier Lee in a tight battle. "The main thing we were looking for is consistency," Fisher said. "Making more of the every down plays. I thought he made the routine plays more consistently than Xavier did, for the most part, during camp and I think that set him apart." Fisher still expects Lee to be a part of his offensive game plan, but declined to say he would have a specific package to get him in the game against Clemson.

The Seminoles defense will still be fast and hard hitting and try to carry ‘Noles against arguably toughest schedule in the country. No less then four starters on this side of the ball should end up being on NFL rosters very soon and DC Mickey Andrews will have them ready to smack somebody with urgency. Facing a young untested QB under center has to have Andrews and this defense salivating.

Clemson has 50 lettermen returning, yet is still thin on game time experience. Only 11 starters are back with just four on offense. Luckily, one is RB James Davis who will key attack. The Tigers once again underachieved in 2006, this time in reverse. Normally sluggish starts are followed by talk of Tommy Bowden being fired. The team rallies around the coach and saves his job. Last year expectations were high and the Tigers roared to 7-1 start only to fall victim to another slump. This year even without much experience up front, backs Davis and C.J. Spiller will try to dance around and find seams to explode through like last season.

On defense, talented linebackers are on a mission and have two ways skills. Linebackers Nick Watson and returning Anthony Waters will be heat seeking missiles ready to create hits and force miscues. What the Clemson defense has to do better is take away opponents short passing game. The Tigers were brutalized at the end of last season as team patiently moved the ball through the air against them. This has not been Florida State’s forte, thus it will be intriguing to see what Seminoles Fisher cooks up.

Florida State is a 3.5-point road favorite at sportsbooks, in this the ninth version of father versus son in the Bowden family feud. Father Bobby took the first four encounters, with son Tommy having won three of last four, including two consecutively. The home team is 9-2-1 against the number, and if Clemson can win season opener, the schedule could allow Tigers to gel before heading into more difficult portion starting late September.

Some feel even with rugged schedule the Seminoles could be a break out team this year. This decade the senior Bowdon’s team is unimpressive 16-15 ATS as an away favorite. Florida State is 1-6 ATS when visiting Memorial Stadium in the Palmetto state.

It’s a great way to cap off the opening weekend of college football and ESPN will broadcast this ACC opener starting at 8 Eastern.


Raji