Clemson and Florida State both have to get through their Week 3 matchups before they face off in Death Valley in Week 4, but the anticipation for this game is already building.
With two programs in different places right now, this game could be the biggest ACC matchup of the season, and a lot is riding on it. Can Clemson recover and shock everyone, or is Florida State a real National Championship contender?
Former NFL center and now ESPN analyst Trevor Matich appeared on the ACC PM show on the ACC Network Thursday and discussed the Clemson vs. Florida State matchup.
“When you compare Clemson to Florida State lets make a comparison,” the analyst said. “Lets say the defenses have the potential to be very similar. Which I think they do.”
Clemson and FSU both have strong defenses, but that isn’t the key to this game for Matich. It is the difference between each team’s offense that matters.
“When you look at offensive line Clemson, Florida State who do you pick? Florida State. Quarterback right now given the experience level and the performance, Florida State. Receivers who would you pick, not close Florida State. Not close when you look at the way they can match-up with the other side of the ball. Running back Will Shipley over at Clemson leads a very good running back stable. I think you can call that one a wash. But at the same time I just don’t see Clemson right now in Florida State’s league when you compare offensive position groups across the two programs,” said Matich.
On the surface, Clemson may not look up to par with the Seminoles, but people are shocked by the results of things daily. At home, with a Clemson team that is looking to make a statement, the Tigers can prove the masses wrong and completely shake up the ACC.