Why Swinney has different level of respect for Clemson’s latest opponent

It’s not uncommon for teams to talk about having respect for their opposition. But Louisiana Tech gave Dabo Swinney a heartwarming reason for Clemson’s head coach to take his praise of the Bulldogs’ program to another level. Following the Tigers’ …

Following the Tigers’ 48-20 win over Tech late Saturday night, Swinney carried a box into his postgame press conference. In it, Swinney revealed, were handwritten letters from Tech coach Sonny Cumbie and each of the Bulldogs’ players to Bryan Bresee and his family.

Clemson’s star defensive tackle didn’t play in Saturday’s game. He was back with his family in Maryland following the passing of his sister, Ella, who lost her fight with brain cancer earlier in the week.

“I want to just say how encouraged I was by just the class of Coach Cumbie and La Tech,” Swinney said. “You hear so much bad, and you don’t often times get to hear the good. There’s a lot of good, but unfortunately the bad usually gets the headlines. But I’m going to tell you, just as a human being, I was super encouraged tonight.”

The letters were the second surprise that Cumbie gave the Tigers’ program on the night. During pregame warmups, Cumbie donned the same “Ella Strong” T-shirt that Clemson’s coaches and players had worn before last week’s game against Furman. They wore them again before Saturday’s game, and Swinney wore his during the game.

Swinney said he had never met Cumbie before Saturday night, but his respect for Tech’s first-year coach went up a few notches with the compassion shown by Cumbie and his players.

“I’ll be a fan of his for the rest of his career,” Swinney said. “As I told him after the game, this right here is why he’s going to be successful. Because that really tells me how he’s wired and how he thinks. I’ll be pulling for him forever.

“I really, really appreciated their kindness, their thoughtfulness and just sharing in the pain with the Bresee family, somebody they don’t know. To me, that’s a beautiful thing in college athletics, and I just really want to thank Sonny and his team for that gesture and taking the time to do that. I know this will mean a lot to Bryan and his family.”

Clemson vs. LA Tech: Offensive and Defensive Players of the Game

Here are ClemsonWire’s Players of the Game following the Tigers 48-20 win over Louisiana Tech.

Each week ClemsonWire will choose an offensive and defensive Player of the Game following each of the Tigers matchups this season.

In its 48-20 win over Louisiana Tech, Clemson’s passing game came alive. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei completed 17-for-29 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns while connecting with over ten different receivers.

The Tigers defense kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone for three of the four quarters and recorded seven tackles for a loss, three interceptions, one sack and one fumble recovery.

Here are ClemsonWire’s picks for this week’s offensive and defensive Players of the Game.

Five takeaways from Clemson’s win over Louisiana Tech

What we learned from Clemson’s win over Louisiana Tech.

Clemson improved to 3-0 Saturday as Swinney and the Tigers defeated Louisiana Tech 48-20 in Death Valley.

It was a solid outing for the No.5 ranked Tigers, who showed some good signs against the Bulldogs though it wasn’t a complete performance from Swinney’s team.

Teams will have their struggles this early in the season, so seeing the Tigers overcome theirs and remain undefeated is a clear positive. Game after game, we learn a little bit more about this Clemson team, the things they are doing well, and the things they struggle with the most.

Here are five takeaways I believe to be some of the most important from Clemson’s Week 3 win over Louisiana Tech.

Shipley shines as Clemson defeats Louisiana Tech 48-20

Shipley shows out as Clemson takes down Louisiana Tech.

Dabo Swinney and the Tigers remain undefeated as No.5 Clemson took down Louisiana Tech 48-20 Saturday night at Death Valley.

Starting running back Will Shipley had his best performance of the season, making his impact felt on the game. Shipley took 12 carries for 139 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 11.6 yards per carry while adding two catches for 14 yards.

DJ Uiagalelei was solid under center for the Tigers completing 17 of 29 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. He was also active on the ground, running the ball nine times for 62 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, the unit was somewhat underwhelming though they were missing multiple starters. The defensive line didn’t allow an inch on the ground allowing just 6 yards on 21 attempts. It was through the air where Louisiana Tech did their damage, throwing the ball for 311 yards.

Now 3-0, we will next see Swinney and the Tigers Saturday, Septemeber 24th, when they travel to Winston-Salem (N.C.) to take on Sam Hartman and Wake Forest.

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Mafah puts Clemson up 27-6

Mafah puts the Tigers up 27-6 in the 3rd quarter.

Clemson has picked things up in the second half as Phil Mafah took a four-yard carry into the end zone to put the Tigers up 27-6 in the third quarter.

It was a 14-play, 90-yard drive for the Tigers, being one of the best-looking drives of their season so far.

On the drive’s first play, running back Will Shipley showed his explosiveness, breaking off a 27-yard run. He also broke off a nice 9-yard run on 4th and 1 to keep the Tigers’ drive going.

Uiagalelei was solid on the drive, making plays with his feet while delivering some nice passes as well. Freshman wide receiver Adam Randall recorded his first catch as a Tiger on an 11-yard completion.

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A look at the updated game day betting lines for Clemson vs. Louisiana Tech

Here’s a look at the updated odds for Clemson’s matchup with Louisiana Tech.

Starting the 2022 college football season 2-0, Clemson is a few days away from a home matchup against Louisiana Tech Saturday at 8 p.m., where they’ll look to put together their first complete performance of the season.

Though Swinney and the Tigers remain undefeated, the team has a lot of room to improve in their pursuit of another national title. With the next stop in the process taking place in Death Valley against LA Tech, the Tigers enter their third game of the season as the betting favorite once again.

Wondering what the lines are looking like for the Tigers matchup with the Bulldogs? We’ve got you covered with a look at all of MGM Sportsbooks lines for Clemson’s Week 3 game.

Point spread: Clemson -33.5
Clemson moneyline: -10000
LA Tech moneyline: +3300
Over/Under: 53.5
1st half spread: Clemson -20.5
1st half Over/Under: 29.5
1st quarter spread: Clemson -7.5

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After week of upsets, Clemson wants to ‘make sure that’s not us’

Consider Clemson on high alert this week. Not because the Tigers have had any close calls – Clemson’s average margin of victory through two games is nearly four touchdowns – but they’re once again a heavy favorite against Louisiana Tech, which will …

Consider Clemson on high alert this week.

Not because the Tigers have had any close calls – Clemson’s average margin of victory through two games is nearly four touchdowns – but they’re once again a heavy favorite against Louisiana Tech, which will visit Memorial Stadium for an 8 p.m. kickoff. So were Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Wisconsin a week ago before they suffered losses that resonated well beyond College Station, South Bend and Madison.

Upsets aren’t anything new in college football. But those three teams, all ranked in the top 20 this time last week, losing to Appalachian State, Marshall and Washington State served as a stark reminder for Clemson that no one can be taken for granted.

“I think each and every week, no matter who you play, there’s always a chance of getting upset. It’s college football,” quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei said. “You see stuff like that happen all the time. I think it just makes sure that each and every play, we all know that this week, if we don’t come out and prepare the right way, we could come out and take an L. It definitely brings awareness to us.”

While those upsets were happening, Clemson (2-0) was polishing off a workmanlike 35-12 victory over Furman to move to 2-0 on the young season. The Tigers opened as a 36-point favorite over Louisiana Tech (1-1), which began its season with a lopsided loss at Missouri before handling Stephen F. Austin a week ago.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney viewed last week’s chaos around the college football landscape as a well-timed jolt for teams like his who hear from those outside the program how easy a time they’re supposed to have with what’s perceived to be inferior competition.

“You’re dealing with young people. These are 17- to 22-year-olds, right?” Swinney said. “They get told about how great they are. That’s what I hate about the recruiting process, all the rankings and all that mess. You’ve got to play the game. This game has never been played on paper. We wouldn’t be who we are right now if it was all about that. You’ve got to play, you’ve got to show up and you’ve got to compete.”

A common thread in those three upsets last week? A lot of help given to the victors.

Wisconsin forced three turnovers but committed three of their own. The Badgers also missed a pair of field goals and were flagged for 11 penalties in a three-point loss. Texas A&M finished minus-2 in the turnover margin in a three-point loss. Notre Dame? Minus-3 in that department in a five-point setback.

None of that was lost on Swinney or his team, which has yet to lose a turnover battle but coughed it up twice a week ago against Furman.

“Marshall was plus-3 (in turnovers),” Swinney said. “That’s a recipe for getting beat. App State was plus-3 in the margin. Next thing you know, it’s a tight game and you lose. Talent only gets you so far.”

While Louisiana Tech wasn’t all that competitive in its lone game against a Power Five opponent to this point, the Bulldogs have proven capable in some areas, particularly on offense. Operating components of the Air Raid under first-year coach Sonny Cumbie, the Bulldogs scored 24 points at Missouri despite turning it over three times and ran for 300 yards a week ago in their rout of Stephen F. Austin.

Louisiana Tech has plenty of experience, too. The Bulldogs have 17 starters back from last season and added 24 transfers to the mix during the offseason. Starting quarterback Parker McNeil, a transfer from Texas Tech, is one of them. His backup, former Georgia and TCU signal caller Matthew Downing, is another.

“This will be a big challenge for us this week,” Swinney said. “This is a team that’s got some dudes.”

Of course, some recent Clemson teams know what bitter losses taste like. There was that double-overtime loss to an unranked N.C. State team last season. And the last time the Tigers lost at home, they were a heavy favorite over a four-loss Pitt team in 2016.

What happened around the country a week ago only further grabbed the Tigers’ attention heading into tonight’s game.

“I think, especially experiencing that last year, we know that anybody can get beat on any given day,” senior offensive lineman Jordan McFadden said. “We’re just trying to make sure we do what we can do to make sure that’s not us.”

Our score predictions for Clemson vs. Louisiana Tech

The staff made their score predictions for Clemson’s matchup against Louisiana Tech.

We are just a day away from Dabo Swinney and the Tigers’ Week 3 home matchup with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.

The team walked away from Week 2 with a 35-12 win against Furman in their first home game of the season. It was by no means a perfect performance from the Tigers, as the team showed they still have some work to do in pursuing a college football playoff appearance.

Clemson heads into their Week 3 matchup with LA Tech as the heavy favorites once again; Swinney and the group will look to put together their first complete performance of the season.

Here at Clemson Wire, the staff broke down their predictions for the Tigers’ matchup with the Bulldogs. Here’s a look at what we’re thinking.

3 keys to a Clemson win against Louisiana Tech

Clemson on Saturday will look to stay unbeaten heading into ACC play when the Tigers host Louisiana Tech at Memorial Stadium. What will it take for the Tigers to do that? Here are three keys: Keep everything in front Louisiana Tech figures to try to …

Clemson on Saturday will look to stay unbeaten heading into ACC play when the Tigers host Louisiana Tech at Memorial Stadium. What will it take for the Tigers to do that?

Here are three keys:

Keep everything in front

Louisiana Tech figures to try to test Clemson with plenty of short passes in its Air-Raid system. And after Furman had plenty of success dinking and dunking against the Tigers, Clemson figures to play things a little tighter in coverage. But the Bulldogs are also likely to pick their spots to try to hit Clemson with some explosive plays in the vertical passing game, something the Tigers need to avoid more than anything.

Not getting beat with a quick strike over the top means Tech’s offense will have to try to put together lengthy drives in order to get points, which means more plays. And the more plays any offense has to try to execute on a possession increase the chances of making a mistake somewhere along the way. Clemson has already forced multiple turnovers in each of its first two games, and forcing Tech to drive the length of the field against the pressure the Tigers are capable of creating with their front seven is as good a way as any to try to get some more come Saturday.

Get off the field

It’s a good thing Clemson’s offense was efficient early on last week or the Tigers could’ve found themselves in a much more competitive game against Furman. That’s because the offense didn’t have as many possessions as usual with the defense’s inability to get off the field. Furman held the ball for nearly 35 minutes of game time by converting 10 of 18 third downs, making Clemson defend 74 snaps. It’s a lot to ask of Clemson’s offense to score touchdowns on five of its first six possessions like it did a week ago, but the defense could help the offense’s cause by getting the ball back to it more often and giving the Tigers more opportunities for points.

Tech is converting on third down more than 41% of the time, which ranks fourth in Conference USA. On the flip side, the Bulldogs’ defense is allowing teams to convert nearly 40% of the time on the money down (10 of 27), a clip that’s worse than Clemson (12 of 34). That’s another reason to get the ball back to the offense as much as possible if you’re the defense.

Finish even (or better) in the turnover department

If you’ve read it here once, you’ve read it here 1,000 times: Turnovers are the great equalizer for teams that are at a talent disadvantage compared to their competition, which is the case this week for Tech. Ideally, Clemson would like to win the turnover margin, and if that happens Saturday, the Tigers could run away with it. But Clemson hasn’t always played clean football through the first two games and is coming off its first multiple-turnover game of the season. If that continues, the Tigers need to at least match Tech in the turnover department to keep the Bulldogs at arm’s length. It’s been a recipe for success over the years for Clemson, which is 115-14 all-time under Dabo Swinney winning at least tying the turnover margin.

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Clemson vs. Louisiana Tech: Who has the edge?

Clemson will return to Memorial Stadium on Saturday against Louisiana Tech. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. The game will be televised by the ACC Network. Clemson’s defense vs. Tech’s offense: Clemson was far from the dominant defensive unit many expected …

Clemson will return to Memorial Stadium on Saturday against Louisiana Tech. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. The game will be televised by the ACC Network.

Clemson’s defense vs. Tech’s offense: Clemson was far from the dominant defensive unit many expected against an FCS opponent last week. Now the Tigers are set to face maybe the most capable offense it’s seen to this point.

Tech, under the direction of first-year head coach Sonny Cumbie, has a top-45 passing attack nationally, which isn’t a shock considering some of the Air-Raid principles Cumbie has incorporated into the offense. That includes screen passes, something Clemson didn’t have much success defending last week in allowing nearly 400 yards to Furman.

Yet for all the success the Paladins had moving the ball through the air, Clemson still allowed just 12 points. The Tigers, who have yielded just 22 points in two games, have also been stingy in the red zone, allowing just one touchdown in four trips opposing offenses have made inside their 20-yard line.

And, as expected, trying to run the ball against the Tigers’ stout front seven has been a chore for opposing offenses (3.09 yards per carry). Tech rolled up 300 rushing yards last week against Stephen F. Austin, but against the lone Power Five opponent it’s played so far, Tech mustered just 8 yards on the ground against Missouri, which made the Bulldogs one-dimensional in a 28-point win.

If Missouri can do that, so can Clemson. Even if the defensive line is without some of its frontline players against Tech, the Tigers simply have more talent. Clemson does need to tighten things up in coverage, though. Advantage: Clemson

Clemson’s offense vs. Tech’s defense: D.J. Uiagalelei looks like a different quarterback so far this season, which is a good thing for the offense.

The Tigers still aren’t throwing for a ton of yards, but Clemson has flashed some big-play ability and, most importantly, efficiency through the air. Uiagalelei, fresh off the highest completion percentage of his career, ranks in the top 5 among ACC quarterbacks with a 67% completion rate – 12 percentage points higher than last season. He’s thrown for three touchdowns and one interception.

Clemson’s running game is still a work in progress (133 rushing yards per game), but Tech’s defense may be just what the doctor ordered to help get it on track. The Bulldogs, who rank 108th nationally in total defense, are allowing 233.5 yards per game on the ground. Only seven teams in the county are yielding more. Missouri averaged nearly 7 yards a pop against Tech.

Tyler Grubbs (16 tackles) is an all-conference caliber player for the Bulldogs at linebacker, but he’ll need a lot more help against a Clemson offense full of the kind of athletes Tech doesn’t see on a regular basis. On paper, it looks like a prime opportunity for Clemson to put it all together offensively if the Tigers can stay away from turnovers (three so far this season). Advantage: Clemson

Special teams: B.T. Potter (Clemson) and Jacob Barnes (Tech) have each made two field goals this season. Aidan Swanson (Clemson) and Austin McCready (Tech) are both averaging 40 yards per punt, though Swanson has two that have traveled at least 50 yards.

Clemson has shown the ability to change the momentum on special teams with a pair of blocked punts already, though the return game hasn’t shown much early on. Will Taylor is averaging just 5.3 yards per punt return and muffed a punt last week for one of Clemson’s two turnovers. Tech punt returner Smoke Harris is a speedster who already has a 43-yard return this season, and Solomon Lewis (31 yards per return) is also dangerous as a kick returner. Advantage: Draw

Bottom line: Louisiana Tech may be able to put up some more points simply with their mode of operation offensively. But unless Clemson gives the Bulldogs a lot of help along the way, this shouldn’t still be a game come the fourth quarter.

Prediction: Clemson 41, Tech 19

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