Coming off a 10-3 season last year, Clemson will host seven games at Memorial Stadium in 2022, and one analyst believes the Tigers could be on home-upset watch in a particular matchup.
Most notably, Clemson will host NC State, Miami and South Carolina. The Tigers have won 34 consecutive games at Memorial Stadium, but in his latest bold predictions post, 247Sports’ Brad Crawford believes that the streak could end when the two teams play on October 1.
Here’s what Crawford said could happen to Clemson in 2022.
NC State Ends Clemson’s Streak, But Fails In ACC Quest
College Football Playoff hopeful NC State will fail in its quest to win the ACC Championship Game this season, but Wolfpack fans will be thinking final four — and rightfully so — after snapping Clemson’s 34-game home winning streak Oct. 1. The Tigers haven’t lost at Memorial Stadium since 2016, the longest active home winning steak in college football. NC State broke the hex against Clemson last season with an overtime win in Raleigh and are arguably the Tigers’ toughest opponent this fall given what the Wolfpack are bringing back after a nine-win campaign. After five weeks and this win, NC State will be ranked inside the top 10 nationally.
The week before hosting NC State, Clemson will have to travel to last year’s Atlantic Division winner, Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons were 11-3 last season, so having to play NC State coming off that game is no easy feat.
Although Clemson struggled against the Wolfpack last year, history is on the Tigers’ side. Before Clemson’s loss in 2021, the Tigers had won eight straight matchups against NC State. Playing at home bodes even better for Clemson, as the last time NC State defeated the Tigers in Memorial Stadium was in 2002.
In last season’s matchup with NC State, Clemson ultimately fell to 27-21, a game in which the Tigers’ offense struggled to move the ball. Clemson had 214 total yards and 10 first downs and was 2-for-11 on third down. The offense returns 10 starters from last season and is expected to be healthier, so coupled with a home crowd, it should produce more than 21 points in October.
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