‘GameDay’ forecasts for BC-Clemson begin with the weather
“If the weather is sloppy or cold, Clemson is not used to that."
CHESTNUT HILL — One factor that could give No. 17 Boston College an edge against No. 2 Clemson Saturday night is completely out of the teams’ control.
“The weather mixing it up makes Clemson a little bit more beatable,’’ ESPN college football analyst and 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard said ahead of the upcoming ACC matchup. “You would think it should adversely affect Clemson’s offense somewhat.’’
With the forecast for temperatures dipping below 40 degrees and winds blustering around 20 miles per hour for the 8 p.m. kickoff at Alumni Stadium, Howard and other members of the “College GameDay’’ crew are eager to see how Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence fares in the nippy conditions.
Lawrence, who broke the Georgia state high school record for passing yards and passing touchdowns at Cartersville High, has picked up all 61 of his career wins — including nine with Clemson — below the Mason-Dixon line.
“He’s never played in this type of weather,’’ Howard said. “I think the offensive coordinators are going to have to figure out, if the wind’s in their face, if the wind’s at their back, are they going to take a shot down the field? All of those things play into the game plan.’’
Howard said he expects special teams to play an important role, as the chilly temperatures and wind gusts will affect how the teams punt, kick, and field the ball. He called field position an “undervalued, underappreciated element that can impact a game of this magnitude.’’
Fellow ESPN analyst David Pollack noted that the conditions could alleviate some of the pressure on BC’s passing game, which is averaging just 214.6 yards per game.
“Their passing attack ain’t setting the world on fire regardless, so any time you have bad conditions like that, you can even the playing field a little bit,’’ Pollack said. “If the weather is sloppy or cold, Clemson is not used to that. It could slow things down, hopefully get some three-and-outs.’’
“College GameDay’’ host Rece Davis, however, was quick to note that Saturday will be a far cry from the quintessential New England night, downplaying the impact the weather will have on the outcome. But Davis, Howard, and Pollack all agree that if the weather doesn’t rattle Lawrence, BC needs to find another way to be disruptive against an offense that racked up 77 points against Louisville last week and is averaging 47.8 points per game.
“Clemson’s offense is dynamic,’’ Davis said. “If this is a clean game on both sides, without those big momentum-swinging plays going in Boston College’s favor, then Clemson is going to win the game handily.’’
BC’s defense has allowed an average of 221.7 passing yards and 151.8 rushing yards per game, but where the group shines is in causing negative yardage via sacks and forcing turnovers via interceptions. Anchored by a pair of conference leaders, defensive end Wyatt Ray and defensive back Hamp Cheevers, the Eagles have recorded 28 sacks for a loss of 175 yards and an ACC-high 14 picks for 241 returned yards.
“I don’t think they can keep up with Clemson scoring without that,’’ Davis said.
On the other side of the ball, the analysts point to a battle in the trenches with BC’s backfield looking to dominate the line of scrimmage against Clemson’s formidable front seven. The “College GameDay’’ crew cited running back AJ Dillon as a player who can be a difference-maker. At 6 feet and 245 pounds, Dillon, who has battled an ankle injury this season, has rushed for 897 yards and eight touchdowns.
“He’s going to be the guy that will give [BC] the ability to sustain drives,’’ Howard said. “I think it’s important for the Eagles to sustain 10-, 12-play drives, and at the end of those drives, score touchdowns and not kick field goals.
“Keep Lawrence and that high-powered offense on the sideline, trying to stay warm. I think the time of possession is going to be very important.’’
Davis echoed that sentiment.
“If they can be disruptive on defense and they can control the ball a little bit with the running game, kind of make Clemson anxious when they get the ball and give them the feeling of ‘we’ve got to do something because we don’t know when we’re going to get the ball back,’ then that will determine if Boston College is in it in the fourth quarter,’’ he said.
