COUNTDOWN

@alopez14325

Yeah Kubklik is a stud and sounds like he's bigger already, expect to see him in any kinda mop up duty and might not be too long before they drop him in here and there for meaningful drives .. think we know for sure the D front will be super elite and just have to see what level of good the back 8 will be, I don't think the back end projects as strong talent wise as other years and obvi w Venables gone its another consideration .. they were pretty outstanding all around LY vs both the run and pass .. I'd say if the pass D isin't as strong or coordinated it wouldn't surprise me if opponents landed an extra score / game this year, and that could lead to at least one unexpected loss ..  

SP+ has the D #2 and offense #39 .. unclear how closely bookies spreads will keep up with SP+ but at least GT game SP+ likes Clem by 25.5 neutral site which I think the peach bowl kickoff is neutral, maybe likely much more of a clemson crowd even being right by GT lol .. so books at least do have them underrated by a few points vs pre-ssn SP+ numbers .. yeah we see this offense get back in the driver seat and we'll have at least a short window to play these guys .. that well could dry up pretty quick if they blow GT to smithereens ..

I'd look to play on Clem if we see them noticeably struggling on offense again and they decide to go full swap Klubber for DJ... unless they're out of the conf race I think only way they'd do that is if Klub was genuinely the better option and entirely possible decision time comes early on could very well struggle offensively on the road vs Wake or at home vs NC state the next week ... hopefully we'll have seen enough of Klubber then to say its a good move and take a chance on a couple bounce back games .. would be great if same thing that happened as when they brought in Trevor and they covered like 7-1 down the stretch or something epic .. otherwise I'm not super keen on betting on an elite rated team hoping their QB's weight loss turns around his decision making and accuracy .. think we're more likely to see the same ole DJ this year maybe just not as fat lol .. good luck!

@GamblinDAWG

 Well this is obviously extremely premature, and im typically right more than I am wrong.  I knew I was going to be laughed at when I called Burrow an elite QB and future top 10 pick, even though he was 3rd string on OSU.  I said Lamar would win heisman when he was +5000 (he didnt win that year) and I also was mocked when I said that Trubisky would be first QB drafted in 2017.  

However, I do realize that I prob shouldve listed two good TE's, rather than immediately comparing him to Bowers and Mayer.  At the same time, he's 6'6 235 lbs this year and still has high end athleticisim.  This is pretty much identical to Bowers, but Ive heard draft ppl say Mayer could fall bc hes not the same level athlete... Even though he was the #1 TE in last years recruiting class, he was in a horrendous situation.  DJ had no idea where to go with the ball, and was so bad that nobody looked great.  Clemson also didnt feature TE like both ND and UGA... But when he was actually targeted last year he caught the ball, and gained YAC.  His progression was a beautiful thing to watch during this years spring game.  He had Klubnik at QB and made a lot of really impressive plays.  He had 7 rec for 60 yards including beautiful adjustments on back to back 20 yd gains... He's gonna need to get targeted, but he blocks, great hands, and can make game changing plays (same as the other two)

@alopez14325 Clemson didnt target a TE since Leggett, but Branstool also drew two pass interference calls.  Considering who was sitting for the offense, I was extremely impressed that the two young guys were able to connect like that.  I wonder what UGA looks like with Washington Gilbert and Bowers

@alopez14325

I certainly hope DJ comes along, it was almost tough watching such a highly touted recruit struggle like that. If the Clemson offense figures it out, they will be a factor at the end of the year. 

I've already locked in Clemson -20 over GT. I think Clemson bounces back and wants to get their image back on track; I also think GT is going to be dreadful. There is nothing the Yellow Jackets have done that lead me to believe they improved from 2021 to 2022. Lost their best player in Jahmyr Gibbs, will be a 50/50 crowd and may even favor Clemson a little despite being in Atlanta, and nothing to look ahead to for Clemson. Clemson may only score 28 or so but that may be enough; I'm not sure GT will cross the 50 against that defense.

@Bridge1

 I cant recall a weirder start to a career than DJ's, and he was really bad last year regardless of other factors, but at the same time he did have 30lbs of too much weight, an issue w his knee, a broken finger on throwing hand, a terrible oline, attrocious playcalling, and his best weapons were all out due to injury (Ngata, Ross, Williams, Shipley, both Collins, and every slot WR on roster.)... Granted that doesnt excuse his passes 10 feet too high,or looking so lost.  BUT I just watched his freshman games and he was elite on the road vs good teams.  He was the #1 HS QB at the #1 HS... During the elite 11, the coaches were all telling DJ hes by far the most talented QB there, despite being in front of the other competitors.  They must have said it over 10x's... Ive never seen sucha good hardworking kid go from future #1 pick to really\ bad over one offseason.  Part might be on Tony Elliot, but every other ACC QB is throwing 300 yds a game vs weak defenses, where as DJ would struggle to hit 150yds and had more int;s than TD's,

I hope they give him a game or two to see if he can return to what he was, but if not Klubnik is a freshman who can win the natty.  Obviously theres his high school career, but then he wins elite 11 mvp, MVP of all american game, and against a loaded defense and freshman at oline, he was able to complete beuatiful balls during spring game. This kid has had so much work as the starting QB for texas state champs multiple seasons, and it;s no longer surprising to watch a true freshman QB wun a national championship (Tebow, Lawerence, Tua, Hurts, Bryce Young, Macnamara, and even the ones who didnt win had great years, like Fromm, Stroud, etc..

I couldnt agree more, esp bc he was so good as a freshman, and high school QB, and he does everything the right way.  Puts the team first, always takes blame, very humble, studies film.  It was hard to explain his performance, even with all the surrounding issues... I think he really showed how good Lawerence was, bc he had alot of similar issues

@alopez14325

It's easy to get spoiled and forget how rare top tier QB play actually is; applicable in the NFL as well. Going from Watson to Bryant (who wasn't that bad) to Lawrence was a good run for Clemson; everyone assumed DJ would just be the next greatest thing.

@GamblinDAWG

 Well I typically dont care how high of a recruit the player is, I start judging them once they arrive on campus.  So when DJ impressed in spring game, I thought okay maybe he does have ability to live up to hype.  Then he played BC and @ ND and not only did he throw for 400 ypg, he had multiple TD passes, long TD runs, and Clemson shouldve won both games.  He was shaking off sacks, throwing lasers on deep outs (about 5 NFL QB's make those throws)... So he showed all the tools, and as a true freshman he was already playing at a heisman level.... 

Fast forward a year and hes the worst QB in the ACC... It's hard to understand how that happens. I would say the only way it would be possible is if there were a bunch of diff things that went wrong and kindve created the perfect storm. It's gotta take a special person w/ serious mental fortitude, to bounce back from a season like that. How can he walk on a field and feel confident that hes going to play well.

@alopez14325

Yeah agree we can't put DJ's Downfall entirely on him, think you listed alot of the offensive problems for Clem ... recruiting, Co-OC left after '20, guys injured/dinged up LY, and clearly not the elite OL, WRs .. obvi all time great QB .. also it was quite a diff playing covid year defenses vs last year, looking back we really shouldn't have based DJ's benchmarks on those games but its not a surprise everyone did .. can't use the covid games from 2ya and think he's gunna rebound to that level, def not in any real consistent way..

Also maybe DJ did gain like 400lbs after landing his NIL deals .. im sure there's more to the backstory of why he let that happen and I'm just gunna guess that throwin his lazy ass back on a hamster wheel only fixes one symptom of one of his problems .... maybe his real problem is the ACC looks more competitive this year w a ton of QB's back and some good ones xferred in, another year of BIG ret pro numbers.. all the best teams after clem bringin back 70+% of their D back .. lotta super veteran teams w multi year returning starters .. quite a few good lookin ACC team profiles, alot more than we're used to .. 

@bookieassassin

 hello!!! I am here reading every day ....this is really AWESOME, and so nice that you remember and mention me.... doing great mlb and had a great "game totals year" in N.H.L.   TREMENDO!! now I am really into your conversations! thank you! let's get "our share" again... so nice to have your thread to enjoy....excitement!

@wolfeman3

 HELLO!!! WOLFEMAN!! right here along reading your stuff, excitedly!!! SO GOOD!

@wolfeman3

 right here excited , superiorly, thanks to your guys writings! REALLY READY after  a great mlb season and tremendo n h l "totals" season!!! "FAT & READY FOR YOUR GREAT STUFF! THANK YOU, SIRS!!!

21 days - 13 hours - 40 minutes boys .............

WINNERS !! ..........

forgot - damn fine work boys, thanks ......  

@alopez14325

 DJ’s parents’ divorce may have had a lot to do with his struggles.  

@bookieassassin

 RE:POST #31....tremeno , as usual,,,, you are "extremely special"!!!!! thank you for the EXCITEMENT!!! bookieassassin

@wolfeman3

 RE: POST #41..... right here you WOLFEMAN 3!!!! read your stuff everywhere... you are great, SIR!!  THE BOOKIE ASSASSIN is going to "light them up" t5his season, for certain!! do not "sell yourself" short ,though, my respect!!!

@alopez14325

 Yes, I remember you were right about Burrow.  

And I agree with many of you including BA that Clemson is the right side in the opener.  

14 days - 21 hours - 48 minutes boys ............

mws makes an appearance! - the smartest guy on the wagering forums btw ..... 

    >>  uses multiple forums for info to help his own handicapping - doesn't waste time posting or increase stress levels by posting picks ..... BOL this year man ......

Probably won't post any picks until week of .... missed early lines - don't see the point of posting at this point, and don't see any I can't live without really

But here's a few leans, that might change

Boise
Mich St

NW 
WVirg
Terps
Georgia St
Clemson

NMSU
UTEP
Illinois
TCU
Cuse
N Caro
MTST
FAU
Texas St
Ducks 1H
Fla St

Akron

UNLV

Toledo

SJSU

Air Force

SEMO?

N Dakota

S Ala

Vandy (Elon)

Ark St

@bookieassassin

 YOU ARE THE BEST!!!! BOOKIEASSASSIN!!!!  #1

It is getting damn close boys! Really lookin forward to it!