Miami @ Clemson preview
Clemson Memorial Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 24, 2009 ) Clemson 40, Miami 37
Clemson will be looking to rebound from a deflating overtime defeat while Miami will be seeking revenge for an overtime home loss to Clemson last year when the No. 17-ranked Hurricanes invade Death Valley on Saturday in the ACC opener for both teams.
There’s another interesting story line in this ACC clash. Two years ago, Miami (2-1) had what was widely considered the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation after signing 12 of the top 150 recruits as rated by ESPN. Clemson (2-1) was a close second with 10 top-rated recruits.
Several of those players will be on the field Saturday, including Clemson starting quarterback Kyle Parker, who passed for a career-high 326 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 40-37 overtime win at Miami last season.
Parker sustained bruised ribs in Clemson’s 27-24 OT loss at Auburn two weeks ago, but was able to heal during the Tigers’ open week and practiced at full speed Monday. However, Clemson will be without junior starting left guard David Smith, who sustained a high ankle sprain in the Auburn game.
Parker could get banged around some by Miami’s defense, which ranks second in the nation with 4.67 sacks a game. The Hurricanes likely will try to put extensive pressure on Parker, although junior defensive tackle Marcus Robinson, who sat out the Pitt game with an ankle injury, is questionable.
Miami is eighth in the nation in total defense, allowing 252.0 yards per game. The Hurricanes have registered 14 sacks and are averaging 11.3 tackles for loss, which ranks No. 1 in the nation.
However, if the Hurricanes concentrate too much on getting to Parker, they could be vulnerable to Clemson’s ground attack of tailbacks Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper, who have been equally effective running the ball and catching screen passes in the Tigers’ first three games.
Miami’s defense, spearheaded by linebacker Sean Spence, shut down Pittsburgh’s running game in a dominating 31-3 victory, limiting Pitt star Dion Lewis to 42 yards on 12 carries.
The Hurricanes’ rushing attack has struggled, averaging 125.0 yards per game. However, Miami is 17-4 when rushing for 125 yards or more under fourth-year head coach Randy Shannon, and Clemson is allowing 184.7 yards rushing a game, which ranks 96th in the country.
Clemson’s secondary will be tested by a talented Miami receiving corps that includes Leonard Hankerson, Travis Benjamin and LaRon Byrd, each of whom has big-play potential. Hurricanes quarterback Jacory Harris completed 21 of 32 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns against Pitt, but he also threw two interceptions, giving him six in his last two games.
This will be Miami’s first trip to Memorial Stadium since 2005. It’s also the Hurricanes’ third consecutive road game, but they showed resiliency by bouncing back from a 36-24 loss at Ohio State three weeks ago by clubbing Pitt on Sept. 23.
It’s Homecoming weekend for the Tigers, who have lost only two Homecoming games since 1971.
All three of the previous meetings between the ’Canes and Tigers have gone to overtime since Miami joined the ACC in 2004, and the road team has won all three, with Clemson holding a 2-1 edge.