Auburn @ Clemson preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2010 ) Clemson 24, Auburn 27

THE STORY: It hasn’t been easy for Auburn, but nonetheless the19th-ranked Tigers are undefeated and carry a FBS-best 17-game winning streak into Saturday’s matchup at Clemson. Expectations were low for Auburn entering the season, as the defending national champions lost most of the firepower from last season’s squad. But the Tigers showed resiliency in rallying late to stave off Utah State in the season opener, then made a final-second goal-line stand last week to hold off Mississippi State in the SEC opener.

Clemson also is unbeaten on the season, but like Auburn, these Tigers have found things anything but easy in their first two games. Clemson trailed Troy at halftime and Wofford in the second half before steadying itself. Quarterback Tajh Boyd and running back Andre Ellington have fueled a Clemson offense averaging 472 yards per game, ranking 23rd in FBS.

Auburn owns a 14-game winning streak against Clemson, the past two victories coming in overtime. Clemson last defeated Auburn in 1951.

TV: ABC. LINE: Clemson -4.

ABOUT AUBURN (2-0): The star power might not be there, but Auburn has displayed plenty of punch on offense, scoring 83 points in two games. Running back Michael Dyer rushed for 150 yards against Mississippi State. Quarterback Barrett Trotter showed poise engineering late-game scoring drives in the first two games, and passed for 261 yards and three touchdowns last week. The defense is a major concern: Auburn has allowed 36 points and 489.5 yards per game.

ABOUT CLEMSON (2-0): Offensively, it’s been the Boyd and Ellington show. Boyd has completed 38-of-59 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns, three in each of the first two games. Ellington is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and has rushed for 254 yards, including 165 yards on 22 carries against Wofford. The Tigers rank in the top 30 in FBS in passing yards (29th) and rushing yards (30th).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Clemson freshman Sammy Watkins won ACC rookie-of-the-week honors, finishing with 196 all-purpose yards against Wofford (110 yards on kickoff returns, 56 yards receiving, 30 yards rushing).

2. Clemson is 2-0 all time when playing host to a defending national champion, beating Georgia in 1981 and Georgia Tech in 1991.

3. Auburn head coach Gene Chizik holds a Master’s degree from Clemson, and served as a graduate assistant at Clemson in 1988-89.

PREDICTION: Clemson 31, Auburn 27 – In another close one, Auburn runs out of comebacks as Boyd and Ellington engineer just enough offense for a Clemson victory.