Virginia Tech @ Clemson preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 3, 2011 ) Virginia Tech 10, Clemson 38

Virginia Tech travels to No. 13 Clemson on Saturday for a rematch of last year's ACC championship, with the loser looking at a tough road toward a return to the title game. The Tigers capped a sweep against the Hokies last year when they rolled up 28 unanswered second-half points in their 38-10 championship victory. It gave Clemson its first ACC crown since 1981 and second impressive win over Virginia Tech of the year – the Tigers took the regular-season meeting on the road 23-3. Tajh Boyd, who threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns in the title game, has Clemson's offense clicking to the tune of 41.3 points per contest. The Hokies gave up 48 points in a loss to North Carolina and followed by digging themselves a 20-0 hole before rallying to defeat upstart Duke 41-20 last week.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN2. LINE: Clemson -8.5

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (4-3, 2-1 ACC): The Hokies had dropped three out of four before their comeback against the Blue Devils, the largest overcome during coach Frank Beamer's tenure. After giving up 150 first-quarter yards, Virginia Tech allowed 84 over the next two while shutting out Duke the rest of the way. Three Hokies earned conference accolades after the victory – Marcus Davis (five catches, 144 yards, two touchdowns), receiver of the week; James Gayle (team-high nine tackles), defensive lineman of the week; and J.C. Coleman (183 rushing yards), rookie of the week. Coleman's big day included an 86-yard scoring run while Davis hauled in touchdown passes of 42 and 47 yards from Logan Thomas, who threw for 256 yards on only 14 completions. Thomas was picked off twice and completed only 22 of 44 attempts in the ACC title game, and threw for 125 yards in the first meeting last year. The Hokies have enjoyed going on the road in ACC play, producing a 27-6 mark since joining the league in 2004.

ABOUT CLEMSON (5-1, 2-1): The Tigers continue to win with offense, the 11th-highest scoring group in the nation. They're coming off an open date, having rebounded from their loss to Florida State with back-to-back victories over Boston College and Georgia Tech – though they allowed 31 points in each. Boyd threw for a career-high 397 yards and set the school record for career touchdown passes, and Clemson scored the game's final 17 points in the 47-31 victory over the Yellow Jackets. DeAndre Hopkins ranks third nationally in receiving yards per game (129.5) and seventh in catches (8.17) and has 370 yards on 18 receptions the last two games. All-American wide receiver Sammy Watkins had six catches versus Georgia Tech after missing the Boston College game with a virus. A victory would match the school-record home winning streak of 11 straight.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Tigers lead the series 19-12-1 and snapped a five-game Hokies' winning streak with their triumphs last season.

2. Thanks to the week off, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said all the players on his injury report were expected to play against Virginia Tech – WR Martavis Bryant (groin), RB D.J. Howard (shoulder), TE Brandon Ford (ankle) and LB Lateek Townsend (thigh).

3. On Military Appreciation Day, Tigers freshman WR Daniel Rodriguez – an Army veteran who earned a Purple Heart while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan – will lead the team carrying an American flag during the players' entrance.

PREDICTION: Clemson 34, Virginia Tech 24