The No. 7 Miami Hurricanes (3-0, 2-0 ACC) will take on the No. 1 Clemson Tigers (3-0, 2-0 ACC) in a top 10 showdown Saturday night on ABC. This will be the first time since the 2016 season that the Tigers have hosted a top 10 opponent in Death Valley.
The kickoff of the Atlantic Coast Conference contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Clemson is a 14-point favorite.
What to Know – Miami Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have started the season 3-0 for the first time since 2017, and last played in a regular-season Top 10 battle against Notre Dame that same season. Miami did not play last week and prior romped rival Florida State, 52-10, in Miami.
D’Eriq King transferred to Miami after graduating from Houston in the offseason. The talented, dual-threat quarterback has been a difference-maker for the Hurricanes’ offense.
King has completed 63-of-94 passes for 736 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. The Texas-native has also tallied 157 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Junior running back Cam’Ron Harris is Miami’s primary ball carrier. Harris has carried the ball 38 times for 311 yards (8.2 yards per carry) and five touchdowns. The touchdown total already matches his 2019 mark.
Tight end Brevin Jordan leads a deep pass-catching group of Hurricanes with 15 receptions for 212 yards and three scores. The junior has hauled in a touchdown pass in every game so far this season.
Defensively the Hurricanes are allowing an average of 19.3 points and 377.0 yards of total offense per game. Miami likes to get to the quarterback with the defense averaging 3.3 sacks per game.
What to Know – Clemson Tigers
Clemson hasn’t lost a regular-season game since 2017 and hasn’t dropped a regular-season matchup at home since 2016. That’s a stretch of 22 consecutive wins on their home turf, the longest in Division 1.
Clemson dismantled the Virginia Cavaliers, 41-23, last weekend at Memorial Stadium. Saturday will mark the three-straight home games for the Tigers.
Junior Trevor Lawerence is a Heisman frontrunner and the projected top overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The quarterback is 55-for-75 for 848 yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions to start the season.
Running back Travis Etienne is one of the most talented backs in college football and arguably the best football player on the Clemson roster. Etienne has rushed 39 times for 243 yards and two scores while adding nine receptions for 172 yards and a score this year.
Senior Amari Rodgers (12 receptions, 206 yards, three touchdowns) and sophomore Frank Ladson Jr. (9 catches, 179 yards, two touchdowns) are the primary targets for Clemson at wide receiver. Rodgers hauled in two touchdown receptions last week against Virginia.
The Tigers defense is surrendering just 12.0 points and 303.0 yards of offense per game this season. Clemson is tied for second in the nation with 13 sacks so far this year.
The Pick is In
Miami’s has looked much improved this season, but the competition they have faced has been below average. The same could be said for the talent Clemson has faced this season as well.
Two touchdowns is a lot of points to give a team that has a tough defense and experienced quarterback. Clemson will win, but this game should be close to the finish. Take Miami and the points.
