Clemson 9-3 (5-3), 2nd Atlantic Coast - Atlantic
vs
Auburn 8-4 (5-3), 2nd Southeastern - West
December 31, 7:30pm, ESPN
If you like defense, then the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl is one you shouldn't miss. Clemson is looking for their first 10 win season since 1990 while Auburn is sporting its worst record since 2003 when they only won 7 games. Auburn has won 12 straight against Clemson, including a 21-17 victory in the 1998 Chick-fil-A Bowl in the only meeting between the schools since 1971.
The Clemson Tigers have two of the best backs in the ACC, if not the country in James Davis and CJ Spiller. The two combined have run for 1800 yards and 11 touchdowns. Their quarterback, Cullen Harper, is one of the best kept secrets in the country. Matt Ryan got all the hype in the ACC, but Harper actually had a better year. He threw for 2887 yards 27 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. Even though the Tigers are going to be missing two of their linebackers due to suspension their defense is still one of the best. They give up only 18 points per game and are 6th in the country in total defense.
The other Tigers in the game, Auburn, boasts a defense that is even statically better than Clemson's. They are 8th in total defense but only give up 16 points per game, and that is tremendous when you consider they play in the SEC with a lot of good team offenses. Their offense does as good as their quarterback Brandon Cox does. When he has a good game they win, if he throws multiple interceptions, they will most likely lose. Running the ball they have Ben Tate and Brad Lester, who missed part of the season because of injury. The two added up for 1300 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Auburn has been in a lot of low scoring close games this year and if they want to beat Clemson, Auburn cannot let them score more that 17 points. Unlike last year's high flying Chick-fil-A Bowl, I expect a low scoring defensive slugfest. This is just a shot in the dark but look for Auburn's kicker, Wes Byrum, to kick the game winning Field Goal just like he did against Florida this year to pull out a 3 point victory.
Auburn 17 Clemson 14
Picking Clemson to Win (41%)
Pitch Right, Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician, Sportsbone TV, Football Frontier, MidWest Coast Bias, The LSC Scoop, Mrs Corn Nation, Brian Isaacson, Logan Jaffe, Jeff Brancolini, Greg Gowins, Cyril Tircuit, Matt Kieta
Picking Auburn to Win (59%)
ITB Brian Sakowski, Kansas It's Business Time, The Enlightened Spartan, Bastard Sons of Pinfall Marks, Rizzo Sports, MizzouRAH, ITB Ron Juckett, ITB Charlie Swager, Corn Nation, Brant Chruscial, Dan Schoonover, Lou Nemec, Timmy B, Richard Dixon, Rodney Polston, Pete Boivin, Jason Stiver, Sunny Verma, Lorena The Dodgerchick
