National title implications for USC-Clemson

The Tigers have been No. 1 in the playoff rankings all season and would slide into the final four with a win over the Tar Heels. SC reached a new low last week with a loss to FCS opponent The Citadel, so look for the Gamecocks to view this matchup as their own national title game.

“I thought momentum was very, very important”, Elliott said when asked about the field goal, “and, when I say momentum, I didn’t want to have an opportunity to go for it on fourth down and come away with zero”.

The Tigers now face North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, N.C. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m., on Saturday, December 5 at Bank of America Stadium, and will be televised by ABC. This season, it seems the two schools are headed in opposite directions. They are allowing 26.6 points, and 422 yards per game and most likely will not be able to stop the Tigers’ onslaught led by running back Wayne Gallman, who has acquired over 1,000 yards through 11 games on the ground. Watson delivering a ideal 55-yard strike to wide receiver Deon Cain to give Clemson a 14-0 lead over SC.

Swinney has moved into 13th place on the all-time ACC coaching victories list.

Watson is 15-1 all-time as Clemson’s starter, including a 35-17 win over SC past year where he played with a brace to support a partially torn ACL in his left knee.

While it would be understandable if the Gamecocks lost heart when Steve Spurrier quit on them, it’s unfair to say that these players have not fought through this season. Whether the offense can get anything going might decide this game.

At this point, this shouldn’t even be considered a trap game, but anything can happen in a rivalry game … once again.

Shawn Elliott finished 1-5 as South Carolina’s interim coach after being promoted following the loss to LSU.

At first glance, the Gamecocks have been mediocre at best in 2015. “It’s how we play, and our effort and preparation. Those guys (the Gamecocks) played their hearts out all the way to the last play”. SC junior LB Skai Moore led all players with 12 tackles Saturday; he also forced two fumbles.

Elliott will meet with USC Athletics Director Ray Tanner soon, but the chances of him elevating to the position of full time coach appear virtually nil. “You’ve got people that don’t have jobs and people that are having a lot of anxiety”, said Swinney. “I think everyone got it”.

In terms of this rivalry week clash, Clemson is going to win – and it might not even be close.

This isn’t me holding the 12-0 Tigers to such a high standard, it’s how the committee will perceive things in comparison to an Alabama or an undefeated Iowa.