Are the Clemson Tigers Contenders or Pretenders in the Atlantic Divison?

Coming off a rally that just came up short against Georgia Tech last Thursday night in a 30-27 loss, the Clemson Tigers next face the Boston College Eagles.

After that the Tigers will play a very solid TCU Horned Frogs team. If the Tigers can win both of these games they will sit 3-1, a game at a struggling Maryland squad and a winnable home game with Wake Forest before heading to Miami.

If the Tigers could get to 5-1 in late October. that would do the Clemson fans just fine. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though, the two next weeks will determine if Clemson is contender or pretender.

Boston has played very well in the early going of the season. There have been two easy wins over Northeastern and Kent State. Head Coach Frank Spaziani has managed the difficult quarterback situation about as well as possible.

He's been rotating redshirt freshman Justin Tuggle and true freshman Dave Shinskie, but he has yet to name a starter for Saturday's game. They will face a Clemson defense that at times has been dominant this season. In particular, I think the corner backs Crezdon Butler and Chris Chancellor have played very in Clemson's first two games.

The BC defense has only given up seven points so far this season, but facing a Clemson team with the playmakers like C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford is something they haven't seen yet. It will be a big challenge for the Eagle defense. Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker is coming right along. I don't think you have seen his best yet either.

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney did make one big change for this game along the offensive line. Right tackle Cory Lambert, who had struggle facing defensive end Derrick Morgan of Georgia Tech will be replaced by Landon Walker at right tackle. It's a position to watch as Walker was not performing well in practices earlier in the year.

If Clemson is going to contend in this year's Atlantic, BC is a game they have to win at home.

This Eagles team is better than people anticipated so far, but Clemson can't afford a loss. With FSU struggling, NC State and Wake Forest already with losses, and Maryland looking awful, the Atlantic is there for the taking.

We'll see if the Tigers are ready to step forward.

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