Bad Advice, Bold Predictions and Something Else: Week 2

(You'll see that guy on Thursday night.)

So Week One is in the rearview, Clemson's on tap Thursday night. You can thank ESPN's love affair with Thursday night ACC games for this particular number.

The Clemson-Georgia Tech match-up presents an interesting case of divergent paths: Clemson was 12 months ago the ACC's highest-touted team, and finally on the ultimate rise under Tommy Bowden, while Georgia Tech was just looking for respect from somebody—anybody—this time last year.

Things change.

For the Yellow Jackets, Thursday night represents an initial opportunity to make the same kind of statement to the ACC that Miami did last Monday in beating Florida State.

Clemson might not be the preseason favorite in the conference, but the Tigers don't slouch—they've got talent on both sides of the ball, and they're hungry.

Beating the Tigers would send that message.

Lose, and Georgia Tech can effectively say goodbye to any hope of an ACC title game appearance.

With that thought resting firmly upon your brains, let us begin.

Bad Advice

Don't get too cute with Clemson. The Tigers might not be all we once thought they were, but they've still got athletes, and they've still got speed.

Middle Tennessee State's revamped, Tony Franklin-led offense was effectively closed down last Saturday. Maybe it's because they're Middle Tennessee State, but maybe not, you know what I'm saying?

Oh, and by the by, the Blue Raiders eeked out just 92 yards rushing.

Georgia Tech likes to run, as I recall.

Yes, it's not exactly apples to apples, but the Jackets had better bring that intensity and focus Paul Johnson says was lacking against Jacksonville State, or it could be a bad night in Atlanta.

Bold Prediction

C.J. Spiller, while the less-talented back overall, will have a statistically better night than Jonathan Dwyer.

Dwyer is every coach's dream—he's big, strong, breakaway fast with great hands and a solid work ethic. In any other year, he would be a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, and he might even force his way into the conversation this year.

That said, Clemson's defensive line is strong, and they'll be keying on Dwyer.

Moreover, Tech has plenty of weapons to stretch any defense. Roddy Jones is back from his wrist injury, Anthony Allen is in the fold, etc.

It should also be noted that Clemson surrendered nearly 300 yards passing to Middle Tennessee State last weekend, so Tech might be able to open things up through the air too.

Conversely, when it comes to big-time weapons in the Clemson offense, C.J. Spiller is about it. There are other guys who deserve respect, but Spiller is head and shoulders above his teammates.

Not that that's a bad thing—dude can catch, juke, spin and run faster than just about everybody else. Everywhere. 

Even with Georgia Tech keying in on him, Spiller is going to get his yards, on the ground or through the air. If Dabo Sweeney and his staff can't make sure that happens, this game won't be close.

Something Else

I mentioned it already, but I can't help but think this is the game when Josh Nesbitt breaks out the passing stick. Not sure the Jackets will need to, necessarily, but the trusted gut tells me Tech has a big day (by comparison, anyway) through the air.

Demaryius Thomas (Bay-Bay, to his friends) is seriously one of the best receivers in the ACC, if not the best. Put him in a better offense, and he would be bigtime name. I think he gets that recognition Saturday.

Final Verdict

For a number of reasons, this screams trap game. Tech looked lulled in their last game, Clemson's good but not great and Spiller's a heck of a weapon.

But Paul Johnson-coached teams rarely go back-to-back with bad games, and the Jacksonville State game, for all it was, wasn't very good.

It's at home, it's Georgia Tech's first big test, and while I'm not yet sold on the Jackets as a BCS team, I do think they deserve to be in the conversation, and thus aren't the kind of team that would fail said test.

The Yellow Bees take it, 35-23.