ACC Championship Game 2015: Date, Start Time for Clemson vs. North Carolina
After a hard-fought 37-32 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, the last impediment in the No. 1-ranked Clemson Tigers' path to the College Football Playoff will be the No. 14 North Carolina Tar Heels.
While 13 spots separate the two teams on the CFP rankings, there's still hope for both heading into the ACC Championship Game.
When: Saturday, December 5 at 8 p.m. ET
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TV: ABC
For Clemson, it's very simple: win the conference title game and they're in the CFP.
For the Tar Heels, matters aren't as clear. They destroyed the North Carolina State Wolfpack on Saturday, but the odds are still against them reaching the CFP. Would a victory over Clemson be enough to have them leap 10 spots in the CFP rankings into the Top Four?
We'll likely know more after the CFP rankings are released on Tuesday.
Players to Watch
DeShaun Watson
Clemson's sophomore quarterback is terribly underrated. His numbers aren't spectacular, but he has expertly commanded the nation's top team all season. Rarely has he flinched under the pressure.
On Saturday when the Gamecocks tried to play spoiler, Watson took his game to another level. He had this third contest of the season with more than 200 yards passing and 100 rushing. ESPN.com's Andrea Adelson tweeted about Watson's dynamic game and season:
He didn't get the Heisman Trophy buzz he deserved this season, but he might just settle for a national championship.
Elijah Hood
The Tar Heels don't have a ton of explosive players on their offense, but Elijah Hood is easily the most dangerous weapon. He doesn't log 20-plus carries per game like some of the nation's top backs, but he makes the most of his opportunities.
Against NC State on Saturday, Hood ran for 220 yards and two touchdowns. The final score was 45-34, but the game wasn't really that close. The Tar Heels had a 35-7 lead after the first quarter. North Carolina took its foot off the gas to save something in reserve for the conference title game.
The Tar Heels will need it.
Prediction
North Carolina is a nice team that figures to be even better in 2016 with players like Hood returning, but the Tar Heels will be no match for Clemson. The Tigers look to be on a mission to do what past Clemson teams could not. That's take advantage of a talented roster and ride it to a national championship.
Look for the Tigers to mount tons of pressure from their front four. North Carolina's sometimes-shaky senior QB Marquise Williams will be rattled, and that will lead to turnovers.
Williams' lack of ball security will lead to Clemson's decisive win.
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