Clemson vs. Virginia Tech: Will Lack of Offensive Punch Doom Hokies?

No. 13 Clemson are looking like they've got upset on their mind, taking a 17-3 lead early in the third quarter over No. 11 Virginia Tech.   The Hokies have given their hometown fans little to cheer for in this contest.

Both teams entered the game undefeated, and were looking to cement their status as a BCS contender. Virginia Tech is going to have to find some answers in the locker room if they want to avoid falling short of their goals.

What's Gone Wrong?

Turnovers

Virginia Tech has moved the ball okay. They have 137 yards of offense compared to Clemson's 160. They are a not horrible three-for-eight on third down conversions. However, they have two first half turnovers. One on a fumble and one on an interception.

This Hokies offense is not nearly explosive enough to overcome two turnovers in a half.

What's At Stake?

A spot in the top-10 and possibly a BCS Bowl Game.

This is a big matchup for the Hokies. A win would almost assuredly find them in the top-ten in the next polls.

Clemson is by far the highest ranked opponent on the Hokies schedule. They have only one other opponent on their schedule that is currently ranked in the top-25. That is No. 21 Georgia Tech. It will be hard for the Hokies to win enough votes to earn a BCS birth if they lose at home to the one top-10 caliber team on the schedule.

Upset Potential (on a scale of 1-10)

Clemson is a very good team. They are playing solid on defense, and Virginia Tech will have a hard time keeping them off the board in the second half.

That said, eliminate the turnovers, and this is a very different game. If the Hokies can play a clean second half they can come back and win this game.

How Will Voters React?

The Hokies will not face to big of a drop should they lose this game. Clemson is a very good team, and their is no shame in losing to the Tigers. Depending on how the other games play out, I would expect the Hokies to find themselves between 15-20 should they lose.

Will Virginia Tech Come Back?

No

Virginia Tech has put way too much stress on their defense in the first half. This is going to take its toll as the game wears on. I expect the Hokies to mount a small comeback, but the Clemson will pull this one out in the end.

Who Benefits Most From Virginia Tech's Collapse?

Clemson

This is a big conference road win for Clemson. They will surely pass the Hokies in the poll, and they might jump over a few teams that didn't lose.

If Clemson wins this game it will be their second consecutive week beating the No. 11 team in the country. It will be their third consecutive week beating a ranked team. I'd expect them to be in the top-10 if they win.