2011 Clemson Tigers Football Predictions, Odds, Picks and Schedule – 2011 Clemson NCAA Football Preview

2011 Clemson Tigers College Football Expert Predictions, Picks, Vegas Odds and Schedule – Clemson NCAA Football Preview: The once powerful Clemson football program is teetering on the verge of irrelevancy. Coming off a 6-7 season, including a loss in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the Tigers can’t afford another lackluster season if they are going to continue to attract high end recruits. A retooled coaching staff is expected to help lead the resurgence. Offensive coordinator Chad Morris has installed a spread option attack in the offseason, and if the new scheme can help Clemson put some more points on the board, bigger and better things could be in store for the Tigers in 2011-12.

Morris was the architect of a high-powered offense in his time at Tulsa, and he brings the same system to a Clemson team that has some serious athletes to work with. The center of this year’s offense figures to be running back Andre Ellington. Ellington was tearing up defenses to the tune of 6.5 yards per carry last year until an injury cut his season sort. He should see even more work in this year’s offense with plenty of opportunities to break long runs. His explosiveness will be on full display.

Other weapons for this year’s attack include quarterback Tajh Boyd and receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins was first team freshman all-ACC last year, and he will have his share of sweeps and deep balls in the offense. Meanwhile, Boyd’s dual-threat ability will fit perfectly in the spread attack. He isn’t the most polished passer, but Morris’ offense is all about creating mismatches and easy scoring opportunities. Highly-touted freshman runner Mike Bellamy will get some touches as well.

Defensively, the Tigers field a perennial top-20 unit. Although the defensive front is thin, the linebackers are as good as any in the conference. The loss of pass rusher Da’Quan Bowers and 15.5 sacks will make life tougher on the rest of the defense, but the linebacking core is good enough to make the front seven one of the better units in the conference. The secondary is a different story where the Tigers will be replacing three starters that all went to the NFL. The good news is that the ACC isn’t the most pass-happy conference in the nation, but an inexperienced secondary is never ideal.

After opening the season with games against Troy and Wofford, the Tigers embark on an absolutely grueling stretch. During the next five games, Clemson plays Auburn, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Boston College and Maryland. The good news is that three of the games are at home, but it is tough to envision a tougher stretch for any team in the ACC. The schedule lightens up a bit before ending with back-to-back road games against N.C. State and South Carolina. The ACC isn’t regarded as the toughest conference in the world, but the Tigers certainly don’t have an easy road.

In the end, the success of this year’s team will depend on how quickly the offense gels under the new high-tempo system. Unfortunately, the Tigers have to get their feet wet during the toughest stretch of their season. Clemson will probably be a better team by the end of the year than the record will indicate, and that alone could cost Dabo Swinney his job as coach. A bowl game is probably the ceiling for this year’s team, but in the end, there are going to be some growing pains.

2011 Clemson Tigers College Football Predictions: 5-7 Record

Preseason 2011 Clemson Tigers NCAA Football Odds:
Odds to Win 2012 BCS Championship: +10000
Odds to Win 2011 ACC Championship: +1500
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2011 Clemson Tigers College Football Schedule
Sat, Sep 3 Troy 3:30 pm —
Sat, Sep 10 Wofford 3:30 pm —
Sat, Sep 17 Auburn 12:00 pm —
Sat, Sep 24 Florida State TBA —
Sat, Oct 1 at Virginia Tech TBA —
Sat, Oct 8 Boston College TBA —
Sat, Oct 15 at Maryland TBA —
Sat, Oct 22 North Carolina TBA —
Sat, Oct 29 at Georgia Tech TBA —
Sat, Nov 12 Wake Forest TBA —
Sat, Nov 19 at North Carolina State TBA —
Sat, Nov 26 at South Carolina TBA —

Check out NSAwins.com’s official 2011 College Football Over Under Team Wins Odds and Predictions and 2011 ACC Football Odds and Predictions articles.

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