Chickens on the front burner

Was doing my weekly interview segment last week with the fine folks at ESPN-1400 in Spartanburg when a question arose:

What's Clemson's most important game on the 2010 schedule?

Took me about a hundredth of a second to spit out the answer.

South Carolina.

Some folks might consider that an odd choice. Because shoot, even though Clemson lost in resounding fashion last year in Columbia, the Tigers have owned their feathered friends to the soothing, pleasing tune of 10 wins in the last 13 meetings.

And when you consider the hex Georgia Tech has employed on Clemson since the Tigers utterly dismantled the Jackets that night in Death Valley four years ago -- four losses since, three at the hands of Paul Johnson -- you can make a completely justifiable case for the team from Atlanta.

How about Florida State? Tigers have controlled the series lately, winning four of the last six. But the Seminoles appear to be ascending under Jimbo Fisher, and this year's game in Tallahassee could be influential in shaping the balance of power in the Atlantic Division.

But I'm going to side with the regular-season finale in Death Valley against the bunch from Columbia. Because regardless of what happens between now and that game, it will be a huge game for Dabo Swinney.

A lot of us (including yours truly) weren't on the planet the last time the Gamecocks managed to beat the Tigers in back-to-back years. It was 1970, when Clemson dropped a third game in a row to its rival in a 38-32 defeat on the Tigers' home turf.

(Swinney, by the way, turned a year old the day before that game).

For Clemson fans, losing every once in a while to the Gamecocks is bad enough because of the crowing they have to deal with for a full year. Dealing with back-to-back defeats would be too much to bear.

Swinney dusted the Gamecocks in 2008, when he was the interim guy. But losing to the Gamecocks in his first two full seasons would be hard for fans to overlook -- particularly given that his predecessor, Tommy Bowden, exerted unmistakable ownership of the Gamecocks during his tenure (seven wins in nine tries).

Here's a ranking of Clemson's top five most important games, with the obvious understanding that priorities can change once the season starts. Interested to see what you folks think.

1. South Carolina

2. Georgia Tech

3. at Florida State

4. at North Carolina

5. Maryland

Doc Saturday makes his ACC predictions, and guess who he picks to win the Atlantic Division?

Hint: Not Florida State.

Another hint: Not Clemson, either.

Here's his rationale.

If all goes according to plan, the blinking neon headline this year is the likely return of college football's resident heart-warmer, cancer-kicking linebacker Mark Herzlich, whose presence could be the push that sends a more experienced, more stable outfit over the top as the best in the division. If the Eagles are close enough that we're actually considering the thought at this time of year, though, there's a good chance it was going to happen anyway.

And here's another prediction from Doc:

Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker will give up football for a promising career in baseball, but no one will complain after redshirt freshman Tajh Boyd tops Parker's freshman totals in '09 for yards and touchdown passes.

Wow.

Paul Myerberg of Pre-Snap Read gives his preview of Clemson and ranks the Tigers 47th nationally.

Guessing the folks who were all apoplectic about Rivals picking them at 37th won't approve of 47th.

Dream season: The Tigers repeat as Atlantic champs and upset Georgia Tech in the A.C.C. title game to reach the B.C.S. Oh, and Clemson beats South Carolina by three touchdowns.

Nightmare season: Swinney’s touch does not extend to his third season, a year that sees Clemson finish 5-7. The season ends with a 14-point loss to South Carolina.

Looks like Georgia might've committed a secondary violation in its recruitment of Zach DeBell.

Speaking of violations ... Weslye Saunders, come on down.

Sad story about Dean Smith losing his memory.

Mistuh College Football says two-a-days are a thing of the past.

So Damon Evans had Ms. Red Panties on speed dial ... even after the DUI that dealt a death blow to his position at UGA.

Nick Saban said he's never even listened to Paul Finebaum, a revelation that can't be good for F-Baum's ego.


LW

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