The last time Clemson played in Blacksburg, it was in 2017, at night, with a packed house. Clemson won 31-17. This was 2 years after Beamer retired, his players dominated the roster, Foster had the players for his hybred 4-3. VT kept up with Clemson for the 1st half, then Deshawn Watson and Co pulled away in the 4th Q.
Saturday nights game is 5 years away from Beamer's retirement, his recruits are gone, Foster left last year, the hybred 4-3 is in ruins, starved of the talent that made it so special, it's turned into a sieve. Fat, slow, confused LB's. Weak, small DL and a secondary with barely D1 talent, gone are the corners and safeties that were regularly taken in the NFL draft.
The night crowd noise that was a part of the reason Foster played undersized rush ends, Cory Moore was 5"11 215. Will be sitting at home on Sat night, there will be less then 1000 people at the game, Clemson will have 300.
VT will have no say in the outcome of this game, they will dictate nothing. It all comes down to Clemson's motivation. A night game on national TV plus, clinching the ACC title game birth will be plenty of motivation.
Lawrence is a great collage QB, but look for Etiene to be the one that really exploits VT's defense, he will be living in VT's secondary all night. VT will sell out to stop him, thats when Lawrence opens the game up thru the air, Ill be shocked if Clemson doesn't score 60+. Venables will hold VT to 20 or less.
BOL in this one, yes sometimes the public wins one. Vegas is stuck here, hoping for a VT night game, with Bud Foster magic to hold Clemson under 30. Gone are those days.
