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CHESTNUT HILL – One factor that could give No. 17 Boston College an edge against No. 2 Clemson Saturday night is completely out of the teams' control.
"The weather mixing it up makes Clemson a little bit more beatable, '' ESPN college football analyst and 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard said ahead of the upcoming ACC matchup. "You would think it should adversely affect Clemson's offense somewhat."
With 20 minutes per hour for the 8 pm kickoff at Alumni Stadium, Howard and other members of the "College GameDay" crew are eager to see how Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence fares in the nippy conditions.
Lawrence, who broke the state high school record for passing yards and passing touchdowns at Cartersville High, has picked up all of his career wins – including nine with Clemson – below the Mason-Dixon line.
"He's never played in this type of weather," said Howard. "I think the offensive coordinators are going to look out, if the wind's in their face, if the wind's at their back, are they going to take a shot down the field? All of those things play into the game plan. ''
Howard said he is an expert on the role of the team, as well as on the role of punt, kick, and field ball. He called the field position a "undervalued, underappreciated element that can impact a game of this magnitude."
Fellow ESPN analyst David Pollack noted that the conditions could be higher than BC's passing game, which is averaging just 214.6 yards per game.
"Their passing attack is not setting the world on fire regardless, so you have a bad bit," Pollack said. "If the weather is sloppy or cold, Clemson is not used to that. It could slow things down, hopefully get some three-and-outs. "
"College GameDay" Host Rece Davis, however, was very much in the mood for the future. But Davis, Howard, and Pollack do not rattle Lawrence, BC does not give up 77 points against Louisville last week and is averaging 47.8 points per game.
"Clemson's offense is dynamic," Davis said. "If this is a clean game on both sides, then the big momentum-swinging plays going into Boston College's favor, then Clemson is going to win the game handily."
BC's defense has an average of 221.7 passing yards and 151.8 rushing yards per game, but where the group shines in negative yardage via sacks and forcing turnovers via interceptions. Anchored by a pair of conference leaders, defensive end Wyatt Ray and defensive back Hamp Cheevers, the Eagles have recorded 28 sacks for a loss of 175 yards and an ACC-high 14 picks for 241 yards returned.
"I do not think they can keep up with Clemson scoring without that," Davis said.
On the other side of the ball, the analysts point to a battle in the trenches with BC's back to the front line of scrimmage against Clemson's formidable front seven. The "College GameDay" crew cited running back AJ Dillon as a player who can be a difference-maker. At 6 feet and 245 pounds, Dillon, who has battled ankle injury, has rushed for 897 yards and eight touchdowns.
"He's going to be the guy that will give [BC] the ability to sustain drives, '' Howard said. "I think it's important for the Eagles to sustain 10-, 12-play drives, and at the end of those drives, score touchdowns and not kick field goals.
"Keep Lawrence and that high-powered offense on the sideline, trying to stay warm. I think the time of possession is going to be very important. "
Davis echoed that feeling.
"If they can be disruptive on defense and they can control the ball a little bit with the running game, kind of make Clemson anxious when they get the ball and give them the feeling of 'we've got to do something because we don' We do not know when we're going to get the ball back, '' '' 'that will be determined if Boston College is in it in the fourth quarter,' 'he said.
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