Clemson and Colorado arrived at the Champs Sports Bowl on very different paths. While the Tigers are riding a three-game winning streak, the Buffaloes have lost three straight, including blowout losses in their last two games.
Clemson Offense vs. Colorado Defense
The biggest concern for Clemson is the health of QB Charlie Whitehurst, who is expected to play despite undergoing shoulder surgery after the regular season ended. First-year offensive coordinator Rob Spence has done a fine job of improving Whitehurst's mechanics and getting him to cut down on the forced errors that plagued him throughout much of the 2004 season. Whitehurst has shown above average accuracy and the strong arm needed to fit the ball into tight spots. He also has the weapons at wide receiver to exploit a Colorado defense that gives up 252.6 yards per game via the air. Whitehurst spreads the ball between three reliable wide receivers. Chansi Stuckey, Aaron Kelly and Curtis Baham combined for 1,351 yards and 10 touchdowns on 134 catches this season. Stuckey has emerged as the big-play threat of the group and will create some matchup problems for Colorado corners Lorenzo Sims and Gerett Burl.
Clemson is most dangerous when it finds a good balance between the run and pass. Freshman RB James Davis is a budding star who rushed for a team-high 729 yards despite missing nearly four full games because of injury. The Tigers won all four games in which Davis carried the ball at least times, so getting him involved early on is a must. Colorado's run defense still ranks eighth in the nation in yards-per-game allowed, even after surrendering 268 rushing yards to the Longhorns in the Big 12 championship. The Buffs were extremely effective in this facet early in the season when their undersized defense was fresh and active. However, this unit has noticeably worn down over the course of the last month. The front four is not doing a good enough job of disrupting and LBs Thaddaeus Washington, Jordon Dizon and Brian Iwuh are having trouble taking on and shedding blockers on the second level. The time off should allow this unit some time to rest, but confidence on the Colorado defense is down and a big play by Clemson early on could break the Buffs.
Colorado Offense vs. Clemson Defense
The once balanced and confident Colorado offense has recently fallen on hard times. After averaging 30.3 points during the first nine games, the Buffs have mustered just 22 combined points in their last three and have gone without a touchdown in each of their last two outings. QB Joel Klatt was carrying this team throughout the first two months of the season, but he has made entirely too many mistakes down the stretch, including four interceptions during the three-game losing streak. Making matters worse, Klatt will be returning from a concussion that he suffered in CU's loss to Texas in the Big 12 title game. Getting down early in games has not helped, as it has given the Buffs' last two opponents the opportunity to turn up the heat on Klatt with extra blitzes and more athletic personnel packages. If Colorado is put in a similar situation in the Champ Sports Bowl, Clemson has the pass rushers in DE Gaines Adams and Charles Bennett to make Klatt's life miserable.
With that in mind, establishing an effective ground game early on will be crucial to the Buffs' success. RB Hugh Charles was ineffective late in the season due to fatigue and lingering injuries, but the shifty sophomore should regain his legs thanks to the three-week break. The Buffs also have a good complement in RB/FB Lawrence Vickers, who is a bruising north-south runner that also contributes in one-back sets on third downs as an effective blocker and receiver.
If the Buffs can establish a running game early and keep the Tigers honest, it will give Klatt more time to operate in the pocket and better matchups to exploit in the passing game. Clemson's Tye Hill is a shut-down cover corner who will have very little trouble taking No. 1 WR Dusty Sprague out of the equation. Klatt still has a capable receiver in Evan Judge to throw to on the opposite side, as well as Joe Klopfenstein, one of the nation's most productive pass-catching tight ends. However, Hill's ability to take away one-third of the field will give the rest of Clemson's secondary a lot more flexibility in terms of mixing up coverage looks and pressing Judge and Klopfenstein at the line of scrimmage.
Special Teams
This is the one area of the game that clearly favors the Buffs. Colorado kicker Mason Crosby has the strongest leg in the country and punter John Torp is extremely reliable, which will help to keep Stuckey under wraps as a punt return specialist. Clemson kicker Jad Dean lacks Crosby's leg strength, but he's just as reliable from within 45 yards. Punter Cole Chason's inconsistency could become a problem, especially kicking to Stephone Robinson, who has an 81-yard touchdown return this season.
Three Key Individual Matchups
1. Clemson RB James Davis vs. Colorado MLB Thaddaeus Washington
2. Colorado WR Dusty Sprague vs. Clemson CB Tye Hill
3. Colorado OT Gary Moore vs. Clemson DE Gaines Adams
Scouts' Edge
The Buffs have been outscored 100-6 in their last two outings and are dealing with the loss of coach Barnett. Some teams are able to circle the wagons in these situations but most go in the opposite direction. Expect Colorado to come out flat in this game. Clemson, on the other hand, is flying high following three-consecutive wins to close out its regular season. Whitehurst is expected to be healthy enough to play and should get great support from Davis on the ground and Stuckey in the air. Adams will keep the pressure on Klatt and Hill will capitalize on poor decisions. With nothing to play for and very few fans in its corner, Colorado will mail it in.
Prediction: Clemson 34, Colorado 17
Clemson Offense vs. Colorado Defense
The biggest concern for Clemson is the health of QB Charlie Whitehurst, who is expected to play despite undergoing shoulder surgery after the regular season ended. First-year offensive coordinator Rob Spence has done a fine job of improving Whitehurst's mechanics and getting him to cut down on the forced errors that plagued him throughout much of the 2004 season. Whitehurst has shown above average accuracy and the strong arm needed to fit the ball into tight spots. He also has the weapons at wide receiver to exploit a Colorado defense that gives up 252.6 yards per game via the air. Whitehurst spreads the ball between three reliable wide receivers. Chansi Stuckey, Aaron Kelly and Curtis Baham combined for 1,351 yards and 10 touchdowns on 134 catches this season. Stuckey has emerged as the big-play threat of the group and will create some matchup problems for Colorado corners Lorenzo Sims and Gerett Burl.
Clemson is most dangerous when it finds a good balance between the run and pass. Freshman RB James Davis is a budding star who rushed for a team-high 729 yards despite missing nearly four full games because of injury. The Tigers won all four games in which Davis carried the ball at least times, so getting him involved early on is a must. Colorado's run defense still ranks eighth in the nation in yards-per-game allowed, even after surrendering 268 rushing yards to the Longhorns in the Big 12 championship. The Buffs were extremely effective in this facet early in the season when their undersized defense was fresh and active. However, this unit has noticeably worn down over the course of the last month. The front four is not doing a good enough job of disrupting and LBs Thaddaeus Washington, Jordon Dizon and Brian Iwuh are having trouble taking on and shedding blockers on the second level. The time off should allow this unit some time to rest, but confidence on the Colorado defense is down and a big play by Clemson early on could break the Buffs.
Colorado Offense vs. Clemson Defense
The once balanced and confident Colorado offense has recently fallen on hard times. After averaging 30.3 points during the first nine games, the Buffs have mustered just 22 combined points in their last three and have gone without a touchdown in each of their last two outings. QB Joel Klatt was carrying this team throughout the first two months of the season, but he has made entirely too many mistakes down the stretch, including four interceptions during the three-game losing streak. Making matters worse, Klatt will be returning from a concussion that he suffered in CU's loss to Texas in the Big 12 title game. Getting down early in games has not helped, as it has given the Buffs' last two opponents the opportunity to turn up the heat on Klatt with extra blitzes and more athletic personnel packages. If Colorado is put in a similar situation in the Champ Sports Bowl, Clemson has the pass rushers in DE Gaines Adams and Charles Bennett to make Klatt's life miserable.
With that in mind, establishing an effective ground game early on will be crucial to the Buffs' success. RB Hugh Charles was ineffective late in the season due to fatigue and lingering injuries, but the shifty sophomore should regain his legs thanks to the three-week break. The Buffs also have a good complement in RB/FB Lawrence Vickers, who is a bruising north-south runner that also contributes in one-back sets on third downs as an effective blocker and receiver.
If the Buffs can establish a running game early and keep the Tigers honest, it will give Klatt more time to operate in the pocket and better matchups to exploit in the passing game. Clemson's Tye Hill is a shut-down cover corner who will have very little trouble taking No. 1 WR Dusty Sprague out of the equation. Klatt still has a capable receiver in Evan Judge to throw to on the opposite side, as well as Joe Klopfenstein, one of the nation's most productive pass-catching tight ends. However, Hill's ability to take away one-third of the field will give the rest of Clemson's secondary a lot more flexibility in terms of mixing up coverage looks and pressing Judge and Klopfenstein at the line of scrimmage.
Special Teams
This is the one area of the game that clearly favors the Buffs. Colorado kicker Mason Crosby has the strongest leg in the country and punter John Torp is extremely reliable, which will help to keep Stuckey under wraps as a punt return specialist. Clemson kicker Jad Dean lacks Crosby's leg strength, but he's just as reliable from within 45 yards. Punter Cole Chason's inconsistency could become a problem, especially kicking to Stephone Robinson, who has an 81-yard touchdown return this season.
Three Key Individual Matchups
1. Clemson RB James Davis vs. Colorado MLB Thaddaeus Washington
2. Colorado WR Dusty Sprague vs. Clemson CB Tye Hill
3. Colorado OT Gary Moore vs. Clemson DE Gaines Adams
Scouts' Edge
The Buffs have been outscored 100-6 in their last two outings and are dealing with the loss of coach Barnett. Some teams are able to circle the wagons in these situations but most go in the opposite direction. Expect Colorado to come out flat in this game. Clemson, on the other hand, is flying high following three-consecutive wins to close out its regular season. Whitehurst is expected to be healthy enough to play and should get great support from Davis on the ground and Stuckey in the air. Adams will keep the pressure on Klatt and Hill will capitalize on poor decisions. With nothing to play for and very few fans in its corner, Colorado will mail it in.
Prediction: Clemson 34, Colorado 17
