It is finally here.
The Miami Hurricanes and Clemson Tigers meeting each other in the ACC Championship.
The game predicted nearly a month ago. However, Miami did not keep their end of the bargain in remaining undefeated as predicted.
This has been the best of the College Football Playoff standings since it’s inception with the week-by-week movement of teams. There is a lot at stake.
“It is cool if you are 5-5, but I don’t think anybody is feeling like it is “swaggish,” Richt stated. “Swag is winning. That’s what we are trying to do. We are trying to win and win big. It is hard to even match to what has even been done in the past, but we are getting after it as best we could.”
Win, and this would be the first ACC title for the Hurricanes and their first 11-win season since 2003. Better yet, “The U” would be back. It also guarantees they can sneak into the College Football Playoffs after the sad loss to Pittsburg.
Miami moved up to No. 2, trading places with Clemson in the process at one point. The Hurricanes need this win to get back in since they are ranked 7th by the committee.
Clemson can arguably be the championship favorite. The Tigers are good. A win for the Tigers would give them three straight ACC titles for the first time since they won three straight from 1986 to 1988. Beating Miami would also secure the top-ranked Tigers’ place in the playoff for a third straight year.
Hurricanes quarterback Malik Rosier will be looking across the best defense he has faced this season. The Tigers also have defense ranks among the nation’s best. Clemson is sixth nationally in total defense and ranks in the top 10 in nine other defensive categories. Clemson’s defensive front features four players who were either first- or second-team All-ACC selections and future NFL draft prospects all — tackles Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence, and ends Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant.
The last time that Clemson and Miami played, in 2014, the Tigers rolled to a 58-0 victory in what turned out to be the last game for Al Golden. That game has nothing to do with the current ACC title game, however, can Miami use it as a motivator to seek revenge and bounce back from the Pittsburg loss?
Tigers are favored by 9.5; Hurricanes have the reputation of the Turnover chain which can be an enormous as a momentum swing.
